It’s not always easy to know what is causing your back pain.
Many people just assume that it’s something they will have to live with, but that’s not always the case.
In some cases, constipation and lack of bowel movement can be the root cause of your back pain.
In this blog post, we will explore the possible medical associations between back pain and constipation, and discuss how you can get relief from both conditions.
What Is Constipation?
In order to understand how constipation could cause chronic lower back pain, it’s important to know what constipation is.
Constipation can be defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week or hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass.
Most people with chronic constipation will also experience painful infrequent bowel movements and the presence of blood in their stool.
Other symptoms can include a bloated belly, weak muscles, and fatigue.
What Causes Constipation?
Constipation or a painful bowel movement can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, dehydration, not enough fiber in the diet, or lack of physical activity.
Constipation can also be caused by medication side effects such as antidepressants or painkillers.
If you are experiencing chronic constipation without any obvious cause (such as stress or medication side effects), you should see your doctor to make sure there aren’t any other underlying medical conditions causing it.
Can Being Constipated Make Your Back Hurt?
Being constipated can cause back pain in some people.
When you are straining to have a bowel movement, it can put pressure on your lower back and make it more difficult for you to bend over or stand up straight.
In addition, if there is something wrong with the muscles surrounding your intestines (such as irritable bowel syndrome), this can also contribute to back pain.
Can Constipation Cause Upper Back Pain?
In some cases, constipation can cause upper back pain.
This is because the muscles in your upper back can tense up when you are trying to have bowel movements.
Added muscle tension, abdominal pain, and pressure can lead to severe back pain and stiffness in the upper back area.
Can Constipation Cause Lower Back Pain?
When you are constipated, your body can try to compensate for the lack of stool passing through it by putting more pressure on other muscles and organs.
One place that is often affected is your lower back.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain in your lower back following constipation, it is likely due to extra lower back pressure and muscle strain.
How To Treat Constipation
Constipation can be difficult to treat because it can have many causes, but most often common treatments involve lifestyle changes such as eating more fiber and drinking more water.
To relieve constipation and pass a healthy bowel movement, you can also try over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners to help get things moving for healthy bowel movements.
If these methods don’t work, you may need prescription medication or even surgery performed by a doctor.
Home Remedies For Constipation
If you experience constipation and back pain, there are a few home remedies that can help.
First, make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating high-fiber foods.
You can also try taking a hot bath or using a heating pad on your lower back to help relax the muscles.
Finally, if your back pain is very severe, consider seeing a doctor for further treatment.
A back pain doctor can review common symptoms and rule out bowel obstruction, rectal cancer, spinal cord injury, herniated disc, fecal impaction, spinal stenosis, and colon cancer.
Probiotics For Constipation
Probiotics can be a helpful treatment approach for constipation and uncomfortable digestive issues.
You can incorporate probiotic-rich foods such as kefir yogurt and sauerkraut into your diet to help boost the good bacteria in your digestive system.
A high-quality probiotic supplement can also help improve your gut health and ease the strain of having bowel movements.
We recommend GOL Nutrition’s IBPro Probiotic for constipation, bloating, and gas.
Each dose of IBPro delivers 40 billion CFU’s to your digestive system.
Follow this link to learn more about the best-rated probiotics of 2022.
Summary
Can constipation cause back pain?
While general constipation is not always the root cause of lumbar pain and lower back pain, it can be a contributing factor.
If you are experiencing abdominal cramping, constipation, fewer bowel movements, and lower back pain, it’s important to seek medical help to get to the root of the problem and find relief from your aching pain.
In the meantime, there are some things you can do at home to help treat your constipation and have regular bowel movements, including adding probiotics to your diet and trying some simple stretches and regular exercise.
