Can Lower Back Problems Cause Constipation

What Are Symptoms Of Constipation

Constipation is a condition where you have fewer than three bowel movements a week. It could also mean that you have to strain really hard in order to have a bowel movement.

Other symptoms of constipation include:

• Having stools that are hard or lumpy
• Having a feeling of fullness all the time
• Experiencing pain when having a bowel movement
• Feeling as though you have a blockage preventing you from having a bowel movement
• Feeling as though you still have stool in your body after a bowel movement
• Needing to press your hands on your abdomen to encourage a bowel movement
• Needing to use a finger to remove stool out of your rectum

Why Being Constipated Can Cause Back Pain

Youre probably constipated if:

• your poo is hard, dry, large or lumpy
• youve not had a poo at least 3 times over the last 7 days
• you have to strain or it hurts when you poo

And when this happens, you usually have a lot of poo in your bowels, which – as mentioned above – can cause back pain. If youve been constipated for a while, you can develop faecal impaction which can also cause low back pain.

Back pain caused by constipation usually feels like a dull ache and it should go away once you starting pooing normally again.

But if the pain is from faecal impaction, you should see a doctor immediately as this can cause serious complications.

You may have faecal impaction if you have the following symptoms:

• tummy pain, bloating or discomfort
• leaking soft poo
• feeling the need to push
• headache and loss of appetite
• losing weight without meaning to

• endometriosis

Being pregnant can also cause low back pain and constipation because of changes in your levels of certain hormones, loosening of the ligaments in your body and the effect of carrying extra weight on your body.

Treating Back Pain With Healthcare Associates Of Texas

Healthcare Associates of Texas is home to a large team of board-certified medical professionals who can work with you to eliminate constipation and reduce back pain. We offer a wide range of primary care and physical medicine services that can help you start feeling better right away. Visit our website today to find the nearest location and request an appointment.

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How Can Constipation And Back Pain Be Treated

The type of treatment you receive for constipation and back pain will depend on the root cause of your problem.

For example, if your constipation is being caused by dehydration, your doctor may instruct you to start drinking more water throughout the day. If your constipation and back pain is being caused by sciatica, your doctor will treat you for sciatica. Common treatments for sciatica include medications, physical therapy, and surgery.

Be completely open and honest with your doctor during your appointment to address constipation and back pain. This will help your doctor determine the true causes of your problems, and the best treatments that can effectively relieve both your constipation and back pain.

Pain That Doesnt Disappear After Bowel Movement

Your lower back pain should disappear after a bowel movement, since that alleviates any pressure you may be experiencing in your pelvic area. However, if the pain persists or intensifies after your bowel movement, it could be a sign that a nerve was pinched or something was dislodged when your colon loosened up.

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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

Constipation & Lower Back Pain

When you are constipated, you may feel pain in your abdomen or your lower back. Some possible causes of aching in the lumbar area with constipation include dehydration, a low-fiber diet, and bowel obstruction. You may also be having these symptoms due to medication side effects or a lack of exercise. Less commonly, constipation with back pain can be a sign of rectal cancer or colon cancer.

It is possible that you have lumbar pain from a muscle strain, a ligament sprain, or a herniated disc. If you are unsure whether your constipation and back discomfort are related, consult with your primary care physician or a trusted specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or a gastroenterologist. They will give you a physical exam, check your medical history, and review your medication list to help determine what is causing your symptoms.

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How Do The Intestines Work

The intestines are part of the digestive system and run from the abdomen to the anus. Most nutrients are absorbed in the intestines. The intestines are a few metres long. On average, the small intestine is 6 metres and the large intestine one and a half metres. Via peristaltic movements the small intestines transport undigested food to the large intestines. In the large intestines, this food is processed and various rotting and fermentation processes take place. This is where bowel problems, such as flatulence or wind, often occur.

In most of the cases, the cause of bowel problems is an incorrect lifestyle, such as smoking and lack of exercise. Also, food with too much fat and too few fibres may cause diarrhoea or constipation. To prevent or reduce bowel problems, it is recommended to ensure you eat high-fibre foods .

Fibres are parts of vegetable foods that your small intestines cannot digest or absorb. They go to the large intestines undigested. Due to a lack of fibres in food, there will be fewer indigestible material in the intestines. In the absence of sufficient bulk and the stimulating action of the food fibres, the intestines are insufficiently stimulated. This is detrimental for proper digestion of food. Moreover, too little fluid is absorbed causing hard stools and making bowel movements difficult.

Masses Around The Lower Back

Cancer can often manifest in lower back or lower limb pain, alongside bloody stools and difficulty with bowel movements. Since the tumor mass can press on the spinal cord and other nerves found in the lower back, it can often escalate into a life-threatening situation if left unattended.

Swelling, inflammation, lumps, or acute pain and discomfort are also symptoms of tumors. Its often possible to feel the tumor itself if its around the lower back area. These lumps arent always tumors: they can also be swollen lymph nodes, one of the latest signs of colorectal cancer.

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How Constipation Causes Back Pain

Because of the large space the digestive tract occupies in the body, its possible for signs and symptoms of back pain to manifest when you experience constipation. Typically, this lower back pain will appear as a dull, aching pain that extends from your lower back to the rest of your abdomen typically a sign of a blocked rectum or stool backup in your colon.

There are two constipation-related causes that can cause significant symptoms of lower back pain:

Actions To Prevent Or Minimize Constipation

There are a few simple measures that one can take to help prevent and/or minimize the possible pain and discomfort from constipation following back surgery.

• Increase activity as soon as possible after surgery. Walking is an excellent way to help bodily functions return to normal, and also helps with healing from the surgery.

