Can Constipation Cause Back Pain : Signs, Causes & Treatment

Have you ever wondered, ‘Can constipation cause back pain?’ Curious to know how? Well, sometimes, constipation can make your back hurt, and on the flip side, problems that cause back pain might lead to constipation. The connection between these two things could be clearer and connected. Learning about the signs, reasons, and ways to treat them can help us understand how they’re linked. 

Relationship Between Constipation and Back Pain

It’s important to know that even though fixing constipation can help with back pain, these two problems might not always be directly connected. If making constipation better doesn’t make your back pain much easier, talking to a doctor is crucial. They can figure out what’s causing your back pain, look at other things that might be causing it, and suggest the right treatments. Back pain may have a different cause that needs special medical help.

Making changes to your diet, checking your medicines, doing exercise, drinking enough water, and sticking to a regular bathroom schedule can help with constipation and the back pain that comes with it. But it’s super important to keep talking to your doctor for advice and check-ins, especially if your back pain keeps going or gets worse. They can guide you and determine if anything else is going on that needs attention. 

What Are The Signs Of Constipation Can Lead To Back Pain?

Constipation happens when you don’t go to the bathroom regularly or have trouble passing poop. Normally, people go to the bathroom one or twice a day, but with constipation, you might only go three times a week or even less. Some common signs of constipation include:

1. Hard or Lumpy Stool: When you have constipation, the poop becomes hard and difficult to pass.

2. Pain Passing Stool: When constipated, going to the bathroom can hurt, and you might have to push hard.

3. Feeling of Fullness: Feeling like your tummy is full or bloated.

4. Straining to Pass Fecal Matter: Having to try hard to get the poop out.

When you’re constipated, the intestines can swell, and poop might get stuck. This swelling can cause not only discomfort in the tummy but also in the back. The back pain is usually like a dull, aching feeling. 

Is Back Pain A Potential Result Of Constipation?

Yes, constipation can cause back pain. When stool builds up in the colon, it can create pressure and discomfort that radiates to the back. Additionally, conditions like fecal impaction or changes in bowel habits can contribute to back pain. Addressing constipation through lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and medical guidance can often help alleviate associated back pain. If the back pain persists or worsens, you should visit a doctor for further examination.

When Does Constipation Cause Back Pain?

Here are the some of the possible factor that may contribute to constipation with back pain:

1. Dehydration

Dehydration happens when your body doesn’t have enough fluids to work properly. Water is important for making bowel movements soft and helping it move through your intestines. If there’s not enough water in your belly, the poop can become hard, dry, and tough to get out, causing constipation. Drinking enough water is crucial to ensure you go to the bathroom regularly.

2. Low-Fiber Diet

Fiber is important in a healthy diet, especially for keeping your bowels working right. It adds some size to the poop and helps it hold onto water, making it softer and easier to go. But if there’s not enough fiber in your diet, the poop can get dry and tight, causing constipation. Eating foods with plenty of fiber, such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, and beans, is crucial to prevent this.

3. Lack of any activity

Different activities can also play a significant role in maintaining a healthy digestive system. Exercise helps stimulate the intestines’ muscles, promoting stool movement through the colon. When physical activity is insufficient, the digestive process can slow down, which may result in constipation. Engaging in regular exercise can also prevent and relieve constipation.

4. Certain Medications

A study showed constipation can be a known side effect of some medications. These medicines can impact the digestive system differently. For instance, specific pain relievers, opioids, and certain antacids can make the intestines move slower, causing constipation. If a medicine you’re taking is making you constipated, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about possible alternatives or changes.

5. Bowel Obstruction

Things blocking the way inside the belly can stop poop from going through as it should. These blocks can happen because of different reasons, like adhesions from surgeries before, tumors, narrow places, or stuck poop. When the belly is completely or partly blocked, poop can’t get out, causing a more serious kind of constipation. This needs quick help from a doctor.

6. Colon or Rectal Cancer

Sometimes, constipation, which keeps happening for a long time, can cause problems in the colon or rectum, like colorectal cancer. Tumors in these parts can block the way for poop, leading to constipation. It’s crucial to know that constipation usually doesn’t mean cancer. But suppose it happens with other worrying signs, like losing weight for no reason, blood in poop, or a family history of colorectal cancer. In that case, seeing a healthcare professional for more checks is a good idea.

How To Manage Back Pain Caused By Constipation?

Here are tips and methods for managing back pain through effective constipation relief strategies: 

1. Dietary Changes

Eating more fiber is a great way to handle constipation. Fiber adds size to the poop and helps it hold onto water, making it softer and easier to go. You can find fiber in foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and beans. Adding more of these foods to your meals can help you go to the bathroom regularly, possibly easing constipation and the back pain that comes with it. You can treat constipation as well.

2. Medication Review

If you just started a new diet or medicine, and constipation started happening at the same time, it’s important to talk to your doctor. They can check your medicines, make changes if needed, or suggest other treatments that don’t mess with your stomach as much. Sometimes, stopping or changing medicines can be an option.

3. Physical Activity

Regular exercise is good for your whole body, including how your digestion works. Exercise can make the muscles in your intestines move, helping poop go through the colon. It also boosts blood flow and keeps your bowel working well, stopping or easing constipation. Activities like walking, swimming, and yoga are good exercises to try.

Also Read: Worst Foods That Cause Constipation

4. Hydration

Drinking enough water is important to soften bowel movements and help it move through the intestines. When you have plenty of water, your digestive system can keep the poop just right and make you go to the bathroom regularly. It’s an easy and good way to stop and handle constipation.

5. Bowel Movement Schedule

Having a set schedule for going to the bathroom can help your digestion stay on track. Lots of folks find it helpful to go simultaneously every day. This routine can teach your body when to get ready to go, making constipation less likely to happen.

6. Over-the-Counter Solutions

For temporary relief from constipation, various over-the-counter options are available. These include stool softeners, suppositories, and laxatives. Stool softeners make stool easier to pass, while suppositories and laxatives stimulate bowel movements. A study showed that laxatives are better in treating constipation.

7. Natural Alternatives

Some individuals prefer natural remedies for constipation. Natural alternatives may include dietary supplements like psyllium husk or herbal teas like senna. Also, please consult a doctor before using natural remedies to ensure they are safe and suitable. There are other home remedies for constipation that you can follow.

8. Chronic Constipation and Medical Evaluation

If constipation is chronic or not responsive to self-care measures, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional. Chronic constipation and pain can be a sign of an underlying medical issue that requires diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor can help determine your constipation’s root cause and develop a tailored treatment plan.

Conclusion

In many instances, simple changes to your diet and increased water consumption can resolve constipation on its own, reducing or disappearing associated back pain. However, if constipation and back pain persist or worsen, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly for a comprehensive evaluation plan and personalized treatment plan to relieve your discomfort.

In conclusion, while constipation can be a potential cause of back pain, the relationship between the two is intricate. Awareness of the symptoms, their reasons, and treatment options is essential for managing these conditions effectively and improving overall well-being.