Crohn’s disease causes irritation and swelling in the lining of the digestive tract, which is also called the gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract. Inflammation from Crohn’s disease can happen anywhere along the digestive tract.

It most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon).

Crohn’s is a chronic condition, so most people will experience symptoms on and off throughout their life. Periods when symptoms appear are called relapses. Symptom-free periods are called remissions.

Keep reading to learn more about the Crohn’s disease remission and relapse cycle.

The main goal of Crohn’s disease treatment is to achieve and maintain remission. This is when symptoms improve or disappear entirely. Doctors have different definitions for remission and different ways to describe it.

Remission can mean different things based on the parameters used to describe it.

Types of remission include:

Clinical remission

This is the term your doctor will typically use to describe your remission. It means your symptoms have improved or gone away. Yet you may still have inflammation in your GI tract.

Endoscopic remission

This means there’s no evidence of inflammation on tests like a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

This type of remission is harder to achieve than clinical remission, but it’s the goal of treatment because it means the damage to your GI tract has stopped.

Radiographic remission

There’s no sign of inflammation on an MRI scan or other imaging scans of your GI tract.

Histological remission

Though there’s no agreed-upon definition for this type of remission, it generally refers to reduced inflammation and healing in the lining of the GI tract.

With histological remission, there’s no evidence of inflammation when tissue samples are studied under a microscope.

Normal markers of inflammation

Blood and fecal tests show no signs of inflammation.

Symptoms

Symptoms like belly pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools should get milder or disappear once you’re in remission.

Duration

Periods of remission can last anywhere from a few months to several years. Symptoms usually come back at some point.

Diet

A few diets have been suggested for maintaining remission:

  • Gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Some people with Crohn’s disease find that not eating gluten helps with symptoms.
  • Low fiber diet. Limiting high fiber foods like whole grains, nuts, and popcorn may relieve symptoms like belly pain and loose bowel movements.
  • Low FODMAP diet. FODMAP is shorthand for five sugars that your intestines may not absorb well. You’ll find them in foods that contain natural sugars like sorbitol and xylitol, as well as in chickpeas, lentils, garlic, and wheat.
  • Low red processed meats diet. Some people find that when they reduce the amount of beef and other red meat that they eat, as well as lunch meat, hot dogs, and bacon, they don’t get as many flare-ups.
  • Mediterranean diet. This diet is high in fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil, and low fat dairy. It’s low in red meat.
  • Specific carbohydrate diet. This diet removes certain sugars as well as fiber and some grains.
  • A dairy-free or lactose-free diet. This may help, although more research is needed.

So far, none of these diets have been proven to maintain remission, but they may work for certain people. Talk with your doctor or a dietitian before changing the way you eat.

Treatment

Being in remission does not mean that you should stop treatment. Continuing to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor can help prevent a new flare of symptoms as well as complications.

Drugs used to maintain remission include:

  • Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) like sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). These drugs block certain pathways to bring down inflammation in the lining of the intestine.
  • Immunomodulators such as azathioprine (Azasan). These drugs reduce the immune system response to stop inflammation. You may be prescribed one of these medications if the aminosalicylates don’t work for you.
  • Biologic drugs. This newer group of drugs targets certain proteins in your body that cause inflammation. Biologics are administered as an injection or infusion you get under the skin.

Other tips for maintaining remission

Certain factors tend to trigger flare-ups. Here are a few things you can do to avoid a return of your symptoms:

  • Manage stress. Stressful situations or strong emotions can lead to flare-ups. It’s likely not possible to prevent or remove all stress-producing events in your life, but you can use relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation to help change the way your body reacts to stressful situations.
  • Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some commonly used medications, including aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), are possible triggers for flares.
  • Limit antibiotics. Taking antibiotics can cause changes in the bacteria that typically live in the intestine. This can lead to inflammation and symptom flares in some people with Crohn’s.
  • If you smoke, consider quitting. People who smoke tend to have more flares than nonsmokers. If you smoke and are having trouble quitting, consider talking with your doctor about supportive resources to help you.
  • Be mindful of triggers in your diet. Some people have diet-related triggers. No one type of food aggravates symptoms in everyone with Crohn’s. Keeping a food diary to identify any potential triggers can help you better understand how your diet relates to your symptoms.

