“Does Crohn's disease require surgery?”
I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was a kid, and I'm still trying to manage it. Is it possible that I would need to have surgery in the future?
3 Answers
Yes, it's possible to need surgery, but this tends to happen when there is a complication such as a stricture or abscess. Another reason is that the inflammation simply cannot be controlled. Most important is that you get into complete remission. Your doctor should have a lot of experience and make sure that remission has been achieved. If you are not in remission, then make sure that it happens. This is the best way to avoid surgery.
In my experience, eventually, all patients with Crohn's will need surgery. We try and put it off as long as possible, but when the medications stop working, and they probably will, then you will likely need surgery. Prior to surgery, there are multiple flare-ups and significant weight loss. All of my patients who finally agreed to surgery did great and wished they had done the surgery sooner because they felt much better.
Possible, yes. Visit a gastroenterologist because there is treatment available which may help you avoid the need for surgery.
