Yes, you can lift weights if your microscopic colitis is causing a low abdominal cramp.
There are two kinds of “lower abdominal cramps” that you may experience with microscopic colitis.
This assertion is based on the fact that I myself have experienced two distinct types of low ab cramping as a result of lymphocytic colitis, which I was diagnosed with in 2010 May.
I’m also an avid bodybuilder and powerlifter. At the time of this article writing, I’ve had two flare-ups of microscopic colitis.
The first resulted in a little cramping in the lower abdominal area that felt slightly gassy and had some mild rumbling, as though things were, as I’d think, “going on in there.”
With the second flare-up, I had this same kind of mild dissonance that felt like there was a little gas, like gas bubbles brewing, but also with a little cramping; very mild.]
In both cases, I lifted weights as though it weren’t there. This included heavy bench pressing and deadlifting.
The weightlifting did NOT make the cramping worse.
The low ab cramp was just something in the background that I was aware of while I was passively resting in between weight lifting sets.
I’ve done exhaustive research on microscopic colitis, and I have NOT located any medical literature stating that weight lifting should be avoided by those with a low ab cramp from this benign condition.
The second kind of low abdominal cramping from microscopic colitis is the type that, if severe enough, would keep me home.
However, it’s also very responsive to Naprosyn. This second kind of pelvic discomfort is NOT related to the “gassy” kind described just a moment ago.
This second kind is quite uncomfortable, and even when mild, is very annoying. It feels JUST LIKE a PMS uterine cramp!
Research is ongoing as to the exact mechanism that microscopic colitis causes “pain” or aching beyond the abdominal cavity.
My belief is that this inflammatory bowel disease incites production of hormones called prostaglandins. See the source citations at the end of this article.
Prostaglandins are located throughout the body, and when activated, cause inflammation and discomfort at those regions.
They are part of PMS for many women, which is why joint pain or aches, along with low back ache and low ab cramps, are common PMS symptoms.
It’s believed that prostaglandins are in full force, which is why anti-prostaglandin drugs like Naprosyn and ibuprofen knock the aches out cold. Prostaglandins cause uterine spasms, leading to the sometimes disabling “low ab” pain of PMS.
Enteropathic arthralgia is the term for joint pain caused by a gastrointestinal problem. Enteropathic arthralgia is part of inflammatory bowel disease, and microscopic colitis is an IBD.
It would be no surprise that the joint aches and low ab (pelvic) pain of my MC involve the same mechanism as the PMS pain I used to get.
If I want to lift weights but have this second kind of low ab ache from microscopic colitis (it’s not PMS because I’m postmenopausal), I’ll simply take Naprosyn, which suppresses the enzyme that leads to prostaglandin production. I’ll then have a great workout.
However, those with MC should avoid NSAIDs! Fortunately, my “enteropathic arthralgia” hasn’t been frequent enough to interfere with scheduled weight lifting workouts.
