Crohn's Disease Specialist

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder and a common type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus. In many cases, it’s the last part of your small intestine that’s most affected by the inflammation. 

For some with Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can move through the layers of tissue lining their digestive tract, even reaching nearby organs. This movement creates a fistula or tunnel.

What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease can cause a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe. These symptoms include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Abdominal pain
• Changes in appetite
  
  

You may also experience frequent sensations of needing to have a bowel movement, even when you just used the bathroom.

Because many symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to other gastrointestinal conditions, it’s important to schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants. The physicians can confirm whether your symptoms relate to Crohn’s disease or another condition. 

How is Crohn’s disease diagnosed?

During the evaluation, your Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants provider discusses your medical history, your symptoms, and your usual routine. They also perform a physical exam to identify abnormalities, like swelling or pain in your abdomen.

To get a closer look at your digestive tract, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. These diagnostic procedures use a thin, flexible tube with an attached camera that goes in through your mouth or rectum and transmits real-time images of your digestive tract to an external monitor. 

The team also offers capsule endoscopy, which involves swallowing a small capsule that contains a wireless camera. The camera records images of your digestive tract as it travels through it.

The Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants providers view the images from the camera to identify obstructions or abnormalities and confirm Crohn’s disease-related inflammation. 

How is Crohn’s disease treated?

While there’s no cure for Crohn’s disease, the physicians at Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants offer comprehensive services to help you manage your symptoms and prevent a worsening of your condition. 

In many cases, medications like antibiotics, steroids, and biologics can address inflammation and prevent infection. Your Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants doctor also provides nutritional counseling to help you make necessary changes to your diet to avoid inflammation and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

If you have chronic pain or conservative treatments aren’t enough to manage your symptoms, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove damaged areas of your intestines. 

To get help managing Crohn’s disease, schedule an evaluation at Eisenman & Eisenman, M.D., Advanced Gastro Consultants today by calling the office or request an appointment online now.