How to Manage Diverticulitis Pain

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are conditions that become more common with age. Diverticulosis refers to the development of pockets within the intestines and diverticulitis is diagnosed when the pockets become infected or inflamed. Diverticulitis can cause mild to severe abdominal pain along with a host of other symptoms. However, there are some things you can do to manage your discomfort.

Instructions

• 1

  Eat a high fiber diet. Including more fiber in your diet will help to soften your stools and make digestion and bowel movement easier. This will take pressure off of the irritated intestines. The American Dietetic Association recommends a daily intake of approximately 50 to 35 grams. Beans and whole grain breads and cereals are good choices. Since everyone is different, you will need to experiment with your diet to find the solutions that work best. Your doctor may recommend fiber supplements as well.

• 2

  Talk to your doctor about medication. If your symptoms are severe, you may need to take antibiotics to help take care of any infections. Prescription or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain medication may also be used. However, you must use care that these medications do not cause constipation, which can make your symptoms worse.

• 3

  Incorporate exercise into your daily routine---regular exercise helps your bowels move better. The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes per day to help promote normal bowel function which will take pressure off your intestines. You also need to take in enough fluid to hep keep your bowels moving and replace any lost fluid during exercise.

• 4

  Explore surgery if the above techniques do not help. In the rare cases in which diverticulitis is severe, hospitalization and surgery may be necessary to relieve the pain. Surgery to drain excess fluid or restructure the bowel can remove the irritation and lessen your pain. See the link below for the NIH patient tutorial for the various types of surgery available.