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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
feeling of fulness in rectum/urge to defecate after back injury
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
feeling of fulness in rectum/urge to defecate after back injury
by montos, Jun 18, 2009 10:32PM
Hello,
I'm not even sure if this is the right forum to pose this question but here goes. In aug 2007 I injured my lower back and had pain issues for several months after. For about 3 weeks after the accident I had this sensation like I needed to have a bowel movement all the time.
Had MRI done march 2008 and nothing remarkable showed up.
In april 2009 I hurt my back at the gym doing squats and had severe back spasms and again the urge to defecate for a few days. I started physio which seemed to resolve all the issues
Now 4 days ago I tweaked my back again golfing and tried doing my physio exersizes. I think I was doing them incorrectly because instead of tensing my stomach muscles I was "bearing down" like when having a bowel movement. All that night I couldn't sleep because I felt like I was going to lose bowel continence. This scared the heck out of me and I went tothe doctor who suggested I may need another MRI. I had one done and, again it was generally unremarkable; no spinal cord impingment anyway. My GP suggested it may be from inflammation pressing on the nerves and it would probably go away but if it gets worse or I actually lose bowel control to go to the ER.
Could my symptoms be from the incorrectly done physio exersizes? Can straining/bearing down cause this kind of persistant sensations? Can I expect this to go away again like before? Or should I be talking to a neurologist or someone else? I'm really scared about this.
Thanks for whatever info you can provide.
I'm not even sure if this is the right forum to pose this question but here goes. In aug 2007 I injured my lower back and had pain issues for several months after. For about 3 weeks after the accident I had this sensation like I needed to have a bowel movement all the time.
Had MRI done march 2008 and nothing remarkable showed up.
In april 2009 I hurt my back at the gym doing squats and had severe back spasms and again the urge to defecate for a few days. I started physio which seemed to resolve all the issues
Now 4 days ago I tweaked my back again golfing and tried doing my physio exersizes. I think I was doing them incorrectly because instead of tensing my stomach muscles I was "bearing down" like when having a bowel movement. All that night I couldn't sleep because I felt like I was going to lose bowel continence. This scared the heck out of me and I went tothe doctor who suggested I may need another MRI. I had one done and, again it was generally unremarkable; no spinal cord impingment anyway. My GP suggested it may be from inflammation pressing on the nerves and it would probably go away but if it gets worse or I actually lose bowel control to go to the ER.
Could my symptoms be from the incorrectly done physio exersizes? Can straining/bearing down cause this kind of persistant sensations? Can I expect this to go away again like before? Or should I be talking to a neurologist or someone else? I'm really scared about this.
Thanks for whatever info you can provide.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jun 19, 2009 06:54AM
, Jun 19, 2009 06:54AM
I agree with the MRI, and a negative result would make neurological causes of the symptoms, such as spinal stenosis, less likely.
It is possible that a weak pelvic floor, caused by a history of straining, can lead to the GI symptoms.
Or it can be a disease within the colon itself. For that latter possibility, I would pursue a colonoscopy to exclude any types of mass or cancer.
Seeing both a GI physician and neurologist would not be unreasonable. I would discuss these options with your personal physician.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin Pho, M.D.
KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd
It is possible that a weak pelvic floor, caused by a history of straining, can lead to the GI symptoms.
Or it can be a disease within the colon itself. For that latter possibility, I would pursue a colonoscopy to exclude any types of mass or cancer.
Seeing both a GI physician and neurologist would not be unreasonable. I would discuss these options with your personal physician.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin Pho, M.D.
KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd
