Relief for Diverticulitis Pain

Diverticulitis is a painful problem characterized by inflamed pouches inside the intestines. One pouch is called a diverticulum, and many pouches are diverticula. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that about 10 percent of the American population over the age of 40 has diverticulosis, which is the condition of having diverticula. Diverticulosis is not a serious health problem, but when the pouches become inflamed, major abdominal pain can set in. Over-the-counter pain relievers for what is now diverticulitis will get you only so far. You have to go to the root of the problem.

Symptoms and Causes

• Recognize symptoms of diverticulitis, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, include sudden, severe abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, fever, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.

  Doctors believe a low-fiber diet causes diverticulosis, although they are unsure exactly why diverticulitis sometimes occurs with diverticulosis. One theory is that the constipation which accompanies diverticulosis may create extra pressure in the colon. The pressure breaks down the wall of the colon, which then gets infected. Another theory is that the pouches in the intestines trap fecal matter, which causes an infection.

Relieving the Pain

• According to Johns Hopkins University Medicine, diverticulitis can usually be treated at home with bed rest, a liquid diet, and oral antibiotics. If you believe you have diverticulitis, start a liquid diet immediately and call your doctor. Remember diverticulitis is a possibility if you have already been diagnosed with diverticulosis. If you don't already have a diverticulosis diagnosis, then your doctor may perform a colonoscopy to determine the true cause of your abdominal pain. A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure for which you'll be put under anesthesia while the doctor uses a scope to examine your colon.

  In about 20 percent of cases, treatment of diverticulitis may require a hospital stay, complete colon rest, and intravenous antibiotics. In even rarer cases, surgery may be necessary. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your diverticulitis pain is frequent or if it doesn't respond to antibiotics.

Prevention

• After your diverticulitis pain is cleared up, start a high-fiber diet immediately to keep the pain from returning. Choose fruits, vegetables and whole grains to get the most dietary fiber out of your meals. Also drink plenty of liquids. Even a high-fiber diet can be constipating if you're not hydrated. An exercise plan will also keep you from becoming constipated.