CAN SPINAL PROBLEMS CAUSE DIGESTIVE ISSUES?…

According to Medical News Today several studies, which are listed below, have found links between spinal problems and GI symptoms, such as:

• difficulty controlling bowel movements
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting

Doctors cannot successfully treat the underlying cause of some spinal problems, and therefore, they aim to take care of the symptoms instead. However, with other spinal issues, such as herniated disks, healthcare professionals can address symptoms with medications and surgery.

This article written in Medical News Today researches the link between spinal problems and digestive issues. It also looks at some common spinal problems, why they may result in digestive issues, and what treatment and management options are available.

Spinal problems can cause digestive issues.

The spinal cord is culpable for sending nerve signals throughout the body, including the digestive system. Therefore, any concerns impacting the function of the spinal cord and the proper communication between nerves can cause digestive problems.

Spinal cord injuries, compressed or herniated disks — depending on the location and severity of the herniation — and strained ligaments may result in issues with digestion.

Spinal cord injuries can cause several bowel problems, includingTrusted Source:

• difficulty moving waste through the colon or large intestine
• difficulty controlling bowel movements
• hard stools that are difficult to pass
• abdominal pain
• a feeling of fullness quickly after eating, which can lead to decreased eating

Herniated disks can protrude and cause GI issues, such asTrusted Source:

• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• excessive peristalsis, or the passage of food through the digestive system
• tenesmus, or the sensation of needing to have a bowel movement even though there is no more stool to expel

Furthermore, health professionals associate ankylosing spondylosis, which is another spinal condition, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ankylosing spondylosis is an inflammatory disease and a type of arthritis that can cause the vertebrae to fuse. As a result, a person’s spine curves forward.

People with this condition often experience chronic digestive tract inflammation that resembles IBD.

Nerves connect the digestive organs with the brain and spinal cord. They release chemicals that cause the digestive system muscles to contract or relax.

Spinal problems that may cause digestive issues include spinal cord injuries, herniated disks, tumours, and ankylosing spondylosis.

Aica writes that symptoms in one area of your body may reflect a problem happening in a completely different location. Many common digestive conditions can be traced back to the spine. A range of spinal cord concerns can cause problems in other parts of the body. The spinal cord sends nerve signals to the rest of your body, impacting its function, which can cause digestive problems. Problems that can lead to these problems include disc compression, herniated discs, or strained ligaments.

Finally, Fix 24 Wellness Studio writes that stomach problems can be an implication that there are other ailments bothering the body in another (almost unrelated) area. When people are dealing with nausea, diarrhoea, heartburn, or any other stomach problem, they always think the problem is isolated from their digestive system. However, this is not always the case. In fact, one of the most familiar places that can cause stomach issues is the back.

So, can your spinal problem be causing you a digestive problem, or could your digestive problem be causing your spinal problem? Reading the above articles, I would say it is a resounding yes, your spinal problem could be related to your digestive problems.

Source: Medical News Today, Aica Fix 24 Wellness Studio