Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease currently has no cure and there is no single treatment that will work for each person affected by the disease. The main goal of medical treatment is to find a medication that will reduce the inflammation causing symptoms and a lower quality of life. Since Crohn’s is chronic, treatment is also important to improve the prognosis by limiting complications.

Treatment for Mild Symptoms

The type of symptoms that you are experiencing, as well as its severity, will determine the type of treatment that you will be given. The majority of mild symptoms such as bloating, blood in stool, abdominal pain, fever, digestive issues, bleeding from rectum, etc., may be treated with antidiarrheal medications like loperamide, which will help to slow or stop painful spasms. For mild symptoms, your doctor may recommend medications such as aminosalicylates, antibiotics, corticosteroids, immune system suppressants, or biologics. All of these medications are used to help control inflammation and mitigate symptoms and further damage.

Treatment to Avoid Future Symptoms

Since Crohn’s disease has no cure, it is important that you are receiving treatment to ensure that your symptoms do not come back and to prevent further complications. Ongoing treatments are needed  to find a combination of medication that will keep your Crohn’s disease in remission. If the immune system suppressors or aminosalicylates are keeping the disease in remission, you will need to continue your medication. Your doctor will most likely want to see you on a regular basis to check up on you and make sure that the medication is working properly. In order to cope with Crohn’s disease, your doctor may recommend that you take up therapy or activities that will keep your mind at ease. There are a few things that may worsen or trigger your disease  that you should look out for including diet, depression, heavy lifting, exercise, muscle strain, high stress levels and sitting in uncomfortable positions.

Treatment When Symptoms Become Serious

Many times people may not recognize the symptoms of Crohn’s allowing it to worsen rapidly. When this happens, serious symptoms need to be treated immediately. When the symptoms are severe, the initial step is to get the disease under control. When this is no longer possible, doctors may recommend corticosteroids (which are injected into your veins), biologics, or even surgical treatment. When the symptoms have improved, your doctor will recommend that you continue with medications to prevent any further symptoms.

Getting a Doctor Involved is Step #1

When you have Crohn’s disease, it is very important that you ensure there is a doctor you can trust and visit regularly to talk about your condition. It is important that you learn all you can about what you are experiencing in order to get it under control, prevent further symptoms, and know what to do if your symptoms come back. Since Crohn’s disease attacks the digestive system, it is important that you have a doctor screen you regularly for colon cancer. Individuals suffering from Crohn’s disease have an increased risk of developing colon cancer, and regular screening will be able to catch this condition early on. Finding a doctor and informing them of your condition is number one on your list of dealing with your condition. With regular checkups, medication, and a healthy lifestyle, you will be able to live a more normal life.