What Does IBS Pain Feel Like?
Most of the time, people with IBS say the pain feels like cramps.
It is often painful during bowel movements or just prior.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
Tenderness when the abdomen is touched and discomfort frombloatingcan also occur.
Frequency
People with IBS have pain at least one day per week, on average.
Exactly how often can vary.
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For some, the pain never stops.
For others, it comes and goes.
Some people experience pain in spurts.
They may have pain-free days, mild-pain days, or days when the pain seems almost constant.
Identifying where your abdominal pain is located can help tell the difference between IBS and other common digestive disorders.
Bear in mind that people with IBS may have acid reflux and indigestion along with IBS.
This may include worsening abdominal pain, loose stools, and bloating.
The pain of IBS isvisceral, meaning it comes from your internal organsin this case, your intestines.
It is also functional, meaning there is nothing wrong with the gut’s structure to explain the pain.
These extra-sensitive receptors send messages to your brain, telling it there is pain.
Central Sensitization
Over time, a phenomenon called central sensitization develops.
The brain begins to react strongly to pain messages.
It perceives mild, non-harmful sensations like digestion as painful.
That’s where the chronic or long-lasting pain of IBS comes from.
IBS is called acentral sensitivity syndrome.
It’s important to treat anxiety because it can start a cycle that ends up making gut sensitivity worse.
Understanding what to expect can help you put your pain in perspective.
Your treatment plan might not be as effective as it could be as well.
What Triggers IBS Pain?
In the past, diagnostic criteria noted that IBS pain was “improved with defecation.”
However, updated criteria note that abdominal pain is simply “related to defecation.”
So, IBS pain could either get better or worse with a bowel movement.
Pain that gets worse over time or wakes you up from sleep may not be IBS.
If you have pain that is progressing, you need a prompt medical evaluation.
Summary
IBS pain varies from one person to the next.
Over time, the brain becomes very sensitive to these pain signals.
Your symptoms can also change from day to day.
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