Have you ever noticed your back pain and constipation often accompanying each other? Living with even one of them can be difficult, and both? It can be a real pain. But has that ever made you wonder that these two can be linked?
Constipation and back pain are both very common conditions. To your surprise, constipation is often the main cause of unbearable back pain! Yes! In many cases, these two conditions might occur simultaneously. But why is that?
When you have constipation, your intestines are blocked, and this excessive accumulation of the stool puts extreme pressure on the anus, which can ultimately lead to lower back pain. If you leave this untreated, it can cause muscle strain, inflammation, and nerve irritation, which will keep giving you discomfort and back pain. So, you must address constipation as soon as possible to avoid or alleviate these back-related symptoms and improve overall well-being.
In this blog, we will look more closely at how back pain causes constipation, and we’ll give you some helpful tips and healthy lifestyle habits to get rid of it.
Table of Contents
- Why Does Back Pain Cause Constipation & Vice Versa?
- How To Relieve Lower Back Pain From Constipation?
- Simple Tips & Tricks To Empty Your Bowels Immediately
- Expert’s Advice
- The Final Say
- FAQs
- References
Why Does Back Pain Cause Constipation & Vice Versa?
Can back problems cause bowel problems, or is it the other way around? Constipation can sometimes be a side effect of serious back pain, especially when individuals suffer from conditions like a pinched nerve, spinal cord injury, irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's disease, or spinal cord tumours.
An example: a herniated lumbar disc can compress the nerves that affect the intestines. This disrupts normal bowel movements.
Severe back pain can also affect your overall well-being, causing disruptions in sleep patterns, loss of appetite, and reduced physical activity, all of which can contribute to constipation. Another reason why back pain causes constipation is because pain management medications that you may be using to treat your back pain may also have constipation as a side effect.
In order to relieve yourself of both constipation and back pain, you need to address the root cause of your back pain through proper treatment and rehabilitation.
But on the flip side, the connection can also be reversed! This means that constipation can also cause back pain instead of the other way around. This happens because when your stool accumulates in the intestines, it often leads to bloating and swelling, which can generate back pain, often described as dull or generalised.
Faecal impaction (a condition where large, hardened stool is stuck in the rectum and cannot be eliminated) is another common cause of lower back pain associated with constipation.
Also Read: 5 Effective Physiotherapy Exercises For Lower Back Pain Relief
How To Relieve Lower Back Pain From Constipation?
There are many things you can do to relieve lower back pain caused by constipation and also constipation caused by lower back pain. But for a quick and effective recovery, you would need to identify the cause of discomfort (whether your constipation is the cause or the back pain) and use the right treatments.
For example, increasing water intake may help with constipation associated with dehydration, while sciatica may require other treatment, such as physical therapy or medications. However, if your constipation is caused by back pain, then you would need to treat your back pain instead.
| 1. Lifestyle Changes | Some healthy lifestyle habits can help you manage constipation and back pain.
This would include regularly exercising and staying active, even after sitting too much at work or home, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fibre foods, and staying hydrated. |
| 2. Over-the-counter remedies | You can use over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners for occasional constipation.
However, make sure you follow the product instructions and avoid relying on laxatives and stool-softening medications if your condition is persistent. |
| 3. Medicines | In line with the previous point, if your constipation is chronic and caused by underlying medical conditions, healthcare providers may prescribe medications that stimulate bowel movements or address your specific problems. |
| 4. Physical Therapy | If your constipation is caused by back pain, which is related to muscle strain or damage, then physical therapy can be highly effective in reducing that pain, restoring spinal flexibility, and improving overall function. |
| 5. Back Pain Medication | You can use over-the-counter pain relief medicines, or a doctor can prescribe medications to manage back pain. However, prolonged use of most of these pain medications can have other side effects, so it’s important to use them cautiously and under medical supervision. |
| 6. Heat & Ice Therapy | For back pain, you can try applying heat or ice to the affected area. This will help relieve back pain and reduce inflammation. |
| 7. Injection | In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be used to provide short-term relief for more severe back pain. |
| 8. Surgery | In rare cases where back pain is caused by structural problems, surgery may be recommended to correct and relieve the problem. |
Also Read: Chill Out! 10 Cold Shower Benefits for Health and Recovery After Your Workout
Simple Tips & Tricks To Empty Your Bowels Immediately
Here are some simple and useful tricks to quickly empty your bowels:
1. Drink Coffee
Coffee has a lot of caffeine, which stimulates your digestive system muscles, promoting bowel movement. Warm coffee (specifically black coffee) is particularly effective, as it can help your body relax and get things moving. However, don’t overdo it—moderation is key!
