What Does IBS Pain Feel Like?

1 min read

As with any diagnosis, IBS pain can affect people differently. However, most people living with IBS experience pain at some point. In fact, the most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal cramps and pain, according to data from our 2020 IBS In America survey. For some, it can be debilitating at times.

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To learn more about how IBS community members would describe their pain, we reached out to followers of our Facebook page. We asked you to fill in the blank: "Tell us: IBS pain feels like ____." More than 100 of you responded.

While some of you understandably said there are no words to describe the pain, others said IBS pain feels like:

Labor pains
Like something is twisting my intestines
Like a mule kick to the stomach

Here are some more of your responses. We hope this video helps you feel less alone in your IBS journey. Start a conversation in our forums or join the discussion on Facebook.

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hateibs Member
Most of the time my main IBS symptoms don't include much pain but only a feeling of "discomfort". But sometimes I get pains, and they differ a lot. Today I got one that just wrapped round my whole middle and was horrible, and suddenly disappeared after 3 minutes and has not come back (that one scared me) Then there's the lower back one (sacrum area) which is like a regular back ache that I've had for years owing to pelvic misalignment, but it's worse when my IBS is a bit dodgy. There's my flare up pains which aren't too bad, but remind me of period cramps. I am way too old for periods now but that's what they feel like. They go away as soon as I have a BM. Then there's trapped wind which is sharp and really horrible, like being stabbed with spiky things. Fortunately some warm thing on my belly, a colon massage, maybe a warm bath, moving my body around, or even lying flat on the floor can mostly shift those. Otherwise peppermint tea helps. Even a shot of alcohol has taken that away, though alcohol is not the best thing usually for IBS. But I suppose we all find our own ways of doing what we can to help ourselves at the time. The worst pain I get is proctalgia fugax which is intolerable, but usually only lasts 10 minutes or something, and doesn't happen too often, though it can happen any time and even wake me from a deep sleep. There isn't time for any painkiller to work. I just lie there and count seconds, and wait. I don't know if that is, or isn't, related to IBS, as I remember getting that occasionally many years ago before IBS.
1. CommunityMember63c39c Member
 <inline-mention username="Karina" user-id="2303467"/> I take IBS peppermint capsules 
2. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember63c39c" user-id="6707696"/> So sorry that it's been worse since the surgery. You're not alone: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/gallbladder-removal-ibs' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/gallbladder-removal-ibs</a>. Have you gotten any help from doctors? Do the peppermint capsules help with your pain? Karina (team member)
CommunityMember493 Member
Hi everyone. I'm in a miserable place right now. My intestines are all twisted up and it's making me depressed especially right now with the Holidays. Since finding a wonderful GI doctor who is well versed in IBS and its management, I've been feeling very well for this past year. But I made the mistake of not paying attention to my diet and not taking some key meds regularly that help my IBS. Now I have to sort of hit a reset button and start all over again. Which means a low residual diet, no dairy, especially cheese, no red meats, no sugar, no alcohol, no coffee and mostly liquids for a few days. All this helps me rest my bowels. Go back on probiotics and take my Nortriptyline nightly. I've had very bad insomnia which I know is a contributing factor. Please pray for me as I do for others who have this debilitating disease. Happy Holidays to All. Thanks for listening.
1. Kelly Dabel, RD Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember493" user-id="4735795"/> Appreciate you sharing with us. Sounda like you have some great strategies to help get beack on track. Sending positive thoughts your way for some relief soon. Thank you for being part of our community. Please keep us posted on how you are doing, if you'd like. Best, Kelly, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>Irritablebowelsyndrome.net</a> Team Member
2. CommunityMember63c39c Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember493" user-id="4735795"/> caffeine free tea
CommunityMember2bd1e1 Member
Hello, I recently had an episode that was very new to me. I was constipated for about 4 days. When I did go, I had diarrhea with hard stool. But when I finally started to go, I got nauseous and wanted to throw up. So I took some miralax. The next day I want real well but it was very painful in my pelvic area. Had a hysterectomy so its not related to my uterus. The day after that, I had painful, burn my skin diarrhea. Couldn't stop. What would this be? Miralax has never caused a problem for me. I put a call into my doctor. Thanks for reading. 
1. CommunityMember63c39c Member
 <inline-mention username="Karina" user-id="2303467"/> ok thank you for asking me ☺️ 
2. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember63c39c" user-id="6707696"/> I'm glad to hear that! 😀 Karina (team member)
CommunityMemberfcf295 Member
I have found a lot of useful information on the web <a href='https://HelpforIBS.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>HelpforIBS.com</a>. It is written by Heather Van Vorous and she has years of dealing with IBS
1. Karina Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberfcf295" user-id="6685126"/> Thank you so much for sharing this resource with us! I'm so glad it helps you. Karina (team member)