[Webb]

#7275

Hi, new to this site and really hope someone can help. My Mother is in severe pain with her lower back that much she struggles to go to the toilet leg pain and neck pain. MRI scan shows the L4,L5 S1 to be bulging. Our doctors in the UK have diagnosed my Mother to have a bowel concern and have not even contemplated a back issue which may be causing the problem. I really hope someone can shed some light and advise for us.

Best Regards

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7276

Lower back pain can interfere with bowel habits without compression of the central canal (cauda equina syndrome which is highly searched for but rarely occurs). Increased intraabdominal pressure (required to create a bowel movement) will also increase lower back pain in certain situations. This can be misinterpreted as cauda equina syndrome.

Your mother may also have a bowel disorder. The specialists I am sure have looked for rectocele as one of the sources of your mother’s bowel problems.

Dr. Corenman

[Webb]

#7277

Thanks for the reply Dr Corenman, is it possible the lower back trauma is causing her to have bowel issues?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7279

I cannot answer your question. This diagnosis really needs a specialist to determine what her disorder is.

Dr. Corenman

[Webb]

#7283

Hi Dr Corenman, I understand and yes we need to localise the disorder in order to resolve the issue. Can I ask for her bulging discs can an operation be performed to repair the discs?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7286

Discs that are “bulging” are degenerative. That is they are torn with dehydration of the nucleus (the jelly of the jelly filled donut). These discs cannot be “repaired”.

However, her pain may not originate from the discs. A surgical work-up needs to be performed to determine her pain source.

Dr. Corenman

[Author]

Posts