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Crohn's Disease Specialist

Los Angeles Gastroenterology Clinic

S. Radi Shamsi, MD

Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist located in Santa Monica, CA

Crohn’s disease leads to inflammation in your digestive tract, but not just in your bowels. You can have inflammation from your mouth, all the way down to your rear end. S. Radi Shamsi, MD, of Los Angeles Gastroenterology Clinic in Santa Monica, California, is an expert at helping patients, deal with the unbearable side effects of Crohn’s disease. Even if you haven’t been officially diagnosed with Crohn’s, Dr. Shamsi will get you properly diagnosed and work with you to manage your Crohn’s symptoms. All you have to do is take the first step and schedule an appointment.

Crohn's Disease Q&A

What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease affects your bowel movements and it can be very painful. You may have one issue, or several, but in general, Crohn’s causes:

  • Diarrhea or loose stools
  • Intense abdominal cramping
  • Decreased energy levels
  • Fever
  • Bloody stools
  • Reduced appetite
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Pain and leakage in your anus
  • Mouth ulcers that resemble canker sores


Don’t wait until you have experienced symptoms for an extended period of time to see Dr. Shamsi. Your symptoms might be mild this time and severe the next, or there could be a long interval between symptoms. Get checked out at the start and take control of your Crohn’s disease

Is Crohn’s disease the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

No. While both Crohn’s and IBS have similar symptoms, including irregularity and lower belly pain, they are completely different conditions. Crohn’s is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect your entire life. It causes parts of your intestines to become inflamed and irritated.

IBS on the other hand, isn’t chronic and it only affects muscle contractions in your bowels, rather than causing inflammation.

Why do I have Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease isn’t caused by your diet. While the exact cause isn’t known, doctors do notice some trends among men and women who suffer with Crohn’s. Often, several people in the same family live with Crohn’s, leading medical experts to believe that it’s genetic.

Patients diagnosed with Crohn’s often have an overactive immune system, which makes your body attack healthy cells along your digestive tract. This can boost inflammation and possibly cause Crohn’s.

Sometimes Crohn’s stems from something in your environment. So if you don’t have a family history of Crohn’s and your immune system doesn’t seem to be the problem, it could just be environmental. No matter the cause, Dr. Shamsi will help you manage your Crohn’s symptoms.

Can Crohn’s be cured?

No. But Crohn’s symptoms are treatable. Dr. Shamsi will likely try several different things to see which option works best for your symptoms. Treatments can include:

  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Corticosteroids
  • Immune system suppressor drugs
  • Antibiotics
  • Anti-diarrheal medications
  • Diet and nutrition counseling
  • Surgery  


Surgery is the absolute last resort for treating Crohn’s. If you need surgery, Dr. Shamsi will remove any damaged parts of your intestines and connect the healthy parts.