When I had UC, it was that bad too. It is the inflamation.

Mine varies daily. Sometimes even though I'm in a flare, I go days with no or almost no pain. Other days, like the last couple, my belly has a constant tight cramped pain combined with a vague nausea that won't ease unless I take a painkiller (currently I'm prescribed vicodin). When I have to use the toilet, the pain can be excruciating from the intense spasms which must push the inflamed colon around and in on itself. I've had lodged kidney stones, and I thought that was a 10 on the pain scale. Then I got my current bout of UC, and there've been a few moments in the bathroom when I found out what a 10 really feels like. Ouch!!!!! At least you're right, those pains only last a few seconds or so.

I take painkillers for constant body aches and sever restless leg syndrome. When my UC was severe and I used to pass liver stones all the time I did so without any meds. What i would do is curl up in a fetal position and breath really deep and slow basically forcing myself to pass out. I would wake up 1-3 hours later usually soaking wet feeling like I had been run over by a mack truck but out of the acute pain.

When in a flare up I hurt so bad I have kicked the wall! while on the toilet the pain can be so bad I put my head down on my lap and shake, and I get so hot and my whole body hurts. My dear William will get a cold wash cloth and wipe my face, and sometimes I have sat there for a long while after the pain lets up and slept, rather than go back to bed and have to get up in fifteen minutes and go through it again.

Where is your pain at? try warm compressions if its your abdominal area. Or, curling up in a fetal position. Lots of pain meds...such as something prescribed or advil. Good Luck to you...sorry to hear you're in a lot of pain!!!!! Take care.

Thanks everybody. i'm just afraid to take meds because sometimes they make me even more sick. i think that's how i got my current flare up because i had a cold and was taking medicine for that.
and my pain has just moved so instead of it being in my abdomen it is also above my belly button.

My pain is pretty much under control now, except when I get an obstruction - ouch. When it was really bad, I found that lying very still in a fetal position with a hot water bottle or heating pad helped a fair bit.

Have pain meds made you sick, Shana? Which ones? I bet if you talked to your doctor or a pain management nurse as a consultant you could find something for relief that wouldn't make you feel worse. I really believe no one should have to tough it through the pain. There has been a lot of work done in the past decade or so on pain management. You might visit the support group here for chronic pain for some advice: http://dailystrength.org/c/Chronic-Pain/support-group

I hope things get better soon for you!!!

I used to struggle with pain meds because most of them upsetted my stomach. I use vicodin now and it works good. I take one instead of two, and always take it with food. It's been okay so far.

I always try the hot water bottle/heating pad first; if that doesn't work I have a warm bath and still if I am getting no relief I will take something for the pain. I find that the pain meds make me loopy or naseous or both...Mint tea also helps me...

I hear ya on the paralyzing/nauseating pain. I get it too.
It could be the inflammation or it could be gas moving through your GI. Avoid gas producing foods, take baths, heating pads, comfy pants, herbal tea, deep breathing and restorative yoga will help. Get a couple of pillows and do supported child's pose.

http://www.wikihealth.com/Restorative_yoga_poses

avoid Advil or any ibuprofen. Years ago I was taking prescription strength for a RSI injury shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with UC. Both my Western & Eastern docs think the ibuprofen brought the UC out. I have not taken any Advil or Tylenol since.

I have daily pain, and its constant. It NEVER goes away. I also take vicodin, but at times that doesnt even help. Be sure anytime your on antibiotics you put good flora back into your system, like with Activa. It helps.

After the first year living with the pain of it and taking heavy duty pain killers I gave up on it. I tried alternative methods like meditation and stuff like that. You can phase out almost any pain with enough focus even if it is for 5 seconds. I worry about my liver so I stay away from meds that I don't really have to take which includes pain medication. I was reading the responses and someone mentioned restless leg, I wanted to warn you be very careful with that. Excersise as much as possible when you get restless leg, I had it for over 2 years and it turned into arthoritis and now there isn't much else I can do about it except to take arthoritis medication and im only 24.