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← Return to Myelopathy and constipation
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I have herniated lumbar discs, thankfully resolved and causing no problems, from years ago. I do remember that I didn't feel constipated at the time but always evacuated stuff better immediately after physical therapy. I speculate that tight muscles in the lower back maybe affected peristaltic motion in the GI tract or something as the body has so many ways to compensate for anything out of whack.
Jen is right about meds for pain-relief, or muscle relaxants for that matter. Check their side effects as constipation is a common one.
January is relatively recent so things might still be finding a new equilibrium. My back took a good year of P/T, acupuncture and other stuff I tried before I realized, one happy day, that I hadn't 'noticed' lower back issues in a while.
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@birdman518 @callalloo Physical therapy is a good suggestion. If someone sits all the time, the hip flexors get tight in front, and this can affect the colon when the body gets tight around it. When you are recovering or in pain, sometimes it's difficult to walk. My PT has worked on me for tight hip flexors. If you press your fingers right inside your hip bones, you'll feel the hip flexors. You can push on those muscles with something like a cane or elbow, or lay on a small ball. It's best to have 2 balls the same size if you are going to lay on them because it's possible to throw the pelvis out of alignment (like twisting one hip forward, etc) if you have that movement in the SI joints. Of course all of this should be discussed with a physical therapist who understands your post surgical capabilities and what exercise or stretching is safe for you to do.
Mitch, do you have a physical therapist that you work with?
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@callalloo I do realize that it has only been 6 months. It is very hard because not only did the fusion (ACDF) not help, in many ways my pain is worse, and now somewhat bi-lateral.
From what I have read, your comment about the nerves and "peristaltic motion in the GI tract " is correct... at least for some people.