Crohn’s Symptoms

One of the first signs of Crohn’s disease is pain in the abdomen. Though there are a great many symptoms that this condition has – and one might not co-exist with another in a person suffering from it – one of the over riding ones which most tend to suffer from is pain. The pain might not be the same intensity for all – while some might have a dull ache that persists for a long time – days even – others could be subjected to cramping pains and others sharp, shooting pains that come and go, making life miserable.

Why does pain occur in Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease brings with it inflammation and there are ulcers formed in the intestinal walls. These tend to swell and the walls thicken making it difficult for the passage of food to move as it normally would. It is this that causes the initial cramping pain which could begin as discomfort and progress to pain. This pain could then become a dull ache or it could become very severe depending on the progression of the disease. The ulcers could also contribute to the whole abdominal region feeling sore. With the onset of ulcers, there is swelling in the area which gives rise to pain. With the swelling comes further complications of intestinal blockage and sometimes when the intestine is totally blocked, there could be unbearable pain and surgery might be the only option.

Sometimes, the ulcers could bleed – this is painful too and if this symptom is not treated at once, it could cause complications. When there is mucous and blood in the stools, it’s time to go see a doctor. The pain might be bad but what could be even worse is the infection and complications that could set in when this condition becomes bad. All symptoms of Crohn’s disease should be intimated to your physician because there might be some symptoms that will necessitate hospitalization and even surgery.