Common Causes Of Back Pain
The back undergoes a lot of wear and tear due to twisting, lifting, and supporting a personâs body weight.
There are many possible causes of back pain. They may occur at the same time as urinary incontinence, though the two symptoms are not always related.
Some
When incontinence and back pain arise due to a single underlying condition, they are not usually symptoms that a person can treat at home.
However, a person can try the following steps to try to improve their symptoms:
- Avoid substances that worsen incontinence. These include caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
- Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . These include ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs can help relieve pain and reduce the inflammation that can lead to discomfort.
- Apply a cloth-covered ice pack to the back for 10 minutes at a time. This can help relieve irritation and swelling that can cause back pain and discomfort.
- Avoid smoking. Smoking is a known risk factor for incontinence and can also contribute to the development of conditions that cause back pain.
A person can also review the medications they currently take with their doctor. However, they should not stop taking any medications without a doctorâs approval.
If someone has a herniated disk, there are several exercises that may help relieve pain. Gentle activities, such as swimming and yoga, can also be beneficial.
When Should I Call A Doctor
Your symptoms may not bother you too much. But itâs important to talk over any urinary problems with your doctor.
Itâs hard to predict how BPH will play out, and you canât assume that the problem will get better on its own. Your doctor also will want to rule out things that cause similar problems.
Some symptoms need quick medical attention. If you have any of these, call your doctor right away or head to an emergency room:
- You canât urinate at all.
- You have to pee frequently, itâs painful, and you have fever and chills.
- You have blood in your urine.
- You feel a great deal of pain in your lower belly and urinary tract.
National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Cleveland Clinic: Diseases and Conditions Benign Prostatic Enlargement .
Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Mayo Clinic: Diseases and Conditions Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia .
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How To Manage Lower Back Pain & Incontinence
If youre experiencing back pain, incontinence, or both, you can speak with a healthcare professional about your treatment options. They may be able to rule out any serious conditions contributing to the issues, and they can put together a proper treatment plan.
In some cases, incontinence can be treated, but other times can only be managed. Here are some ways to manage your incontinence and lower back pain.
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Onset Of Cauda Equina Syndrome
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome can develop suddenly, but may take weeks or months. The onset of the condition is often described using the following distinctions:
- Acute onset is marked by a rapid development of symptoms that often includes severe low back pain and significant loss of bladder and bowel function. In an acute onset, sensory and motor deficits in the lower body typically develop within 24 hours.
- Gradual onset can develop over progressively, and symptoms may come and go over the course of several weeks or months. Gradual onset usually typically includes partial or intermittent loss of bowel and bladder function, as well as recurring low back pain in combination with muscle weakness and numbness and bladder and/or bowel incontinence or dysfunction. Sciatica may also occur in one or both legs.
Loss of bowel or bladder function may include incontinence , and/or constipation .
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Changes In Bladder Habits Or Symptoms Of Irritation
Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:
- Having to urinate more often than usual
- Pain or burning during urination
- Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isnt full
- Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
- Having to get up to urinate many times during the night
These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection , bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate . Still, its important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
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Diarrhea And Lower Back Pain: Whats The Connection
Constipation may occur if a disc herniation causes a significant compression of nerves that control bowel and bladder function, resulting in urinary and/or fecal incontinence. This could be due to the compression of the spinal cord nerves that control these functions. Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and bladder problems are all possible symptoms of lower spine and sacrum problems. Because the lower spine contains sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves that connect to the digestive system, interference directly affects this process. Diarrhea and lower back pain are often associated with specific illnesses such as celiac disease, IBD, kidney infections, and diverticulosis. The symptoms may be distinct, but the underlying cause of the two problems may be more serious. There is no correlation between diarrhea and lower back pain. However, they can also be indications of more serious health problems. celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney infections, and diverticulosis are all possible causes of diarrhea and lower back pain.
How To Avoid Or Prevent Sciatic Nerve Pain
Because the majority of risk factors associated with sciatic nerve pain can be ameliorated by dedicated patients, one encouraging thought is that you have a fair bit of control over avoiding or preventing it. First steps involve losing weight, ceasing smoking, and modifying heavy lifting at work. For instance, if your job requires you to shift bulky objects, make sure that you are using correct form and consider wearing supportive bracing. Similarly, embarking on a smoking cessation program will not only help with any sciatic nerve pain, it will also improve your health in general. Finally, carrying too much weight can lead to all sorts of back problems, not just sciatica. Also, remaining physically active is one of the best sciatic pain treatments available.
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How Can I Prevent Back Pain And Frequent Urination
Some causes of back pain and frequent urination arent preventable. But you can minimize your risk for certain conditions and health concerns. For example, you can decrease your risks for urinary tract infections by wiping front to back after you use the bathroom. Drinking plenty of water can help flush bacteria through your body. Also, if you have a history of stones in the urinary tract, your doctor can help you identify foods and beverages in your diet as well as certain medications that may be contributing to stone formation.
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What Are The Long
Go to the emergency department if you have symptoms of cauda equina syndrome. You might need surgery right away. Your surgeon will move whatever is pressing down on your nerve roots so they can heal. But surgery doesnt guarantee that you wont have any long-term issues. Your nerves might not heal correctly or heal at all. You might have permanent damage. The best way to prevent that is to report to the emergency department and get surgery as soon as possible. The earlier the treatment, the better.
The faster you have surgery, the less time it will take your nerves to heal. If the surgery does help your nerves, it might take you a while to feel like yourself again. As the nerves heal over months or even years, youll slowly regain control over your bowels and bladder, the pain might lessen and the weakness might go away.
