What is the best way to relieve pain? | Pain with diverticulitis – How to relieve it?

What is the best way to relieve pain?

Pain can be relieved by non-operative (conservative) or surgical therapy, depending on the severity of the diverticulitis. In conservative treatment, which is the only type of therapy used only in acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis, the inflamed section of the bowel is relieved by a 2-3-day food leave and the administration of suitable antibiotics. The pain should subside after some time due to the decrease in inflammation and the healing of the corresponding intestinal area.

In cases of recurrent (chronically recurrent) diverticulitis, as well as in more complicated diverticulitis courses, which are often accompanied by severe pain and pronounced inflammatory symptoms (fever, worsening of general condition, fatigue, etc. ), surgery is the treatment method of first choice to relieve the pain and avoid complications. In general, depending on the severity of the problem, the affected section of the intestine is removed either by a major abdominal operation (laparatomy) or by laparoscopy (laparoscopy) and the two remaining ends are joined together.

Pain when urinating

As a complication of diverticulitis, fistula formation can occur. A fistula is a pathological connection between two hollow organs.Fistula formation can affect the vagina and other organs as well as the bladder, resulting in so-called dysuria. In the case of dysuria, urination is painfully difficult and the urinary stream is reduced.

The connection also leads to frequent urinary tract infections, which also cause pain when urinating. In the worst case, such fistula formation can lead to a life-threatening peritonitis. However, pain when urinating during a diagnosed diverticulitis does not necessarily speak directly for a fistula formation. Even without fistula formation, the inflammation of the diverticula can spread to the urinary bladder due to its close proximity, leading to a urinary tract infection, which is then also accompanied by painful urination.

Pain in diverticulitis despite antibiotics

If the pain of diverticulitis is still present despite the administration of an antibiotic, this may indicate that the antibiotic has not yet had its full effect because it has not been given long enough. However, there should be a significant improvement in symptoms from the third day of administration at the latest. Another cause may be that the correct antibiotic was not given.

Diverticulitis can be caused by different bacteria, which have different survival mechanisms. Some strains of bacteria have already developed resistance to certain antibiotics. So if the pain is still present after three days of taking the antibiotic, it may be necessary to switch to another antibiotic.

In addition, the attending physician should also check that there has not been a complication in the diverticulitis that explains the pain. If the symptoms do not improve even after the use of several antibiotics and the inflammation is still present, the affected bowel segment is usually removed surgically.