The large intestine is a hollow organ that can be about 5 feet in length, on average. The large intestine is made up of four parts, including the anal canal, the rectum, the colon and the cecum. In this part of the digestive tract, nutrients, electrolytes and water are absorbed from the food traveling through so that it can be converted into valuable energy for the body. After the necessary components are collected, the leftover waste then exits the large intestine through the anal canal.
Pain in the large intestine could signal a variety of conditions. Keep reading below to learn about potential causes. To best understand what condition you might be dealing with, it’s always a good idea to consult with a digestive health specialist.
What could be causing the pain in my large intestine?
- Constipation or diarrhea — Constipation and diarrhea are more common types of conditions that affect the GI tract. Constipation and diarrhea can be symptoms of things like lactose intolerance.
- Celiac disease — Celiac disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the large intestine after the consumption of foods containing gluten. Pain caused by celiac disease is the result of the immune system attacking the intestine.
- Parasitic infection — On occasion, pain in the large intestine may be due to a parasitic infection. Oftentimes, patients with this type of infection cannot feel any pain from the parasites, but there may be times when abdominal pain can be felt.
There are a few different ways to treat pain in the large intestine. Some of these treatment methods may include medications to treat pain or inflammation, laxatives, improvements to diet, and in extreme circumstances, even surgery.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to Center for Digestive Health with any further questions!
Still wondering what other things you should know about pain in the large intestine? Check out another of our blog posts about abdominal pain. Are you looking for more information, or have other digestive health questions? Please don’t wait to reach out to one of our team members for help. Our team of GI specialists has the training and experience to answer any questions you may have. They can also help you find the most effective treatments for your conditions and for common GI issues.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.