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Can Constipation Cause Back Pain

Nhs Explain The Best Ways To Treat Back Pain

Does Constipation Cause Lower Back Pain?

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Back pain is something you need to see your GP about if it persists, gets worse, or if it stops you from doing day-to-day activities. Most of the time back pain isnt caused by anything serious, but it could be caused by a number of things.

How To Treat The Problem

The first step to treating constipation that is causing your back pain should probably be in your diet. You will want to add more fiber and water into your daily intake when it comes to sustenance . The inclusion of these two things will keep things moving nicely.

If constipation shows up after you start a new diet or medication, then before you start making adjustments, you will want to see your doctor. Other possible treatments for constipation are:

  • Exercise Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. But if you are dealing with constipation or are trying to prevent it, then getting some physical activity is imperative. Building muscle can help with everything, and exercise also helps promote intestinal activity.
  • Water Adding more water to your daily routine will combat the chance of dry stool. This stool is hard to pass. Ideally, most people should try to intake 8 glasses of water a day .
  • Fiber Fiber helps move stool easily through your system. So you will want to increase your intake of fiber by including whole-grain bread and more vegetables.
  • Bowel Movement Schedule Try to set your body up on a schedule. That means trying to go at the same time every day. This will make it more likely that your body will keep a regular schedule, and it will be easier to tell if you are dealing with constipation.

What Causes Back Pain

It isnt always possible to identify the cause of back pain, but its rarely anything serious.

Most back pain is non-specific, which means there is no obvious cause.

Other types are mechanical, meaning that the pain originates from the joints, bones or soft tissues in and around the spine.

Non-specific or mechanical pain is sometimes caused by poor posture or lifting something awkwardly, but can sometimes happen for no reason.

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Reaction To Certain Medicines

Certain medications will have constipation as a side effect. Your body reacts to different medications differently. If constipation is a side effect you are suffering from, you can consume particular medicines designed to treat constipation. You can go for medicines that cure chronic constipation as well.

Additional Causes Of Back Pain

Can Constipation Cause Lower Back Pain And Leg Pain

If you have constipation and back pain, its important to note that it may not be the constipation thats causing your pain.

Instead, another non-related condition could be the underlying cause of your back pain.

Below is a list of common conditions that can cause back pain:

  • Muscle strain
Kefir, greek yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh

Another good measure for treating and preventing constipation is increased water consumption.

Extra water can help make your stool softer so it passes more easily.

Some other common treatments for quick constipation relief include over-the-counter stool softeners, stimulant laxatives, and fiber supplements.

In cases of chronic constipation, you may want to discuss treatment plans with your doctor.

Chronic, long-standing constipation can lead to a number of issues, including urinary problems.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder that involves chronic constipation.

This disorder affects the large intestine and causes symptoms like constipation, cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, and gas.

Usually, health care providers will recommend a change of diet and other lifestyle changes to manage your chronic pain.

In rare cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent or treat constipation.

Though, this is usually a last resort and only prescribed after other methods like dietary changes, increased physical activity, and increased water intake dont help produce normal bowel movements.

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Can Constipation Cause Severe Back Pain

Constipation does not usually cause severe back pain. However, it may be a side effect of severe back pain. Most doctors report that constipation causes a dull ache instead of severe back pain.

Constipation that occurs with severe back pain may be caused by:

  • A pinched nerve in your back
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Tumor on your spine

Back Pain Due To Constipation

Sometimes, you can experience dull back pain and constipation together if some infection is present in your spinal cord. There could also be a tumor pressing against your spinal cord. Constipation can be among the symptoms or a side effect of this condition.

You can also experience pain in your lower back simply because of constipation. You may experience a condition known as fecal impaction. It is a condition in which a piece of dry stool is stuck in the colon or the rectum.

The piece stuck in your colon can increase the pressure on your gut and your back. Ultimately, this pressure may be responsible for creating radiating pain in your back and your abdomen.

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Pain In The Right Side When To See A Doctor

The reasons for experiencing pain on the right side of your body are many and varied. If right-sided chest pain and abdominal pain persist and natural remedies dont give you relief, you should visit your doctor.

