Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIBS PainCausesTriggersCalming Flare-upsWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
IBS Pain
Causes
Triggers
Calming Flare-ups
When to Seek Medical Care
What Does IBS Pain Feel Like?
Most of the time, people with IBS say the pain feels like cramps. It is often painful during bowel movements or just prior. Tenderness when the abdomen is touched and discomfort frombloatingcan also occur.
Severity
IBS pain ranges from mild and nagging to severe and crippling.For some people, pain intensity can change throughout the day, making it hard to plan daily activities.
Frequency
People with IBS have pain at least one day per week, on average. Exactly how often can vary. For some, the pain never stops. For others, it comes and goes.
Some people experience pain in spurts. They may have pain-free days, mild-pain days, or days when the pain seems almost constant.
Location
IBS pain can occur anywhere from your chest down to your pelvis, where your maindigestive organsare located.
Identifying where your abdominal pain is located can help tell the difference between IBS and other common digestive disorders.
For instance, if you have pain behind your chest after you eat, and it gets worse when you bend or lie down, it may beheartburn(acid reflux) rather than IBS.
If you have pain after meals below your chest but at the top of your abdomen, is likely to be indigestion.
Bear in mind that people with IBS may have acid reflux and indigestion along with IBS.
Other IBS Symptoms
Although symptoms of IBS can vary from person to person, the condition can affect women differently than men. Not only is IBS more common in females, but they are more likely to report severe abdominal pain and symptoms related to constipation.
It’s also common for women to have more frequent and severe IBS symptoms during certain phases of their menstrual cycle, particularly during their periods. This may include worsening abdominal pain, loose stools, and bloating.
Research suggests that female sex hormones (progesteroneandestrogen) may explain this, as they can influence bowel function, pain perception, andgut flora.
Causes of IBS Pain
It’s important to know what’s behind IBS pain, including why it can be chronic, or long-lasting.
The pain of IBS isvisceral, meaning it comes from your internal organs—in this case, your intestines.
It is also functional, meaning there is nothing wrong with the gut’s structure to explain the pain. Rather, it is a malfunction in the way the gut and brain communicate.The pain is real even though your imaging tests may show nothing abnormal.
Inpeople with IBS, normal amounts of gas or intestinal movement trigger pain-sensing nerve receptors in the intestines more than usual. These extra-sensitive receptors send messages to your brain, telling it there is pain.
Central Sensitization
Over time, a phenomenon called central sensitization develops. The brain begins to react strongly to pain messages. It perceives mild, non-harmful sensations like digestion as painful. That’s where the chronic or long-lasting pain of IBS comes from.
IBS is called acentral sensitivity syndrome.
Someantidepressants, such as Elavil (amitriptyline) or Pamelor (nortriptyline), may help keep the nerve receptors in the gut from becoming too active.These medications also reduce anxiety, which is common in IBS. It’s important to treat anxiety because it can start a cycle that ends up making gut sensitivity worse.
Understanding what to expect can help you put your pain in perspective. Even so, it’s important to talk to your doctor about any abdominal pain that doesn’t go away.
If your doctor doesn’t know what’s going on with your pain, your diagnosis might not be accurate. Your treatment plan might not be as effective as it could be as well.
What Triggers IBS Pain?
Stress, irregular eating habits (for example, skipping meals), eating certain foods (like spicy or fatty foods), or exercising intensely can trigger IBS pain.
In the past, diagnostic criteria noted that IBS pain was “improved with defecation.” However, updated criteria note that abdominal pain is simply “related to defecation.” So, IBS pain could either get better or worse with a bowel movement.
How to Calm Down an IBS Flare-Up
If you have IBS, it’s important to monitor your symptoms, daily bowel habits, and any factors that may be affecting your condition.Treatments for IBS painmay include:
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
If you have abdominal pain with a loss of appetite, malnutrition, or weight loss, it is vital that you contact your healthcare provider right away. Pain that gets worse over time or wakes you up from sleep may not be IBS. If you have pain that is progressing, you need a prompt medical evaluation.
Moreover, if your pain is unusually severe and does not feel like your typical IBS pain, you may need to seek immediate medical attention.
Some signs that you need to get to a hospital immediately include:
IBS Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Summary
Where the pain is, how severe it feels, how often it happens, and what triggers it can be different in different people. Your symptoms can also change from day to day. Seek immediate medical care if your pain becomes severe, doesn’t feel like your usual symptoms, or comes with bleeding, vomiting, or breathing problems.
13 Sources
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