Up to 20% of the population in the United States experiences chronic constipation, which is usually not easily resolved by simply eating fiber and drinking more water – as many patients are told. Speaking to a pelvic pain specialist about your chronic constipation and related issues can help you get the proper treatment sooner.
Chronic constipation is described as having less than three bowel movements a week or having difficulty with bowel movements. With chronic constipation, straining and difficulty in evacuating bowel movements can be very painful, before, during, and after the bowel movement. Many times, you may feel the need to have a bowel movement but are unable to do so, and some patients with chronic constipation will also develop hemorrhoids. Chronic constipation and straining on the toilet over time puts stress on your pelvic floor and will lead to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
Chronic constipation is typically the result of a pelvic floor health condition and speaking with a pelvic pain specialist will allow patients to receive the proper treatment sooner.
The inability to have a bowel movement is caused by the poorly coordinated pelvic floor muscles (puborectalis plays a major role). When the puborectalis muscle is relaxed- the anal sphincter is open and allows stool to be evacuated. When the puborectalis muscle is contracted, the sphincter is closed and prevents fecal incontinence. There are many factors that can result in conditions that may cause this dysfunction.
Pelvic Floor Hypertonia
Pelvic Floor Muscle Dyssynergia
Stress, anxiety, with pelvic floor muscle tensing
Habitually holding stool
Irritable bowel syndrome
Change in daily routine
Side effects of certain medications
Not drinking enough water or eating enough food rich with fiber, fruit, and vegetables
Scar tissue from pelvic surgery
Once a proper diagnosis has been given, we offer a proprietary office-based procedure to treat the underlying causes of chronic constipation. This treatment consists of a series of pelvic nerve and muscle treatments to directly target the spastic pelvic floor muscles, inflammation in the pelvis, and nerve pain. Depending on the condition causing your symptoms and pain, other modalities may be needed in addition to our treatment. Since the cause of chronic constipation can be multifactorial, the most effective treatment option is a multimodal approach that targets many different contributing factors.
Experiencing chronic constipation can be difficult, but our team of pelvic pain specialists will listen to you, validate your experiences and symptoms, and partner with you on your rehabilitation journey.
Yes, most underlying conditions that cause chronic constipation can be treated. With our multimodal treatment approach, patients can experience increased pelvic function and decreased pain.
While we know that many causes of chronic pain are not related to what patients eat or drink, it is still helpful to drink plenty of water and eat foods that are rich in fiber. Not holding stool when you feel an urge to go can also help prevent the muscles in your pelvic floor from becoming tense. Habitually holding stool can cause chronic constipation to become worse and more frequent over time.
Chronic constipation is often the result of a pelvic floor health condition such as a hypertonic pelvic floor. Pelvic pain specialists are the experts in diagnosing and treating conditions that relate to the pelvic floor nerves and muscles. At PRM, we use a multimodal approach to treatment, so we are looking into all of the potential causes of your symptoms.
Because chronic constipation is not normal (although after a long time, it may seem normal for you) and may be a symptom of a more severe condition, we recommend booking an appointment with a pelvic pain specialist if you have been experiencing chronic constipation that is not temporary.
First our providers will ask questions about your medical history and listen to your symptoms to get a full picture of what is going on with you.
Next, an external exam of your hips, abdomen and posterior sacrum.
Next, your pelvic nerves are evaluated externally with a soft cotton tip.
Next, with your consent, gel is placed on a gloved finger and an internal exam is performed to allow us to evaluate the nerves and muscles within the pelvis. There is no speculum required as we are evaluating the pelvic floor muscles and nerves not the organs.
Our pelvic pain specialists are experts in recognizing the symptoms of and diagnosing pelvic pain conditions. With The PRM Protocol, we go further than addressing the symptoms on the surface – we treat the underlying causes of pelvic pain.