Can constipation cause lower back pain with bowel movement?

Constipation: what are the characteristics?

Constipation is a disorder of bowel function that is mainly defined by insufficient stool evacuation. These remaining too long in the intestines will tend to dry out and harden, which makes their expulsion often difficult and even painful. Usually constipation occurs when the frequency of bowel movements is less than three times a week. It is said to be “severe” when it is increased to once a week. An important part of the diagnosis is stool consistency. Indeed, it is possible to have a daily bowel movement, but still be constipated, because defecation is painful.

A frequent problem:

While many people complain of being constipated, doctors use a precise definition:

Slow bowel movement with reduced stool frequency (three or less per week)
A stool weight of less than 50 g per day and hard stools, difficult to pass.
A feeling of discomfort in the stomach (abdomen), cramps and bloating may appear.
Its frequency increases with age: 20% of people over 65 are constipated.
It can settle over time or be only temporary (it is, for example, frequent during pregnancy).

To appease these different pain, it is necessary to eliminate the cause. To overcome of constipation, it is a lever on which it is possible to Act effectively: food. In the absence of organic origin, iatrogenic or pathological proven, laziness intestinal is generally functional nature. To restore a mechanism peristaltic qualitative, so it is necessary to ensure that we eat. The weak intake dietary fiber is often responsible for constipation.

constipation: what types of pain?

In addition to the classic symptoms that it causes in the majority of cases (bloating, gas, etc.), constipation can also generate different types of pain:

Abdominal pain: these will be more or less intense depending on the severity of the disorder and the fecal matter retained. Usually the pain is concentrated in the iliac fossa and can extend to the entire abdominal cavity. Be careful not to confuse them with epigastric pain related to stress.

Lower back pain: The accumulation of stools in the colon will, over time, put excessive pressure on the lumbar vertebrae. This painful sensation is resistant to analgesics. It is even accentuated by the urge to have a bowel movement.

Pelvic pain: constipation mainly affects women. As such, it is they who are also the most affected by this type of pain in the lower abdomen.

Pain anal: they have a talk with one another by a solicitation excessive muscle anal, for the formation of lesions at the passage stool hard or by the appearance of hemorrhoids. Headache: constipation, and more generally disorders intestinal transit, can promote the occurrence of headache.

How long is too long to be constipated?

Constipation is a delay or difficulty in passing stool. The frequency of bowel movements varies greatly from person to person, ranging from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. We can also talk about constipation when the stools are hard, dry, difficult to pass. In general, the term constipation is used when there is less than 3 stools per week with very hard consistencies.

This constipation can be occasional (travel, pregnancy…) or chronic. We use the term chronic constipation when the problem lasts for 6 to 12 months with more or less marked symptoms.

What helps constipation fast?

• Drink enough:

Between 2 and 3 liters per day and in a simpler way: drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water between each meal would cover this need. Do not forget that mineral waters rich in magnesium have a mild laxative effect and may be preferred in case of constipation.

• Regular physical exercise:

It is one of the most effective treatments for constipation: walking, pedaling, being physically active affects the abdominal muscles and promotes intestinal transit.

What can constipation be a sign of?

• Transit constipation: hard and rare stools (less than 3 per week), but no difficulty in evacuating.

• Terminal constipation: a feeling of incomplete or difficult defecation, a feeling of rectal fullness, heavy or repeated pushing efforts

Treatment of constipation?

To treat constipation, it is recommended that you consume about 1/4 cup of wheat bran per day. Whole prunes and prune juice are also very effective in relieving constipation because they contain sorbitol, a natural laxative. A daily dose of 8 ounces is usually sufficient. However, it can sometimes take several weeks to feel the benefits of a diet enriched with fiber on transit