• Limit use of narcotic medications to just what is necessary for adequate pain control. Narcotics slow down bowel motility, leading to constipation. Consider switching to a non-narcotic pain reliever for pain control shortly after surgery to reduce the risk of constipation.

• Begin using a fiber laxative, stool softener, or combination product after surgery to reduce the risk of constipation, particularly if one has experienced constipation in the past.
• Drink plenty of water and other non-caffeinated fluids , provided that the physician has not restricted fluid intake for another reason. Prune juice and apple cider are also excellent natural laxatives.
• Eat foods that are naturally high in fiber to stimulate the intestines. High-fiber foods include beans, whole grains and bran cereals, fresh fruits , and vegetables . Limiting foods that contribute to constipation is also a good idea, such as cheese, meat, and processed foods.
• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day, rather than large meals to aid in the digestive process.

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Additional Causes Of Back 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

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.

What Are The Symptoms Of Neurogenic Bowel

Neurogenic bowel causes a loss of normal bowel function. Damaged nerves disrupt the ability of your rectum to store and get rid of waste. Because of disrupted signals between the colon and the brain, you may not feel the urge to have a BM. This often causes constipation and BM accidents. Reflex bowel problems may cause a sudden, unplanned BM when the rectum is full. Flaccid bowel problems may lead to frequent leaks of stool because the sphincter does not close as tightly. Neurogenic bowel may cause:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Loss of sensation that the bowel is full
• Nausea or abdominal pain
• Stool leaking or frequent BM accidents

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Can Bowel Problems Cause Back Pain

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Can Back Problems Cause Constipation

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

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HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

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Using Palliative Care To Ease Discomfort

For both urinary and bowel incontinence that is caused by compression of nerves in the spinal cord as a result of prostate cancer that has spread to the spine or bones, palliative treatments for metastasized cancer may be of use. These treatments include radiotherapy, medication, or surgical removal of spinal cord tumors. However, these treatment options are not indicated for every situation. Your doctor will help you determine what path is right for you and to improve your quality of life. As always, coping with quality of life symptoms like these can take a toll on an individual or their caretaker both mentally and physically. For this reason, it can be a good idea to consult a therapist or counselor if needed for extra support.

Back Pain And Constipation Explanations

Nerves in the lower back regulate the function of the intestines. Peristalsis is controlled by the autonomic nerves. These nerves can fall victim to physical compression due to many processes and structural irregularities including: herniated discs, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, a congenitally narrowed canal space, osteoarthritic changes, side-to-side spinal curvature pathologies, hyperlordosis and spondylolisthesis.

Some nerve-related symptoms are actually the result of oxygen deprivation to the affected regional area. This cause of back ache is often misdiagnosed, so the patient has a very small chance of finding true relief. Remember, even low levels of reduced oxygenation to neurological tissue will have sweeping negative effects on its ability to function correctly.

When certain nerve fibers are affected by any of these conditions, the result can be a combination of constipation and back ache. Other common combination symptoms are back pain with chronic diarrhea, gas pains, heartburn, bloating, indigestion or general stomach discomfort. In many patients, these symptoms might change frequently and unpredictably, making life a torment-filled ordeal to endure.

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What Chiropractors Can Do For Sciatic Nerve Symptoms

Misaligned vertebrae can rarely correct themselves spontaneously and permanently. The answer lies in chiropractic care. Our doctors have the technique and method to correct this pinched nerve and relieve your symptoms.

They will locate the misaligned vertebrae by means of x-rays and other diagnostic methods. After aligning these vertebrae, the nerve pressure is then released, thus relieving the acute symptoms. There are no pain-killing drugs used, so when the symptoms are relieved, you can be sure that the doctor is working on the underlying cause, not just the symptom. It usually takes time to stabilize the bones in proper position so that the vertebrae no longer pinch nerves.

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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Constipation And The Pelvic Floor

Constipation can affect your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle strength is important for both bladder and bowel control. These muscles stretch like a trampoline from the pubic bone at the front to the coccyx at the back. They can be weakened by straining due to constipation, pregnancy and childbirth, or perhaps heavy lifting. Strong pelvic floor muscles are necessary for bladder and bowel control to be able to hold on.

What Are Causes Of Constipation With Back Pain

Constipation can be caused by certain lifestyle behaviors, such as not exercising enough or not drinking enough water. However, if you have both constipation and back pain, its possible you may have a specific health condition that is causing these problems.

For example, a tumor that is pressing on your spinal cord can cause back pain and constipation, depending on where the tumor is located and how it is pressing on your spinal cord. Constipation is also a side effect of diabetes, and lack of exercise is a risk factor for both diabetes and back pain. Therefore, you may have both constipation and back pain if you have diabetes.

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How Is Neurogenic Bowel Treated

People with neurogenic bowel need to have a routine bowel management program. This includes scheduled routines to remove the stool from the rectum on a regular basis. This helps prevent accidents, constipation, and bowel blockage. A bowel program also includes diet changes, medicines, and other methods. Your medical team can help you develop a bowel management program. Your bowel care may include:

• Abdominal muscle training
• Botulinum toxin to help decrease anal sphincter spasticity
• Colostomy surgery to create an opening for stool to empty through instead of the rectum
• Dietary changes
• Electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles
• Exercise and activity plans
• Laxative regimen
• Pulsed water irrigation
• Scheduled bowel routine to physically remove the stool from your rectum
• Surgery to create a hole through which you can flush water into the top of your bowel
• Using a finger to trigger the sphincter muscle

Treatment For Excess Gas

Theres three general treatment options:

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