{"id":59893,"date":"2023-08-11T13:46:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T17:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59893"},"modified":"2025-09-04T11:41:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:41:06","slug":"relieve-diverticulitis-pain-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/relieve-diverticulitis-pain-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"7 ways to relieve diverticulitis pain fast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pain management is essential to the treatment plan when someone is suffering. However, figuring out the right course of action for a particular condition can be difficult. There are many ways to worsen and prolong pain if not managed properly. People with diverticulitis often experience abdominal pain during or after eating a meal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eating is a part of everyday life, so coping with a condition that is worsened by eating can be challenging. To help people with these issues, two gastroenterologists share the best way to manage diverticulitis pain and promote digestive health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is diverticulitis?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Diverticulitis is a limited form of colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that can be uncomfortable and painful. \u201cDiverticulitis is an infection of the colon,\u201d says <\/span>Andrew Boxer<\/span>, MD, a gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey. It stems from <\/span>diverticulosis<\/span>, when small pouches (diverticula) develop in your digestive tract, mainly in the lower part of the large intestine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Diverticulitis] occurs when diverticula, a small outpouching of the colon caused by a weakness in the colon wall, develop an infection,\u201d Dr. Boxer<\/a> says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some cases of <\/span>diverticulosis don\u2019t progress to the point of infection<\/span><\/a>, but it can be severe and require treatment when it turns into chronic, symptomatic diverticular disease. \u201cWe think that diverticulitis is caused by a backup of stool and other material into these little pockets [which causes] irritation, and then later infection,\u201d says <\/span>Ellen Stein, MD<\/span><\/a>, a gastroenterologist at Rutgers. She says people prone to constipation \u201cseem to get more diverticulitis than others.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While mild diverticulitis often goes away without treatment, more severe cases can be dire. \u201cDiverticulitis can be serious; it can be life-threatening,\u201d Dr. Boxer says. Sometimes it requires surgery to remove the infected portion of the colon, which poses its own risks. And even after surgery, diverticulitis can sometimes recur. Managing symptoms of diverticulitis and avoiding constipation is a priority for people who have had it or are at risk of developing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet can have a lot to do with developing diverticulitis. \u201cP<\/span>eople who eat low volumes of fruits, vegetables, and nuts tend to get diverticulitis more often than those who eat a healthy fiber-rich diet,\u201d says Dr. Stein. But even someone with a well-rounded diet could wind up with diverticulitis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress can be another factor in developing the disease, but \u201cthere is no good evidence that stress causes diverticulitis,\u201d says Dr. Boxer. However, maintaining a healthy, low-stress lifestyle will improve your overall health, including your colon, potentially decreasing your risk of developing diverticulitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diverticulitis can result from other medications you take. Many pain meds, such as opioids or NSAIDs like <\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>, are not recommended for people with diverticulitis because they can worsen symptoms and cause a flare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Issues often arise from drugs that include constipation as a side effect, such as <\/span>antihistamines<\/span><\/a>, anti-nausea medications, and some <\/span>antidepressants<\/span><\/a>. Iron, which is important to maintaining a healthy diet, can also cause constipation when consumed in foods like red meat and when taken as a supplement. You should give your full health history to your healthcare provider\u2014 including how you eat and what over-the-counter medications and supplements you take\u2014to avoid increasing your risk of diverticulitis.<\/span><\/p>\n

What triggers diverticulitis flare-ups?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It’s called an <\/span>attack or flare-up<\/span><\/a> when diverticulitis causes patients discomfort or pain; various triggers cause these. \u201c<\/span>Some people feel that small pieces of material, like the seeds from strawberries, crunchy small pieces of nuts, or other sharp things, can make diverticulitis worse,\u201d says Dr. Stein. While there is no evidence that organic material directly causes flare-ups, she says people with diverticulitis \u201cusually try to avoid these things that can get stuck in the diverticular pockets and then lead to infection or exacerbation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind a <\/span>high-fiber diverticulitis diet<\/span><\/a>, which includes many fruits with seeds, can prevent constipation, which in turn can prevent diverticulitis. The balance between eating enough fiber and not consuming plant or nut matter you believe may make your diverticulitis symptoms worse or cause a blockage can be tricky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diverticulitis symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most commonly reported symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. Other symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n