Crohn’s Disease Resources
Living with Crohn’s disease can be a challenge. Fortunately, a wealth of information and support is available to assist you on your journey. Here are some organizations, websites, and articles that may help.
Organizations
The go-to group for the Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis community was founded in 1967. This organization promotes research, education, and advocacy on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
This nonprofit organization aims to help patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and ostomies by connecting them through events and social media.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This U.S. federal agency funds research and provides information on Crohn’s disease, including tracking its prevalence in the United States.
American Gastroenterological Association
This leading professional organization for gastroenterologists promotes education for both doctors and patients, and publishes standards of care for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease.
American College of Gastroenterology
This professional organization of gastroenterologists promotes training and education for doctors, and also provides information for patients on various conditions.
Connecting to Cure Crohn's & Colitis
This all-volunteer organization promotes public awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, supports patients and their families, and funds research for new treatments and cures for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Financial Assistance
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America created this free service connecting patients to various public and private programs that provide financial assistance for prescription drugs.
This nonprofit organization provides a drug discount card and resources for finding pharmacies with the lowest prices, as well as organizations that offer assistance for people with Crohn’s disease.
Social Security Administration
This federal agency runs numerous insurance and safety net programs, including disability benefits and supplemental security income for eligible applicants.
Coping, Advocacy, and Support
This part of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website includes patient stories, a discussion forum, an online support group, and an expert Q&A page.
You can search for local support through the national Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website.
On this page of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website, you can access a variety of materials on your rights, as well as information about getting involved in Crohn’s-related advocacy.
Crohnology
This website, built by a patient with Crohn’s, lets users share treatment and management strategies that have worked for them, and uses a statistical approach to rate treatments.
Statistics and Information
Welcome to the IBD Help Center
This page on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website lets you connect with an IBD specialist by email, phone, or live video chat during certain hours.
The CDC assembles statistics on the prevalence of Crohn’s disease in the United States.
Medication and Therapies
The following articles provide information on prescription drugs used to treat Crohn’s disease:
- Apriso, Asacol, Delzicol, Lialda, or Pentasa (mesalamine)
- Sterapred (prednisone)
- Entocort EC (budesonide)
- Imuran (azathioprine)
- Purinethol (mercaptopurine)
- Trexall (methotrexate)
- Remicade (infliximab)
- Humira (adalimumab)
- Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
- Stelara (Ustekinumab)
Alternative Therapies
What Is Complementary Medicine?
This page on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website describes numerous alternative therapies that have been tried for Crohn’s disease, along with how strong the evidence is for various practices.
10 Complementary Therapies for Crohn's Disease
This article lists a range of treatments that may be helpful in Crohn’s disease.
Specialists and Treatment Facilities
This page on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website lets you search for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who are members of the foundation.
This page from the American College of Gastroenterology provides a comprehensive list of gastroenterologists in your area.
Patient and Doctor Blogs
This blog and its accompanying podcast are produced by a running enthusiast with Crohn’s disease who lives in New York City. Ali Feller describes the ups and downs of living with the condition, as well as plenty of expert opinions about running and life.
In Natalie Hayden's award-winning blog, she writes about juggling the ups and downs of life with Crohn's disease while raising two kids.
Tina Aswani Omprakash blogs about her personal experience living with Crohn's disease and all things related to the inflammatory bowel disease, including lifestyle, culture and diversity, caregiving, and clinical trials. She also interviews other patients about their experiences living with the condition.
The Girl in Healing author changed her site’s name after publishing The Complete Guide to Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Her blog delves into complementary medicine and holistic treatment for mind and body wellness to tamp down inflammation.
On this site, Sara Ringer describes the travails of living as a young woman with multiple medical conditions — Crohn’s disease and chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction — and without a colon.
Mary Horsley, a Navy vet, blogs about her life with Crohn’s disease and other chronic illnesses, taking readers on a journey through her surgeries and her Crohn’s treatment with Stelara.
This is a blog of the musings and artwork of a Canadian man with Crohn’s disease and an ostomy.
Crohn’s, Fitness, Food, and My Rocky Road to Health
Stephanie Gish blogs and podcasts about her Crohn’s journey and how she manages her disease while maintaining an active lifestyle.
Clinical Trials
This page on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website connects to resources on what a clinical trial is, how it might help you, and how to find trials that you might be eligible for.
This website has a searchable database of clinical trials nationwide, including those related to Crohn’s disease.
This publisher provides information about clinical trials that is easy to navigate for both doctors and patients. It will also help you check if you qualify for a trial that interests you.
Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson.