Why is IBS so debilitating?
For some people with IBS, even a small change in intestinal activity can trigger the nerves to send messages to the brain causing abdominal pain. Brain-gut dysfunction: In IBS, there may be problems in how the brain receives and processes sensationscoming from the intestines. How debilitating Can IBS be? For many people with IBS, their pain can be crippling and disabling. IBS pain can be sharp, stabbing, and intense. People often describe it as if their guts are being twisted by a powerful force.