Can Constipation Cause Left Side Back Pain
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Causes Of Side Pain When Coughing
1. Strained Muscles
When you cough forcefully, you can cause the fibers in your chest, sides, and abdomen to stretch too far and sustain small tears. Coughing is considered something very strenuous and hard on your body. These are only minor tears and will heal up over a few weeks after your coughing subsides.
Symptoms:
- Side pain when coughing in the sides, ribs, or abdomen
- Trouble bending or twisting
- Unable to flex side muscles
- Muscles in sides tender to the touch
- Pain when breathing
2. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection in the lower respiratory tract. It can be either bacterial or viral. With pneumonia you can suffer from a severe productive cough for days to even weeks after the infection has cleared. This chronic coughing can cause side pain or even rib pain. Pain can also be caused when fluids build up inside or outside of the lungs due to infection.
Symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
3. Pleurisy
Inflammation to the lining of your lung cavity causes pain with coughing and breathing. This is known as, pleurisy or pleuritis. The pleura lines the area between the chest wall and the lung tissue. It has a fluid that lubricates it and sometimes this can become infected. This causes pain with coughing and/or breathing, and the pain is usually sharp and stabbing.
Symptoms
- Pain with touching the area
4. Tuberculosis
Symptoms
- Chest pain
5. Fractured Rib
Symptoms
- Tenderness when touching the area
- Swelling
- Pain when taking a breath in
6. Blood Clot in Lungs
Symptoms
7. Aspergillosis
Physical Therapy For Treating Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain needs to be evaluated by a doctor in order to find out whether an internal organ is causing it, or exactly what the source of the pain is. Imaging studies and other tests will reveal the cause of your symptoms.
Lower back pain can be relieved without medication or surgery by employing physical therapy. Here at Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness, our experienced medical team provides superior and individualized physical therapy programs for our patients. Our licensed and skilled physical therapists will work with you to relieve your lower back pain and to make your body stronger and more flexible.
If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with us, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at 284-7192 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We proudly serve Austin, Round Rock, Manor, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Bee Caves, and Hutto and we look forward to helping you enjoy less back pain and more living!
You May Like: Exercise For Lower Back Pain Mayo Clinic
Signs Your Back Pain Might Be An Emergency
In our 20s and 30s, normal back pain often can be attributed to factors of daily life, such as sitting too long, picking up children, or overdoing it while exercising.
In our 40s and older, work injuries and the beginnings of arthritis and degenerative conditions are more common.
Back pain is so common, in fact, that many patients shrug off symptoms that might indicate a medical emergency.
Approximately 80% of adults will experience back pain in their lives, so its important to be able to identify the severity of your symptoms and track how long the pain lasts.
If back pain can be associated with a specific activity, such as lifting or twisting wrong, and the pain goes away within 72 hours after resting and applying ice, its usually nothing to worry about. However, if pain creeps on gradually, appears suddenly, or doesn’t go away, you might have a more serious condition.
What Does It Mean If Lower Back Pain Is Shooting Into Legs
Lower back pain can radiate to other parts of the body: up or down from its place of origin. Sometimes lower back pain can be on one side of the back, which is also normal.
If the pain is shooting from the lower back into one or both legs, it could be sciatica , but its not always the case. There are many parts in the lower back that may cause the pain to radiate into the legs, such as facet joints, sacroiliac joints, muscles or inflammation of the bursa.
Don’t Miss: Back Pain Advil
What Are Your Lower Back Pain Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are many non-invasive treatment options available today, and only rarely is surgery necessary for pain in the lower back. Treatment is based on the practitioners diagnosis and may include any of the following:
- Rest and avoidance of the activity linked to the pain
- Ice or heat therapy
Back Pain Culprit: Your Bag
Although you may wear your purse, backpack, or briefcase over your shoulder, it is the lower back that supports the upper body — including any additional weight you carry. So an overstuffed bag can strain the lower back, especially if you carry it day after day. If you must tote a heavy load, consider switching to a wheeled briefcase.
Also Check: Advil Or Aleve For Back Pain
Dont Linger On The Toilet
A lot of people use toilet time as an opportunity to read the paper or catch up on their social media. But that’s a major mistake, because sitting on the throne for too long can predispose you to poop problems in the future.
The longer you sit there, the more potential damage you’re doing to your rectum and pelvic floor muscles, especially if you strain, Dr. Chowdhury says.
So how long should a stool session be? Five minutes, tops. “If it’s not coming out, get up and do something else,” Dr. Chowdhury says.
And leave your cell phone in another room. “It’s not the time to get on Facebook or Instagram,” she says.