Even with treatment, people with Crohn’s disease will likely experience flare-ups, or periods of time when their disease symptoms are active.

It’s not always possible to know what causes a flare. Flares can happen even while you’re taking your medications as prescribed and following self-care practices.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a relapse can vary from mild cramping and diarrhea to severe abdominal pain or bowel blockages. You may experience the same types of digestive problems you had when you were first diagnosed, or you may have new symptoms.

Typical symptoms during a flare include:

  • diarrhea
  • frequent bowel movements
  • blood in the stool
  • belly pain
  • nausea and vomiting
  • weight loss

Duration

Symptom flare-ups can last from weeks to months. Flare-ups can happen naturally when Crohn’s is untreated. They can also happen when Crohn’s doesn’t respond to treatments and symptoms remain acute.

There are two main types of treatment for Crohn’s disease: medication and surgery.

Medications

Most Crohn’s disease medications are meant to reduce inflammation in the GI tract. Some medications treat flares, while others help keep Crohn’s in remission once symptoms have gone away.

The most common drugs used to treat Crohn’s include:

  • Aminosalicylates. These medications help bring down inflammation. They work well for mild to moderate disease and to prevent relapses. They’re most effective for Crohn’s disease that’s in the colon.
  • Corticosteroids. These are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They help manage flares but are meant for short-term use only because of their risk of side effects like weight gain, mood changes, and weakened bones.
  • Immunomodulators. These drugs dampen the immune system response to bring down inflammation. Your doctor may recommend one of these drugs if aminosalicylates don’t work for you.
  • Biologics. Biologics target proteins in your body that cause inflammation. They’re available as an injection or infusion you get under the skin.
  • Antibiotics. These medications help prevent and treat infections in the GI tract. They’re used primarily to treat infections that may be causing further complications.

Surgery

Surgery is an option, but it’s usually reserved for Crohn’s disease that doesn’t improve with medication or stops responding to it. Up to 75 percent of people with Crohn’s disease will eventually need surgery.

Surgery can be used to open a part of the intestine that has become blocked. It can also be used to remove a damaged portion of the intestine.

Here are some types of surgery for treating Crohn’s disease:

  • Resection removes only the damaged section of intestine.
  • Proctocolectomy removes the damaged colon and rectum.
  • Colectomy removes the colon.
  • Fistula removal treats an abnormal tunnel that forms between two areas of the intestine or between the intestine and another organ like the rectum and vagina.
  • Abscess drainage removes an abnormal collection of pus that has built up in the belly.
  • Strictureplasty widens a narrow or blocked part of the intestine.

Surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, but it can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

How long can a Crohn’s remission last?

The length of remission can vary. If disease activity is below a certain threshold and you have no symptoms, a doctor will say you are in remission.

In a 2020 case study, 10 people experienced prolonged remission lasting between 3 and 23 years. The researchers believed that using anti-MAP therapy, infliximab, and fecal microbiota transplantation helped prolong remission.

What induces remission in Crohn’s?

Using immunosuppressant and biologic medications can help induce and maintain remission once disease activity is below a certain level. Other factors that may help include avoiding smoking and managing stress.

How long does it take for Crohn’s to go into remission?

This will depend on how Crohn’s affects you and if you’re able to take measures to manage it. Factors that worsen symptoms include not having treatment, smoking, stress, and taking certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Can you be healed from Crohn’s?

Crohn’s is a lifelong condition. Currently, there is no cure, but advances in medicine are making it easier to manage and increasing the chances of prolonged remission. With treatment and self-care practices, many people with Crohn’s are able to enjoy a full life.

Crohn’s disease can be unpredictable, and it’s not the same for everyone.

Your relapse and remission cycle will vary depending on your symptoms and triggers. It will also depend on how well your Crohn’s responds to particular treatments.

Working with your doctor to prevent relapses and managing them when they do happen can help you stay on top of your condition.