Dr. Jennifer Robinson on WebMD advises that persistent upper body pain can be a sign of a serious health condition and needs professional medical advice.28

You should see a doctor for pain in the right side of your upper body if you have one or more of the following symptoms:

  • A sudden crushing pain under your breastbone
  • Any type of chest pain that radiates to your left arm, jaw, or back
  • Along with the right-side pain, you have nausea, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat
  • You have signs of an infection like a fever or chills
  • Your urine is a red or pink color and/or you have pain urinating
  • You have swelling in your abdomen
  • You pass bloody stools
  • Your chest pain doesnt go away

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The Relationship Between Your Lower Back & Digestive System

Can constipation cause back pain

Constipation can indeed cause back pain, as a blockage of waste in your lower intestines can cause pain to radiate in your lower back. The problem only gets worse until you have a bowel movement, as while you are still waiting to go, the food that you eat is causing even more waste to accumulate and become impacted. On the other hand, back pain in the form of strained or tight back muscles can also be the cause of constipation. This is because when the muscles contract too tightly, they can cause difficulties for the nerves that control your bowel movements. Therefore, we can conclude that a relationship does exist between your lower back and digestive system.

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Constipation Types & Symptoms

The Bristol Stool Form Scale makes it easier to understand and talk about constipation. The scale helps assess how long stools have been in the bowel by assigning them a number based on their size, shape, and consistency.

Type 1 stools have spent the most time in the bowel type 7 have spent the least. Stools resembling types 1-2 indicate constipation, types 3-5 are typically considered normal bowel movements, and types 6-7 are diarrhea.

Sudden or short periods of difficult, infrequent bowel movements of type 1-2 stool are categorized as occasional constipation.

Occasional constipation affects about 16% of adults and is usually the result of easily-identifiable causes, such as a diet low in fiber, dehydration, lack of physical activity, or medications that cause constipation as a side effect. This includes over-the-counter medications like antacids or iron supplements, and many medications prescribed for high blood pressure, Parkinsons, and depression. It also includes many of the most commonly prescribed pain medications like opioids more on that in a minute.

Constipation symptoms that keep coming back or seem to last for a long time more than 3 months are known as chronic constipation. If chronic constipation is accompanied by bloating and abdominal pain or discomfort, its called IBS-C .

Chronic constipation can be a symptom of a range of medical conditions, including problems in your spine.

How Long Will I Need To Take Laxatives For

If you’ve had constipation for a short time, your pharmacist will usually advise you to stop taking the laxative once your stools are soft and easily passed.

However, if your constipation is caused by an underlying medical condition or a medicine you’re taking, your GP may advise you to take laxatives for much longer, possibly many months or even years.

If you’ve been taking laxatives for some time, you may have to gradually reduce your dose, rather than coming off them straight away. If you have been prescribed a combination of laxatives, you’ll normally have to reduce the dosage of each laxative, one at a time, before you can stop taking them. This can take several months.

Your GP will advise you about when it’s best to stop taking long-term laxatives.

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The Most Common Causes Of Constipation

Constipation may have a few different causes. It is hard to determine the main one because there are so many issues associated with it it might as well be the symptom of a more severe problem. For example, a lack of fiber in the diet is a primary cause. The lack of physical activity will also contribute to constipation, not to mention stress. If the problem is minor, it is usually related to your diet.

Dehydration is another common cause of constipation. The stool does not get any water, so it becomes hard making it difficult to eliminate. Certain medications have similar effects and can dehydrate you this is why you need to ask a doctor if you should have more water. Throw in a low level of exercise and you have the perfect recipe for constipation.

Other than that, women may experience constipation when they are pregnant, as well as lower back pains. Hormonal changes can also be behind such problems. In more severe cases, spinal or brain injuries will also affect the area. Therefore, patients may end up with constipation after such an accident or injury. Now, can constipation cause lower back pain?

Can Being Constipated Make Your Back Hurt

Back Pain &  Constipation

Being constipated can cause back pain in some people.

When you are straining to have a bowel movement, it can put pressure on your lower back and make it more difficult for you to bend over or stand up straight.

In addition, if there is something wrong with the muscles surrounding your intestines , this can also contribute to back pain.

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Some Obstruction In Your Bowels

If there is fecal matter in your gut, this can also contribute to your constipation. You must consume foods that are lighter in nature and easy to digest if you take part in regular cleaning of your gut by fasting for at least a day in the week. Then you are not very likely to suffer from constipation.

Back Pain Due To Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A frequent complaint and diagnosis are colon spasms or irritable bowel, a syndrome that occurs more often in women, also during the menstrual cycle. When you suffer from abdominal pain and bloating, it is possible that you suffer from IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. One of the symptoms is a very painful lower back.

