Constipation with back pain.

[ThatFLGuy]

I have had lower back pain for a while but today was really bad and I had a lot of trouble having a bowel movement.

Did a enema as things were not moving but after my back pain was way worse. It has gotten better now but I am worried that meds are not doing enough to keep my bowels cleaned out.

And I still have no appointments with anyone within Gastroenterology for this year.

Now I guess I have to make some calls tomorrow. UGH.

 

[Pam53]

I have had lower back pain for a while but today was really bad and I had a lot of trouble having a bowel movement.

Did a enema as things were not moving but after my back pain was way worse. It has gotten better now but I am worried that meds are not doing enough to keep my bowels cleaned out.

And I still have no appointments with anyone within Gastroenterology for this year.

Now I guess I have to make some calls tomorrow. UGH.

Hey FLGuy - I don't get it? Is it Pennsylvania? Is it the VA? No appointment with your Gastro guy THIS YEAR? That is insane! - We live in California and thought it was bad to have to wait a month to 6 weeks to get in with our primary. If we need to see a specialist - wait for a referral first. If they got right on it it takes 2 weeks - unless you have to call and remind them because they forgot. Then you have to wait for a appointment with the specialist. - I thought CA was bad. My husband is a below the knee amputee. We stay here only for his medical needs and no snow. - After listening to you - we would never move to PA. - I feel bad for your situation Really. - Pam

 

[ThatFLGuy]

Pam53, Right now I am waiting for my one and only appointment with anyone that is scheduled this year. After that I will be making a choice to keep my PCP or just replace everyone on my medical team.

Even my Physical theripist says that it is time. And all I want is to know that what I have going on in never going away (I do know that it has gotten worse, not better) but I suspect that even the other hospital will have nothing that they can do for me but TEST, TEST and Yeah TEST; then tell me they cannot do much.

My PT doesn't use technology at their office so that is one big thing that I would get from going to the other place for care but... and this might be stupid to some.. I have my things that I am able to do right now and I do not want to have to give them up so I can afford to drive 4+ hour round trips to the other hospital. I want to get as much done in one trip down there as I can even If they have to keep me over night because I will have to be able to drive back home myself. (Mom and dad are stuck in Florida tell dad gets health stuff done)

So I am just trying to make it tell April so that my last (Maybe last) PCP appointment is over and I can decide if that is it.

 

[Sandra Jackson]

I have had lower back pain for a while but today was really bad and I had a lot of trouble having a bowel movement.

Did a enema as things were not moving but after my back pain was way worse. It has gotten better now but I am worried that meds are not doing enough to keep my bowels cleaned out.

And I still have no appointments with anyone within Gastroenterology for this year.

Now I guess I have to make some calls tomorrow. UGH.

I'm sorry, this sounds really difficult – I remember having a phase where my back would flare up right after bowel movements, and I couldn't figure out why. It turned out I was unintentionally bearing down way too much, which was both straining my pelvic floor and aggravating my back.

What helped me most was learning how to use breath and alignment to reduce pressure in my system. I didn’t realize how much tension I was holding just trying to get through the day.

I started following a gentle online program called Restore Your Core that teaches how to move and support your body in ways that actually reduce strain on the core and pelvic floor. It really changed things for me –I’ve had way fewer flare-ups and feel more in tune with my body now.

Just wanted to share in case it’s helpful at all. Hope you find relief soon.