Back pain after suppository

[janke]

I``ve started using glycerin suppositories regularly to help with constipation and incomplete evacuation - which they do. However after using the suppository and having a BM I get bad lower back pain which last quite a while. Just wondered if this happens to anyone else? I suspect it is something to do with the nerves being affected either by the suppository or by the BM itself (which can be quite urgent)

[EOLHPC]

You’re asking an important question, i think.

My medics & i are avoiding these sort of suppositories because my early onset progressive lumbar & sacral spine conditions flare in reaction to my lower GI issues flaring, & because my whole GI tract mouth to exit has always been & still is so hypersensitive & reactive (despite a lifetime of chronic progressively debilitating slow transit dysmotility) to pretty much everything taken orally or anally. Instead my gastroenterology bowel retraining & biofeedback clinic specialist nurse has me doing ‘defecation dynamics’ + irrigation techniques - here is a link to NICE guidance:

nice.org.uk/guidance/MTG36

My GI issues are caused by my 3 underlying infant onset primary illnesses (systemic lupus, ehlers danlos, antibody deficiency dusease) & their secondaries (sjogrens, small vessel vasculitis etc). When i turned 60, these GI issues segued from what the nhs calls ‘intestinal insufficiency’ into ‘intestinal failure’ and i have been on Crohns-protocol Elemental Enteral Nutrition (EEN) for almost 2 years now - it looks like i’m unlikely to be able to tolerate food by mouth ever again. After 5 years of tertiary multidiscipline investigations, the provisional diagnosis is Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction aka enteric neuropathy So avoiding both obstipation & hyperreactions is key - here us a link:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ent...

So, i’m glad you’ve posted & am v interested in following your discussion

Take care ❤️🍀❤️🍀 Coco

[janke in reply to EOLHPC]

Thanks for replying,I`m sorry you are having so many problems. I have already tried bowel irrigation under the care of a specialist NHS physiotherapist but unfortunately it wasn`t effective for me - the mini version did nothing and the bag system resulted in me passing water all day!

I had quite a good day yesterday after using a suppository but today it hasn`t resulted in a substantial BM but I have got a sore back!

[EOLHPC in reply to janke]

Thanks for explaining: helps me A LOT to get the ‘rounded’ pic i NEED so i can help my medics help me 😉....am V GLAD you had that good day...am wishing you LOTS of good luck as you figure out what can help most with least probs...isn’t this what treatment/management seems to be about 🙄

🤷🏼‍♀️ Am feeling lucky cause am convincingly diagnosed & my multisystem treatment plans are so effective am generally feeling better than i have since my teens...but it’s all a lot of effort & i am getting older, so age-related ‘normal’ stuff is joining the ‘fun’ eg now know i have 3 lumbar vertebrae fractures contributing to my lower spine pain mix...despite IV bisphosphonates shifting me back into osteopenia..what a life 🍀❤️🍀❤️

[nomoreibsc]

yes, I have back pain too. Was recommended suppositories by the bowel clinic as they said it was better for me in the long run than oral laxative. Using irrigation as well but still getting the hang of it...What do your Docs say about the pain?

Incidentally, I also get back pain when I am really constipated or don't have a full BM.

[janke in reply to nomoreibsc]

I did ask a gastroenterologist about back pain and he just said it is common with IBS and nobody knows why! (very helpful). My doctor`s solution was to put me on daily medication - the same as is given to treat epilepsy so I declined that! I also saw an osteopath who confirmed there was nothing else going on and just described it as "referred pain". I suspect that the pain is caused by the nerves that are involved with a BM - or that are being put under pressure because of constipation.

I recommend the book Take Control of your IBS by Prof Peter Whorwell who confirms that there should be no problem in using suppositories (or laxatives) long term. I find laxatives don`t help me reliably and cause more stomach cramps.

[nomoreibsc in reply to janke]

Thank you for the information re suppositories. Reassuring. I agree with you re nerve pain. I used to have intense pain until I modified my diet so the pain is not that intense anymore or frequent. Chronic constipation can be so difficult to resolve but I decided to help my healing by switching to a healthier diet and cutting out sugar. Wishing you complete healing.

[casares8]

I was told to try glycerin suppositories the other day to help with constipation, bu t the trouble is i have a femoral hernia which is caused by the constipation and i scared it will bring it to the surface again. Although the other day it came out because of hard stools so not sure if it will make it better or worse?

[CarolineMarike]

I'm new to this all, my IBS started 2 months ago and I'm from Holland, so I don't know every medical term used here. Could you please tell me what is inside the supositories? Google explained to me what they are - I know where to put them - but what could be inside that might help with the IBS of constipation? Thank you and have a wonderful day (or night).

[janke]

The most common ones have glycerin inside them. It softens things up and is also slightly irritant which gets things moving. After you use them it is best to lie down and try to resist the urge to go to the toilet for about 15 minutes to make them most effective