Causes Of Back Pain While Going To The Bathroom
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
If you are uncomfortable or in pain when attempting to pass a bowel movement, you’re not alone. Many people deal with discomfort when having a bowel movement, and oftentimes this discomfort is housed in the back region. Sometimes this discomfort is caused by a spinal issue, while other times the problem is in a different area like your digestive tract. Below, we take a closer look at some of the causes of back pain while going to the bathroom, and we explain which issues Dr. Sinicropi will be able to help you with.
Back Pain While Pooping
If you’re dealing with back pain while attempting to pass stool, the problem may be housed in an area where Dr. Sinicropi can help, or it can be something that is better addressed by a different professional. We’ll take a look at both, starting with spinal conditions that cause back pain while having a bowel movement.
If your issue is housed in the spinal area, it is oftentimes the result of a nerve problem. Numerous spinal nerves traverse along our spinal canal and out to our extremities, and if a spinal disc has shifted or you’re dealing with localized inflammation that compresses a nerve, you may notice a few different symptoms, including localized pain, discomfort that moves down your arms or legs, or tingling or numb sensation in the area. Spinal nerve pain tends to become more noticeable when we are positioned on the toilet because the weight of your body shifts to your lumbar spine. This can lead to narrowing of spinal passages through which nerves pass.
Another type of nerve issue that can lead to spine pain when passing stool is sciatic nerve pain. Your sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, branching from your lower back through your hips and down your legs. Sitting on the toilet can lead to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve as it travels down your leg, leading to shooting or pulsing back pain. Finally, there is also the rare possibility that a spinal tumor is compressing or irritating nearby structures and causing your symptoms. Dr. Sinicropi can help you find relief if you are dealing with a spinal nerve issue or tumor that is causing discomfort while pooping.
There’s also the possibility that symptoms are expressed in your lower back, but are actually caused by a problem in another area of your body. For example, issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or constipation can present with pain and discomfort in your abdomen or your lower back. Your primary care physician or a gastrointestinal specialist can help you take care of these problems that are causing discomfort in your spinal region since the issue isn’t actually housed in your spine.
Oftentimes these conditions that are not caused by an issue in your spine can be effectively treated with simple non-operative methods. Exercise, dietary changes and staying hydrated can usually help to regulate your digestive system and make it so that passing stool is no longer an uncomfortable process, but your doctor can come up with the right plan based on your needs.
So if you are finding it difficult or uncomfortable to go to the bathroom and you believe that a spinal nerve issue may be at play, reach out to a specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. Going to the bathroom should not be uncomfortable and painful, and we may be able to set you up with some physical therapy exercises and posture adjustments to help you put an end to your spine pain. For more information, or for help with a different spinal issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
