Pulled my back a bit...now IBS is kicking in again !

[Luisa22]

This has to be my own fault.

Recently, I have hardly had any IBS symptoms. I felt pretty normal. It's gone on like that for a few weeks. I am eating my usual foods which haven't given me any upsets. It's very plain cooked food with fish and eggs for protein, and veggies that suit me. So no changes there. They are all foods that I have tried and tested to be fine for me.

I've had no stress. My sleep's been good too.

I worked a bit too hard carrying firewood down from a copse just beyond a field behind my house because I know that when the pregnant sheep are put in there I won't be able to get up there until probably late Spring. It was hard work walking up and down through the turnip field, and I carried too much of a weight.

My determination over rode my body feelings when I felt some strain on back muscles.. I have started to run a bit low on wood so thought I'd go and get some more in.

The back is better now but my IBS has kicked up tonight. Bloating, windy feeling, distension, discomfort low on the left. It feels like a mouse running around inside my intestines.

Pulling my back slightly never used to upset my guts but this time it has. I find it hard to see what's the connection. I didn't eat anything dodgy today and I don't usually. I just eat foods that are very simple, healthy and suit me.

It's not any food. It's what happened to my back that started this. Why? Does anyone get the same (back irritates IBS)? Could it be a connection between the nerves or something?

[Meleber]

Your hard work caused stress on your body so also on your enteric nervous system (ENS, division of the autonomous nervous system ANS en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ent... ) and / or enteric muscles hence IBS got worse 🤔???

[Luisa22 in reply to Meleber]

Yes, that has to be a thing ; stress worsens IBS, and I am sure physical stress is just as bad as mental stress.

[xjrs]

 Meleber might be right.

Also a weird thing is, my IBS pain is experienced as mid to lower back pain. This is obviously referred pain from the gut since it is linked to foods that I eat, plus Linaclotide and Alflorex have helped to reduce this back pain significantly. It just goes to show that our skeletal system, our organs, nerves etc are all packed in together, so close that something going off in one area might affect another, like my gut affecting my back. Since not enough is known about IBS, who knows whether things can also work the other way around i.e. the back impacting the gut, since they are close neighbours.

On a positive note, you sound like you live in an idyllic place, with lots of nature around which hopefully would normally have a positive influence on your IBS.

[Luisa22 in reply to xjrs]

Oh yes, it's beautiful here. It lifts my spirits and I love working outside or going for walks.

I've had a dodgy lower back for a long time. Since 1997. Every now and again I overwork it a bit. Yes there has to be a connection between all the structures in the abdomen -gut, spine, muscles and nerves. So I suppose it makes sense that one bit affects another bit.

Tummy a little bit off this morning but nothing too bad. And the poor old back seems a lot better now! When I felt I'd pulled my back, I didn't stop moving, or lie down etc, I just kept on the move more gently and stretching etc and I think that helped weird though it sounds.

[xjrs in reply to Luisa22]

Glad that your tummy isn't as bad. Keeping moving gently when injured is always a good thing since if you sit still things can stiffen up and cause more pain.

[Sparrow58]

Did you take any meds for your back? I have to be careful with painkillers especially ibuprofen

[Luisa22 in reply to Sparrow58]

No I didn't take any pain killers or anything at all, as the back started to ease up later. The work I did might have put something into a spasm in my back but it passed off by the look of it and hasn't been bad today either. But tummy wasn't a 100% today (not too bad though)

[Iesgobdafydd]

My mother used to get back trouble and gut trouble flaring up simultaneously. It could be from stress but also the back and gut are literally adjacent, so any swelling or misaligment in your back can potentially mess with your gut, depending how bad it is, where it is, and how sensitive your gut is. My connective tissue all round my body is distorted and out of its correct alignment, and I spend several hours a day trying to work it back towards the correct configuration; in the course of this I often experience it putting pressure on parts of my gut which causes discomfort, lack of appetite & anxiety, or the same pressure being released which relieves these and often frees trapped gas.

[Crafted]

Oh my gosh, yes - everything e cept for the mouse thing. Creaking gurgling and much noise instead. Mine brought on, I think by walking over very uneven ground and tension through legs and back. I believe it to be sciatica in my case anf nerves irritated as you say possibly the vagus nerve is involved . Eating bland things like mash potato and white fish seems to help my gut a bit along with lower back exercises and very gentle stretching and no carrying stuff. Applying warmth sometimes helps my pain too. Not a quick fix tho. So sorry you are suffering and I hope it calms down soon. You might try mindful meditation for pain release/relief for the gut too. There's loads on utube. I get on with generation calm ones as she has a lovely soothing voice. Be well x

[Luisa22 in reply to Crafted]

Thank you Crafted, and I am sorry you are going through a similar thing with the back and sciatica, and IBS irritated as a result. I hope that all calms down for you soon.

I am not so bad, and could eat veggies (kale and carrots)and fish fingers today! So think it could have been worse.

[Crafted in reply to Luisa22]

That's good to hear and thank you for your good wishes. I feel a bit better today but really tired from lack of sleep. One step at a time eh? Stay well

[Luisa22 in reply to Crafted]

I had a three-hours-sleep night last week, and got through it, but know exactly how you feel ! (not caused by IBS, but by being unable to sleep early, and having to get up in the dark for a very early solid fuel delivery for my stove.)

Wishing you a good deep sleep tonight.

[Waiting_for_godo]

I definitely think it's connected. Discomfort or pain in one area can trigger the nerves or reflexes in another. I have the sharp psin on Lowe left which gets worse wheb my tummy is unsettled. Let your gut and back both rest. Super light food and lots of rest. Hope you feel better soon.

[Luisa22 in reply to Waiting_for_godo]

Thank you. I also hope your pain isn't too bad right now?

[Shizshaz]

I have IBS for 50 plus years, I also have ankylosing spondylitis which gives you severe lower back pain around your buttocks . These two are connected.