Treatment Options
When you are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, your doctor may prescribe a combination
of medications, steroids, or surgery to help you manage your symptoms. The treatments
you receive will depend on the severity of your Crohn's disease and which treatments
you have already tried.
Some researchers also believe that changes to your diet and exercise routine may also
affect your Crohn's symptoms. It is important to note, however, that everyone's body is
different. And what works for one person may not work for someone else. That's why it
is a good idea to talk to your doctor or a dietitian before making any changes to your
routine.
Medications
You and your doctor may discuss several medication treatment options. The different types of medication traditionally used to treat Crohn's disease include:
- Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), a class of anti-inflammatory drugs, used mostly in
mild to moderate disease
- Corticosteroids, also anti-inflammatory drugs, which work by suppressing
the immune system
- Immunomodulators, which override the immune system to keep it from causing
inflammation and are mainly used to maintain remission
- Biologics. Anti-TNFs are the most common type of biologics. Anti-TNFs work by blocking the part of the immune system that causes
inflammation and are used for moderate to severe disease. Learn more about
anti-TNFs.
Surgery
Despite the advances in medication treatments, about 8 in 10 people with Crohn's
disease will need surgery at some point. Some people need to
have emergency surgery due to bleeding, intestinal obstruction, or other urgent
situations. For other people, surgery may be necessary because of severe pain,
weight loss, or fever.
When necessary, surgery involves removing particularly damaged sections of your
digestive tract and then reconnecting the healthy sections of tissue. However, most
of the time, symptoms will return after surgery and the cycle of the disease will
begin again.