Home Remedies For Back Pain In Teenagers
If your teenager has acute back pain without any additional symptoms, then some of these home remedies might help provide relief.
- According to a Cochrane review, superficial hot and cold compress might provide short-term relief from lower back pain .
- Menthol, which is the active ingredient in several topical pain-relieving creams, might help mask the pain for a short period by creating a cooling sensation. However, this does not treat the underlying cause .
- Topical pain relievers that contain methyl salicylate are said to provide relief, but there is no research to prove their effectiveness. You may try this if your child does not have aspirin allergy and is older that 12 years . Salicylates should not be used in younger kids.
- Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as diclofenac, can be used for pain relief.
- Check your teens posture and correct it by showing them how to have a good posture.
- Use chairs that can offer better back support.
- Do not encourage your teen to spend hours playing video games and watching television ask them to take a break and stretch after every hour.
- If your teen exercises, then make sure they do it the right way.
Don’t Miss: Does Motrin Help With Back Pain
If It Hurts In Your Mid
Back pain is common, with as many as eight in 10 people experiencing it at some point in their lives. But what does it mean if youre having a specific type of discomfort called flank pain? Your flanks are the areas around the sides of your body from your upper abdomen to your back. If youre having discomfort in this region, either as right or left flank pain, the cause may be one of the following conditions.
Constipation From Not Eating Enough Fiber
Constipation is defined as having stools which are large, hard, and difficult to pass. This leaves the person feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Many things can cause constipation, and a common one is lack of fiber in the diet.
To determine whether lack of fiber is causing the constipation, all other causes are first ruled out:
- Not drinking enough water, sometimes to the point of dehydration.
- Lack of exercise, which helps increase blood circulation and therefore motility of the bowel.
- A very low or no-fat diet.
- A need for probiotics, which replenish the “good” bacteria in the gut.
- Medications, or certain illnesses, which have a constipating effect.
- Constantly ignoring the feeling of needing to move the bowels, and delaying going to the toilet.
If fiber is needed, the best sources are fresh vegetables fresh or dried fruits and whole wheat and brown rice, because those include the fiber-rich bran. Over-the-counter fiber tablets can be tried, though laxatives should only be used if recommended by a medical provider.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: constipation, constipation, pain in the lower left abdomen, pain when passing stools, feeling of needing to constantly pass stool
Symptoms that always occur with constipation from not eating enough fiber: constipation, constipation
Symptoms that never occur with constipation from not eating enough fiber: vomiting
Urgency: Self-treatment
Also Check: Aleve And Back Pain
Herniated Disk In The Lower Back
The backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between the bones are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. Although people talk about a slipped disk, nothing actually slips out of place. The outer shell of the disk ruptures, and the jelly-like substance bulges out. It may be pressing on a nerve, which is what causes the pain.A slipped disk is more likely to happen due to strain on the back, such as during heavy lifting, and older individuals are at higher risk.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: lower back pain, moderate back pain, back pain that shoots down the leg, back pain that gets worse when sitting, leg weakness
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Rib Cage Nerve Damage
Intercostal neuralgia is a condition that describes pain in the ribs caused by damage to the rib cage nerves. This can be the result of an injury, inflammation, injury to chest muscles, or shingles.
According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology & Translational Neuroscience, nerve damage of the ribs can result in middle back pain that wraps around to the front of the chest. Depending on the location of the damaged nerves, you may also experience shoulder pain, chest pain, and pain in the upper thigh.7
The symptoms of nerve damage that affects the thoracic spine and ribs include:
- Sharp shooting pains in the left rib cage or right rib cage
- Burning pains that cause a lot of discomfort
- Muscle spasms in your back, shoulder, or arm
- Tenderness when touching your rib cage
- Loss of sensation in your middle back or chest wall
You May Like: Advil For Lower Back Pain
Hip/groin Pull Or Tear
Symptoms of Hip & Groin Pulls or Tears
Pulling or tearing your groin can be quite painful and inconvenient. You are likely experiencing hip and/or groin pain and swelling. The pain is typically dull and achy and can range from within the hip, to outside of the hip and groin. There could be problems with the muscles, ligaments or tendons within the left hip.
Causes of Groin & Hip Pulls
This is caused by a strain to the hip abductors or the muscles that pull the legs together. These muscles are attached to the thigh bones at the level of the hip and run down the side of the thigh. This injury occurs when the area is overused or overstretched, and is common amongst athletes.
Treatments for Hip & Groin Tears
Lucky for you, hips do a good job of healing on their own with the allowed rest. Rest and ice are the top two treatments for pulled groins. Added compression can assist in bringing blood flow to the area to encourage healing. We offer a wide array of hip and groin supports to provide you with the needed compression.