2. Squat On The Toilet
Some find it beneficial to use the squatting position while pooping to stimulate bowel movements. You can also set your feet up on a small stool in front of the toilet to help you get near this position.
3. Use a Fibre Supplement
If you’re unable to consume enough dietary fibre, then you can use fibre supplements. They can be found in stores or even online. They usually contain psyllium, polycarbophilic calcium or methylcellulose fibre. Fibre will add bulk to your stool and make it easier to move through the digestive tract and out of the body.
4. Stimulant Laxative
There are many types of laxatives. This one causes your intestines to contract and push the contents further into your digestive tract, which can take 6 to 12 hours to get out. However, doctors advise patients to use stimulant laxatives only when other treatments have failed.
5. Osmotic Laxative
These laxatives help move fluids through the colon, which can relieve constipation. They are effective for many people but usually take 2-3 days to start working.
6. Stool Softener
You can try stool softeners to draw water from the intestines into the stool, making it easier to move out of your body.
7. Massage Your Colon
A gentle colon massage can help your body move stool through the colon.
- Start by lying flat on your back to perform a gentle colon massage.
- Using moderate pressure, begin at the lower right side of your abdomen and make sweeping strokes upward toward the rib cage, then across to the left side, and down to the lower left abdomen, finishing with an inward stroke toward the centre.
- Repeat this motion five to seven times.
- Next, switch to a scooping C-shaped stroke starting from the lower right abdomen and moving upward three to five times.
- Finally, gentle pressure should be applied under the rib cage and across the left side, completing the massage in about 5-7 minutes to help stimulate bowel movement.
Also Read: Diet For Hormonal Imbalance: Fix Your Hormones With These Key Nutrients And 8 Vital Foods
Expert’s Advice
As an expert, I would recommend managing constipation using diet, lifestyle changes and Ayurvedic drugs. It can not only improve your digestive health but also alleviate discomfort associated with lower back pain. If your conditions remain persistent, then you must seek proper medical attention.
Health Expert
Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
It's possible that your constipation and back pain are linked, and they can significantly affect your well-being and daily life. Understanding the root cause of these two conditions is necessary to get appropriate treatment.
With diet and increased water consumption, constipation often disappears on its own. With it, back pain also often decreases or disappears. If it does not, consult your doctor for treatment to alleviate back pain.
FAQs
1. What are the remedies/solutions that help with constipation and back pain?
Remedies for constipation and back pain include increasing water intake, eating a high-fibre diet, regular exercise, using stool softeners, and seeking medical treatment for underlying causes.
2. Can prolonged constipation cause back pain?
Yes, prolonged constipation can cause back pain because of increased pressure on one's lower back from stool accumulation.
References
- https://spokanespineteam.com/can-constipation-cause-back-pain-in-which-part-of-the-back/
- https://www.nirvahealth.com/blog/connection-between-constipation-and-back-pain#why-can-constipation-cause-back-pain
- https://www.onlymyhealth.com/can-constipation-cause-lower-back-pain-1724155506
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325663#summary
- https://aica.com/can-back-pain-impact-my-digestion/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-constipation-cause-back-pain
- https://peping.in/blogs/news/what-simple-trick-empties-your-bowels?srsltid=AfmBOoo6m5F4B89Wbg4Dj5qfeEcUgM2sylygqMDzPLHbGoP0p45f7pJz
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