Pain in the lower abdomen and the lower back occurs in various ways. Depending on the condition, you can feel the pain in a specific part of the abdomen, for instance at the bottom. Sometimes the entire abdomen can be painful with a painful feeling in the sides and the lower back or in the lower back and the pelvis. This does not always mean it is serious. Many women have this periodically. A hot water bottle and pain killers are still the best cure. In the event of serious pain, you must contact a GP.

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Causes Of Constipation With Back Pain

If constipation is the culprit of your back pain, the pain is likely along the sides of your lower back, says Elena Maser, MD, an assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a gastroenterologist at the Feinstein IBD Center at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Another way to tell? This pain should resolve if you pass one or more banana-sized stools, Dr. Maser says.

Constipation may be picked up by your primary care doctor when you are evaluated for low back pain. Your doctor will likely order an X-ray, Dr. Maser says. You can see large stool buildup on the films if you look for it.

Keep reading for the possible reasons youre constipatedand how to find relief.

Pain On Right Side: Causes Treatments And When To See A Doctor

Can Constipation Cause Back Pain On One Side?

Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health

A feeling of pain in the right side of your chest or abdominal region usually makes many people worry. The right side of your upper body contains many vital organs like your liver, right lung, and one of your kidneys. Infection, disease, or blocked arteries can cause pain ranging from mild discomfort to sharp, stabbing right side pain. You might be concerned about any kind of acute or chronic right sided pain, but you need to know that not all causes of this pain are serious and in some cases they might be a result of common conditions such as heartburn, excess gas or muscle strain.

The right side of your rib cage protects your liver, right lung, right kidney, and gallbladder. Just below your ribs in your abdomen are most of the organs connected with your digestive system including your appendix. Disease, inflammation, or infection in any of these organs will cause pain ranging from a dull, mild ache to serious, sharp stabbing pains that can also feel like something is pressing on your chest.

Sometimes, the cause of pain on the right side isnt connected with an organ but could be caused by stress, anxiety, or damage to the nerves or muscles in your chest. Of course, many people are worried about a heart attack or angina if they suffer sudden sharp pains in their chest. However, because your heart is located on the left side of your chest, cardiac-related pain is usually felt on the left of your body.

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Whats Causing My Constipation

Keep in mind that you may not always be able to identify the root cause of your constipation. Still, there are some common culprits:

  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • A recent change in diet
  • Certain medications or supplements
  • Stress
  • Hormone changes

In many cases, making a lifestyle change can help to soothe your symptoms and encourage regular bowel movements. Good bowel habits such as exercising daily, drinking plenty of fluids or water, and eating high-fiber foods are a few examples that prove effective for many people.

But if lifestyle changes arent cutting it, dont worry. There are other options, including prescription medications and over-the-counter supplements or laxatives. If youre unsure of where to start, reach out to your provider for more information.

When You Havent Had A Bowel Movement In More Than 7 Days

This may indicate a serious blockage in your digestive tract that needs treatment immediately. Symptoms for constipation may sometimes appear isolated from one another, based on the body of the patient. Patients who experience prolonged periods without a bowel movement and lower back pain should get checked immediately.

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Can Ibs Cause Back Pain How Are The Two Related What Are The Treatments For Ibsand Can Those Therapies Help Ease Discomfort In Your Back

Irritable bowel syndrome may not be life-threatening, but anyone who says its not life-changing has probably never experienced the gas, bloating, abdominal pain and changes in bathroom habits the condition causes.

As if that werent enough, many people with IBS also develop symptoms outside of their intestines. One of the most common of these is back pain.

Can IBS cause back pain? How are the two related? Most important, what are the treatments for IBSand can those therapies help ease discomfort in your back? Heres what you should know.

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When Should I Call My Doctor

Pin on Diverticulitis
  • Constipation is a new problem for you.
  • You see blood in your stool.
  • You are losing weight unintentionally.
  • You have severe pain with bowel movements.
  • Your constipation has lasted more than three weeks.
  • You have symptoms of outlet dysfunction constipation.

Remember, talk openly and honestly with your doctor about your bowel movements and any questions or concerns you may have. Pooping is something we all should be doing. Constipation may be a temporary situation, a long-term problem or a sign of a more serious condition. Be safe. See your doctor, especially if youve noticed a change in your bowel pattern or if your life is being ruled by your bowels.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/07/2019.

References

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