Can Constipation or Common Activites Cause Back Pain? July 7th, 2016 Back Pain Amy Crowell Table of Contents Toggle Activities Besides Constipation Causing Back PainHula HoopingTying Your ShoesHaving SexSleeping IncorrectlyHelp for Chronic Constipation Causing Back Pain So there you are, sitting on the toilet, praying something will actually happen. This constipation is no fun, but you know what’s worse: the back strain you could end up with later from all that pushing. Yes, constipation can cause back pain, and won’t that be a fun back injury to explain? Difficult bowel movements that cause you to strain and push are unpleasant in and of themselves. Add in a back injury that results from your time on the toilet, and now you’ve gone from unpleasant to downright dreadful. The best advice from doctors is to avoid the strain by treating constipation before it takes hold (eating right, exercising, drinking plenty of water), or quickly getting ahead of the situation with over-the-counter remedies so it doesn’t become serious enough to involve your back muscles and potentially cause a painful (and embarrassing) injury. Turns out constipation isn’t the only weird way you can hurt your back. Activities Besides Constipation Causing Back Pain Hula Hooping That cheap piece of plastic you can pick up at the Dollar store can end up costing you a lot when you end up with sciatica. Hula hooping injuries are more common than you think, leading to back spasms, slipped discs, and more serious back injuries that require surgery. Tying Your Shoes One wrong move when tying your shoes (or lifting your baby, gardening, shaving your legs, or any other activity that requires you to be in a bent-over position), and, pop: there goes your back. Acute pain that develops can be the result of moving wrong and can then develop into a chronic back condition without proper treatment. Seeing your doctor for back pain as needed, maintaining strong abdominal muscles, which support the back muscles, and remembering that whenever you lift something heavy, you want to engage your legs, can help you keep your back healthy. Having Sex Yes, positions can get you into trouble here, too! “Back pain isn’t just one of the most common reasons for skipping work. It can also affect your sex life,” said Everyday Health. If you already have a bad back, it can be intensely painful. But you can also suffer a back injury during intimacy and find yourself in a compromising position on the way to the hospital. “New guidelines based on how the spine moves during intercourse could help,” they said.Here is a list of best and worst sex positions for your back, courtesy of Everyday Health and Shape (You’re welcome.). Sleeping Incorrectly You can’t possibly injure yourself while you’re asleep. That’s when you’re at your most relaxed and at the lowest risk for bodily harm. Right? Injuring your back while sleeping is not all that unusual, and is most commonly the result of a poor sleeping position.“Sleeping on your side is actually encouraged for those suffering from back or hip pain or pregnant women since this position doesn’t increase pain in these areas,” said The Better Sleep Council. “While there are many variations of sleeping on your side, all of which are beneficial in helping to alleviate insomnia and chronic sleep deprivation, the most comfortable position involves bending the knees slightly upwards towards the chest area. For those with a bad back, consider placing a pillow between your legs to alleviate pressure on your hips and lower back.” The Council cautions against sleeping on your back as, “It may actually induce lower back pain and even episodes of sleep apnea which interfere with normal sleep and restfulness,” and sleeping on your stomach, which sleep professionals don’t recommend because it, “causes strain on your lower back and possible neck pain.” Help for Chronic Constipation Causing Back Pain The DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments, the most effective medical procedures to treat and eliminate chronic back pain, for more information about maintaining a healthy back. Contact us today!
