Colon Pain

Overview

The colon is the part of the digestive tract, a long, coiled, tube-like organ in the large intestine. After digestion in the stomach and absorption in the small intestine, the indigestible part of food matter is passed through the colon. This organ is responsible for absorbing leftover water, salts, and vitamins from food matter and condensing it into solid waste called stool. The stool is then passed from the sigmoid colon into the rectum, which is held before excreted as waste through the anus.

Colon pain symptoms

The symptoms of colon disorders may include: 

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Diarrhoea

• Gas

• Bloating

• Cramping

• Fatigue

Causes of Colon pain?

The colon is prone to inflammatory disorders that can be caused by: 

 
• Diet

• Stress

• Lifestyle

• Medications
 
A healthy colon effectively and efficiently removes waste the body no longer needs, so it can lead to various painful problems when the colon gets infected. 
 
Common colon disorders are inflammatory bowel diseases such as: 
 
• Ulcerative colitis induces pain in the sigmoid colon (the part of the large intestine that connects to the rectum).

• Crohn’s disease generally occurs in the lower right abdominal region or around the belly button.

• Diverticulitis, which triggers pain in the sigmoid colon 

• Irritable bowel syndrome, which often causes pain in the lower left part of the abdomen

• Colorectal cancer, which is rarely responsible for abdominal pain 

 

Treatment of Colon pain

Poor diet is the leading cause of inflammatory bowel diseases. Statistics show that about 70 per cent of the risk for colorectal cancer can be prevented through specific lifestyle changes such as healthy eating.
Reduce your consumption of certain foods.


Modifying diet is the first step in reducing inflammation and colon pain.
 
Foods that aggravate inflammation in the colon include: 
 
• Red meat

• Fried foods

• Refined sugar and processed carbohydrates

• Alcohol 

• Coffee
 
Lifestyle adjustment 
 
The second step in eliminating colon pain is making other lifestyle changes, which include expelling habits and behaviours that adversely affect colon health, such as:
• Cigarette smoking 

• Excessive sitting/inactive working environment

• Lack of exercise 
 
Review medications
 
The third step in the treatment of colon pain is reviewing the medications you take.