Some discomfort and occasional pain from an issue like abdominal cramping may be difficult to eliminate completely, but it’s often possible to get some relief. What tends to work best is to use multiple strategies, says Goff, since this can address pain at both the physical and emotional level. Here are five tips to consider.
1. Talk to Your Doctor
The first stop in addressing pain is to talk with your gastroenterologist, says Robert Meltzer, MD, a gastroenterologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City. Not only is this important for detecting serious issues, but it can also help with getting better condition management.
“Pain may increase or decrease with changes in disease activity from the primary Crohn’s disease, so the best treatment is to control the underlying disease,” he says. For example, that might take the form of changing your medication or considering a procedure like surgery.
2. Reduce Inflammation
Because the pain related to Crohn’s is often prompted by inflammation, tamping that down throughout the body is a priority, says Dr. Meltzer. Your gastroenterologist may suggest an anti-inflammatory medication, and also review your non-Crohn’s meds to make sure there are no interactions that are driving more inflammation.
3. Do Your Best to Manage Stress
That means that doing your best to address causes of stress and practicing stress management techniques can go a long way toward relieving Crohn’s pain, says Goff.
“This could take several forms, such as a mindfulness practice, adopting a deep-breathing routine, doing cognitive behavioral therapy, getting quality sleep, or trying acupuncture,” he says. “All of these have been shown to address stress in a meaningful way, and that could lead to pain relief.”
4. Get Gentle Movement
Consistent movement and exercise can also strengthen muscles around the joints, Goff says. This creates better support and can put less stress on joints overall.
5. Consider Dietary Changes
Another way to reduce inflammation throughout the body is to focus on anti-inflammatory foods, says Arai. Although dietary choices when you have Crohn’s tend to depend on what brings on symptoms, which means it’s based on individual reactions, there are some general guidelines that can help.
For example, avoiding certain types of carbohydrates, avoiding sugar, and adding more gut-friendly foods (such as yogurt, leafy greens, and oats, if you tolerate them well) can be part of an anti-inflammatory effort.
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