Pain with constipation
Constipation can be accompanied by pain. For example, pressing abdominal pain can occur. Pain during bowel movements is also not uncommon in constipation.
This is because the stool is often very hard when constipated. This leads to an irritation of the mucous membrane in the area of the rectum and ultimately to pain. Very hard stools can also occasionally cause slight bleeding, especially if haemorrhoids are present.
In order to treat the pain caused by constipation, the only way to treat the cause of constipation is to treat the cause of the constipation. The first step in diagnosing constipation is a medical history and a physical examination, during which particular attention is paid to bowel sounds, palpable resistance, abdominal immunity, hemorrhoids and a digital-rectal examination. This is followed by a blood test, which includes electrolytes (especially potassium) and thyroid gland values (TSH).
An examination of the stool for invisible (occult) blood (hemoccult) also completes the diagnosis. Other diagnostic options include imaging procedures: Colonoscopy (colonoscopy), ultrasound (sonography) and x-ray of the abdomen (abdominal overview). In case of suspected intestinal constriction (stenosis) or to differentiate betweenologic and anorectal constipation, a hint test is performed.
In this test, radiopaque markers are taken orally for seven days and then an X-ray image is taken. The position of the markers allows the duration of passage and any obstacles to passage to be assessed. The final diagnostic tools are functional proctoscopy, defecogram and anal sphincter manometry. In functional proctoscopy, one observes whether there are changes in the intestinal mucosa during pressing (protrusion of parts of the mucosa), the defecogram represents defecation under X-ray control and the manometry measures the pressure development of the sphincter muscle (sphincter). The further diagnosis is determined by the suspicion of a causative disease.
Prophylaxis
Constipation that is not due to an organic disease can be prevented with an appropriate lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, lots of drinking and enough exercise. If the constipation is caused by incorrect diet and lifestyle, it has a good prognosis. However, if there is an organic cause behind it, the prognosis depends on the disease causing it. –> Continue to the topic of nutrition for constipation
