The term “spastic colon” came from the belief that muscle spasms within the large intestine (colon) caused problems with motility (the movement of food through the gut) and abdominal pain associated with IBS. Healthcare providers now know the mechanisms behind IBS are more complex.
If you have been told you have or think you have a spastic colon, it may be helpful to learn more about IBS. This article provides an overview of spastic colon, including symptoms, triggers and causes, and treatment options.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. This means there’s something wrong with how the digestive system functions, but no visible signs of disease show up during diagnostic tests.
IBSColitisMucous colitisNervous colonSpastic bowelIrritable colon
IBS is diagnosed after your healthcare provider has ruled out other disorders. The subtypes of IBS are based on changes in bowel movements and whether constipation, diarrhea, or mixed bowel habits are predominant.
Spastic Colon Symptoms
People with IBS experience various symptoms related to the functioning of the large intestine. They may have chronic constipation or urgent bouts of diarrhea. Many people find themselves alternating between the two bowel problems.
Other IBS symptoms include:
Abdominal pain Gas and bloating A feeling of incomplete evacuation Mucus in the stool
See your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms. Other disorders that may be more serious share similar symptoms. It’s important to receive a proper diagnosis so you get the appropriate treatment plan.
Causes
No one knows for sure why some people end up with IBS. However, there’s much more information on what might have gone wrong than in the past.
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Some problems identified as possible causes or triggers include:
The brain-gut connection: The role of the nervous system, including changes in the levels of neurotransmitters and hormones, may affect digestive system function and how fast or slow food moves through the digestive tract. Visceral hypersensitivity: A stronger-than-normal pain response to pressure can occur within the large intestine. Gut bacteria: There can be an imbalance between “friendly” and “unfriendly” bacteria in the gut. Inflammation: There’s no visible inflammation with IBS, but there may be inflammation that’s not visible. Food intolerances and sensitivities: Symptoms may be triggered by specific foods or groups of foods.
Additionally, dietary factors may help improve or worsen inflammation.
A reason why IBS is hard to understand and treat is that several different factors may cause it. You can see that researchers have come a long way from pointing to colon spasms in the gut as being the problem.
Treatment
There’s no one cure for IBS. Instead, there are various options your healthcare provider might recommend for you to try, such as:
Medications Over-the-counter remedies Dietary changes Psychotherapy
Medications
The medication your healthcare provider recommends or prescribes will likely be related to the IBS symptoms you have. They can include:
Laxatives: Miralax (polyethylene glycol), Metamucil (psyllium), Benefiber (wheat dextrin), or Citrucel (methylcellulose) Antidiarrheals: Imodium (loperamide) Secretagogues and prosecretory drugs: Amitiza (lubiprostone), Linzess (linaclotide), or Trulance (plecanatide) Antispasmodics: Bentyl(dicyclomine) or Levsin (hyoscyamine) Antidepressants: Elavil (amitriptyline), Sinequan (doxepin), or Norprimin (desipramine) Antibiotics: Xifaxan (rifaximin) Agonists/antagonists: Zelnorm (tegaserod) or Lotronex (alosetron)
Reasons for back pain in IBS include:
Intestinal symptoms: IBS-related feelings of gas, bloating, or colon spasms can cause abdominal and lower back pain. Referred pain: Pain that starts in one body part (intestines) can be felt in another area (back). Related health conditions: IBS can occur alongside an overlapping condition that can cause back pain, like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia.
StressSome medicationsStomach or intestine infections (gastroenteritis)Certain foods (such as high-FODMAP foods)CaffeineCarbonated drinksArtificial sugarsAlcohol
However, someone with IBS might not have symptoms all the time. They may experience flare-ups that last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Most often, IBS flares last less than one week and usually don’t continue more than three days.
