Constipation is a common digestive problem that affects many people around the world. It usually occurs when stool or waste moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry. Luckily, in most cases, constipation is easily treated by drinking plenty of water and eating foods rich in fiber.
There are cases wherein a person may experience back pain alongside with constipation. This may be a side effect of various diseases that may need immediate medical attention.
Here are some of the known reasons why a person is experiencing constipation and back pain.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of our urinary system which includes kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Women are at high chance of getting this kind of infection which is usually associated with burning sensation when urinating, nausea, constipation, bloody urine, muscle pain, and cramping in the abdominal and lower back areas.
Lower back pain and constipation, in less serious cases, can be treated by drinking ample amount of water, eating fiber-rich foods and having regular exercise.
Fibromyalgia
This common rheumatic condition affects tissues all over the body. People suffering from fibromyalgia usually experience pain all over the body, increased sensitivity to pain, problems sleeping, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fatigue.
Liver Disorder
There are liver disorders that may irritate the surrounding abdominal organs and cause symptoms such as constipation, itching, nausea, swelling, and abdominal pain. These conditions include cirrhosis, hepatitis, and cancer. Severity in the swollen liver can press on nerves in the lower back thereby leading to back pain.
Bowel Obstruction
Also known as intestinal obstruction, it may occur due to a collection of hard stool in the intestine or because of something that presses on or constricts the bowel and keeps stool from moving forward. Some of its known symptoms include diarrhea and dull, throbbing pain that extends from the abdomen to the lower back, vomiting, bloating, cramping, nausea and severe abdominal pain.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas — an organ in our abdomen that lies behind the lower part of our stomach. At its earlier stages, this cancer does not usually cause symptoms. But as it progresses, the patient may suffer from back pain, abdominal pain, digestive problems, and itching skin.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD refers to disorders that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease which both cause intestinal inflammation that leads to constipation and diarrhea as well as abdominal pain and bloody feces.
