How to Treat Diverticulitis Pain

Diverticulitis pain is the result of small pouches in the lining of the colon that rupture or become inflamed. You may feel tenderness when touching the lower left side of the abdomen. The pain can be quite severe and come on suddenly and for some patients, the pain is mild. Other symptoms of diverticulitis include cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever or changes in bowel habits. Your doctor has established procedures for dealing with this painful condition, and there are some steps you can take, also. See your physician if you think you might have diverticulitis, and don't attempt to treat it yourself.

Instructions

1

Changing what you eat can help with diverticulitis symptoms in many cases. Some doctors will recommend a liquid diet or a diet that temporarily reduces the amount of high-fiber foods consumed. Once the pain of diverticulitis subsides, your doctor will most likely recommend gradually increasing the amount of fiber in your diet.

2

Depending on the severity of your diverticulitis, you may be prescribed medication such as oral or intravenous antibiotics. Antibiotics cure the infection and stop the pain.

3

You may need to undergo surgery. Two surgeries used to treat diverticulitis include primary bowel resection and bowel resection with colostomy. In primary bowel resection, part of the intestine is removed and the healthy parts are rejoined. In bowel resection with colostomy, the intestines are so inflamed that rejoining the intestine and colon is not possible. A colostomy bag is temporarily used until the infection has cleared.