Warm Or Cold Compress
Applying a warm or cold compress to your sore ribs can help to reduce inflammation and get rid of the pain. Using heat or cold can help to treat muscle strains and tears and soothe nerve pain.
When should you use heat or cold for a rib injury that affects your muscles or nerves? Doctors from Johns Hopkins Medical center answer the question as follows:19
- Cold treatment for rib pain. In the first 48 hours after the initial injury, use cold compresses to reduce swelling and prevent blood flow causing bruising.
- Heat treatment for muscle pain in the back. After the initial swelling has gone down, you should switch to heat compresses to get rid of back pain. The heat increases blood circulation and promotes healing.
How to make a compress for sore rib pain relief:
You can use an old clean sock and rice to make an effective cold or hot compress. This is what you should do:
In the first 2 days after an injury, place the cold pack on the sore ribs or back for 15-20 minutes at a time. After this time, place the sock back in the freezer. Use every hour or so to reduce pain and swelling in an injured rib.
You May Like: Tylenol Or Aleve For Back Pain
Pain On Left Side: Causes Treatments And When To See A Doctor
Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health
Any kind of acute or chronic pain in the left side of your chest or the left side of the abdomen can be a cause for concern. The left side of your upper body contains many vital organs like your heart, left lung, spleen, pancreas, part of your liver and stomach. Infection, disease, or blocked arteries can cause pain ranging from mild discomfort to sharp, stabbing pains in the left side of your body.
Pain on the left side of your body isnt always cardiac-related or connected with an organ. Sometimes, stress or anxiety attacks can be a cause of the pain that may feel like you are having a heart attack. But you should never ignore any kind of pain in your chest or abdomen as it can be a sign of a serious condition.
In this comprehensive article on pain in the left side of your body, you will find out the various reasons why you could have aches, pains, or discomfort in the left side of your body. This will help you know what is causing the left-side pain and if it is serious enough to see a doctor. You will also find many helpful home remedies to relieve some of the causes of pains on the left side of your body.
When To See A Doctor
Back pain usually goes away on its own or with the help of home remedies that are effective for back pain. However, in some cases, its important to see a doctor for severe or chronic back pain. Doctors from the National Institutes of Health recommend visiting a doctor if you have the following types of back pain:
- Your back pain is severe and home treatments dont give relief from the pain.
- You have tingling in your arms and legs.
- You have back pain after suffering a trauma.
- You develop bladder or bowel problems.
Read these related articles:
You May Like: Mayo Clinic Low Back Pain Exercises
Sharp Lower Left Back Pain From Kidney Stones
Internal organs, such as the kidney or colon, can cause sharp pain to manifest in the lower left back. Patients may feel sharp lower left back pain when a stone moves inside the left kidney, or moves through the thin tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder. Once a kidney stone begins to move through the ureters, patients may notice a combination of symptoms, which include:
- Sharp lower left back pain, below the ribs
- Fever and chill
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Pink, red, or brown urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Stinging pain when urinating
Kidney stones form when a patients urine contains more crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid than the fluid can dilute. Alternatively, a patients urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, thereby creating the ideal setting for kidney stone formation. Understanding the type of kidney stone affecting a patient can help with treatment and prevention. The types of kidney stone include:
- Calcium Stones: the most common type for metabolic conditions
- Struvite Stones: formed in response to an infection and may be asymptomatic
- Uric Acid Stones: formed in people who dont drink enough fluids or lose too much fluid, eat a high-protein diet, or have gout
- Cystine Stones: formed in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids
Injury To Muscles In The Rib Cage
One of the most common reasons for back pain or rib pain is an injury to the intercostal muscles in your rib cage or back. Rib muscle injuries can be caused by trauma to your left-side ribs, sudden upper body movements, or incorrect lifting. This can cause pain that ranges from a mild ache to sharp jabbing pains that can spread to your back.
The journal The Physician and SportsMedicine reports that rib stress fractures and strains can cause muscle pain in the ribs. Rib injuries can happen due to blunt force trauma on the rib cage or repetitive strain injuries. The severity of rib cage pain and back pain depends greatly on the extent of the injury.5
According to doctors from the Victoria State Government, other symptoms of painful rib cage muscle injuries can include:6
- Pain that intensifies when breathing deeply
- Rib cage muscle spasms
- Reduced range of upper body movement
- Tenderness when touching the injured ribs
At the end of the article, you can find out how to use some of the best home remedies for treating rib cage pain and back pain.
Read Also: Aleve Or Advil For Lower Back Pain