Table of Contents
A Detailed Answer for “Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?”
Many a time, the disturbed bowel movements lead to severe discomfort in the back, especially the lower part. It is not uncommon for patients to have back pain while suffering from constipation. However, many people adapt to it as they do with constipation. And they continue living life keeping this problem inside them. Without proper knowledge and attention, the thing gets worse.
Often, people ask questions like “Can constipation cause back pain?” Yes, it can do so. But there are ways to cure it as well. Here, we are. With this detailed guide on “Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?”, we will discuss some other things related to it as well.
Can Constipation Cause Back Pain—the Reasons and Effects of Constipation:
What is constipation? Constipation is an uncomfortable health condition that disturbs your physical and mental health to a great extent. In short, it is a health condition that restricts bowel movement making it hard to come out. As a result, the patients have to struggle every single morning to release their stools. It sometimes becomes a chronic disease.
Why Does it Happen?
When for some reason, the colon absorbs too much water from the stool, it becomes problematic. And thus, it refuses to come out at a standard pressure. Usually, our food moves through the digestive tract. After absorbing the necessary nutrients, the digestive tracts release the bowels, the remainder of the food. Now, if the food moves slowly through the intestine, the tract gets time to absorb the water from it. Thus, constipation takes place.
The possible causes are:
- Not having adequate water
- Ignoring the urge of bowel movement
- Excessive consumption of milk and cheese
- Stress (while anxiety may lead to diarrhea)
- Not having fibrous food
- Changes in routine
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Not doing regular exercises
- Too much traveling
- Irregular eating habits
Also, some medications cause constipation. For example, antidepressants, pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-allergic drugs, psychiatric medications, etc.
Some health conditions may also lead to severe or mild cases of constipation—for example, hypercalcemia, irresistible bowel movement, colorectal cancer, etc. Also, neurological diseases like Parkinson’s Disease and other chronic diseases like Lazy Bowel Syndrome may cause constipation.
Now that you know how it happens, let’s learn about its effects. The effects of constipation include multiple health conditions, both physical and mental.
Effects of Constipation:
- Less than three bowel movements a week
- Abdominal pain
- Discomfort due to incomplete bowel movements
- The stool is dry, hard, and with lumps
- Painful passing of stools
- Blood with stools
- Severe or mild back pain
- Bloating and nausea
So, these are the effects along with the possible reasons for constipation. Now, let’s move towards how constipation can cause back pain itself. If you have questions in mind like “Can constipation cause back pain?”, here is our answer.
How Constipation and its Effects can Cause Back Pain?
As the digestive tract covers a large portion of our body, you will likely get back pain while suffering from constipation. This dull, constant back pain often occurs when you put too much pressure on your abdomen, but the stool doesn’t come out.
Except for this condition, at other times, one may feel severe back pain or sometimes mild. However, along with general constipation, fecal impaction may also cause back pain while suffering from constipation. What is it and how does it affect the back? Let’s find out!
Fecal Impaction is a Reason
Many a time, we experience fecal impaction while undergoing constipation. It is a health condition in which one or more pieces of dry stool get stuck inside the colon or rectum. The pressure generating from it can cause pain. Gradually, the pain is transferred to the back. And when it takes place, it leads to severe problems.
Applying Too Much Pressure May Cause Trouble
When a person suffers from constipation, the urge to release the bowel compels the person to put too much pressure on the abdomen while releasing bowels, which may in turn lead to tremendous back pain later on.
So, simply put, if you ask whether constipation cause back pain, the answer is yes, it can cause back pain and many other associated pains and aches. To enjoy healthy living, you need to get rid of it at the earliest. Here, we will mention some remedies that are required to reduce constipation symptoms and eventually cure back pain.
Constipation and Back Pain: How To Cure It
When there is a nagging concern regarding “Can constipation cause back pain?” or not, there comes another critical factor in learning. It is how to cure the problem.
- Dietary Changes- To get rid of trouble like constipation, having a healthy diet is highly essential. Reduce your junk food intake, which leads to bowel disorders and many other stomach issues. Add more fibrous foods should be consumed to soften the path of bowel movement. You can eat fiber-enriched fruits like pears, avocado, bananas, raspberries, etc. The vegetables that include fiber are carrots, beets, broccoli, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
- Drink Enough Water- As you drink more water, the chances of constipation reduces. As per this study, a mature adult aging 19 or more than should should drink about 131 ounces of water if he is male. For women, it is around 95 ounces.
- Maintain a Regular Schedule for Bowel Movements- The best time to do so is 20-40 minutes after having the meal. Doctors recommend going for it after breakfast. Practice it daily but do not stress about it. It will take time. If the stool is not released initially, forget about it and perform your daily other activities. It will naturally become easy over time if you maintain your dietary and lifestyle changes.
The Takeaway
So, this was all about back pains caused by constipation. We hope you now have all the details regarding whether constipation cause back pain or not. Let us know how it helped you. We will be happy to hear you. If you have some spare time, you may also pursue this article for cramps after sex. Learn the details about it and save yourself and others from undue pain and trouble!