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Products To Manage Back Pain
Holistic Incontinence provides a wide range of products to help you manage both back pain and incontinence. We carry an impressive range of incontinence products that are both modern and discrete, ensuring you can manage your incontinence in comfort day and night. Holistic Incontinence also has a range of support products to manage back pain.
Causes Of Urinary Incontinence
Stress incontinence is usually the result of the weakening of or damage to the muscles used to prevent urination, such as the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter.
Urge incontinence is usually the result of overactivity of the detrusor muscles, which control the bladder.
Overflow incontinence is often caused by an obstruction or blockage in your bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully.
Total incontinence may be caused by a problem with the bladder from birth, a spinal injury, or a small, tunnel like hole that can form between the bladder and a nearby area .
Certain things can increase the chances of urinary incontinence, including:
- pregnancy and vaginal birth
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How Can I Prevent Cauda Equina Syndrome
It may not be possible to prevent all of the causes of cauda equina syndrome. But, you might be able to reduce your risk of a herniated disk, the most common cause of the syndrome. Try the following tips:
- Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. These types of shoes can misalign your spine.
- Stop smoking. Avoid using other tobacco products as well because they can weaken your disks.
- Exercise. Try exercises that strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.
- Lift properly. Bend your knees and keep your back straight when you lift something instead of bending at your waist.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight adds extra pressure to your lower back.
- Practice good posture. That will reduce strain on your spine.
- Stretch. Stretch your body periodically, especially after youve been sitting for a long time.
How Is Ui Diagnosed
The only way to diagnose the underlying cause of both back pain and UI is to see your doctor and receive a full medical exam. The exam can help your doctor decide whether your symptoms are related to a separate condition that needs attention.
During the exam, its important you detail any symptoms, when you experience them, and how you relieve them.
After this initial diagnosis phase, your doctor may order several tests. These tests may include imaging tests like X-rays and blood work. The tests can eliminate causes for your symptoms.
If your doctor cant reach a diagnosis, they may refer you to a urologist or a back pain specialist.
Treatment for back pain and UI relies on finding an underlying cause. Once you and your doctor understand whats causing your symptoms, you can develop a plan to manage your symptoms.
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Treatment Options For Acute Lower Back Pain
Most low back pain is due to muscle strain and spasm and does not require surgery. To treat the pain, medications such as acetaminophen , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , gabapentin or pregabalin can be used. NSAIDs suppress inflammation, pain and fever by inhibiting certain inflammation-causing chemicals in the body. Acetaminophen reduces pain and fever, but does not inhibit inflammation. Gabapentin and pregabalin, medications that have been used for antiseizure activity, also have the ability to block pain. Opioids provide pain relief and may at times be prescribed to manage severe back pain. However, opioids have many problems, such as habituation, constipation and lightheadedness, and are avoided when possible and used for the shortest possible duration. Epidural injection is an option if the back pain does not respond to these treatments. Each person is different in terms of response to medication.
Other nonsurgical treatments for lower back pain include Intradiscal electrothermal therapy , nucleoplasty, and radiofrequency lesioning.
Burning Sensation You May Have A Uti
A urinary tract infection or UTI happens in millions of Americans each year. A UTI can cause pain during urination and more commonly affects women. Several signs show the severity of the infection. These include intense back pain. Understanding whats happening during a UTI can help people get the right treatment right away.
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Cauda Equina Syndrome & Incontinence
Cauda equina syndrome is a condition that causes squeezing or compression in the cauda equina sac of nerves at the nerve roots or base of the spinal cord, resulting in lower back pain and urinary incontinence. As the nerves are pinched, they cannot properly function and may result in the involuntary loss of urine.
Cauda equina symptoms include weakness in the legs, numbness or tingling in the lower back and legs, and incontinence.
In some cases, cauda equina can be treated by surgically decompressing the spine, depending on the nerve tissue damage.
Can Degenerative Disc Disease Cause Urinary Incontinence
There is no definitive answer to this question as the research on the matter is inconclusive. Some studies suggest that there is a correlation between degenerative disc disease and urinary incontinence, while other studies are not able to confirm this link. It is possible that degenerative disc disease may be a contributing factor to urinary incontinence, but further research is needed to confirm this.
To determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in chronic spinal cord disease patients, researchers conducted a study. The type of degeneration is determined by the level of the spinal column involved . The researchers used data from gender, age, body mass index , neurological status, and spinal disease type to determine the studys findings. The relationship between low back pain and urinary incontinence is not well understood. Aside from gender, body mass index, radicular weakness, and the type of degeneration, there are other factors at play. More than half of the patients who were affected by this condition had their symptoms reduced or eliminated as a result of surgical treatment. Researchers looked into the relationship between bladder dysfunction and spinal degeneration caused by degeneration of the spine.
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Symptoms Of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Typically, we associate the following symptoms with spinal stenosis in the lumbar, or lower back, area:
- Pain in the lower back
- Numbness in the legs or feet
- Tingling in the legs or feet
- A weakness or feeling that the legs may not be able to support standing
- Sciatica symptoms of a searing pain that runs from the buttocks and then down one leg or the other
- Noticeable difference in the level of pain experienced while standing or walking and then what is felt when the individual sits down
- Pain level decreasing when an individual leans or bends forward
The reason that bladder issues belong on the list of symptoms associated with lumbar stenosis is that the nerves at the lower end of the lumbar region branch out into the peripheral nervous system, which is where bladder function and sensation are controlled. Compression of these nerves due to lumbar stenosis can lead to neurogenic bladder dysfunction and present as urinary issues such as frequency, urgency and lack of control.
Pain and the other symptoms that are normally associated with lower back issues are difficult enough to deal with. When incontinence or any other sort of urinary issue is added, many people allow their quality of life to be severely impacted due to embarrassment. This makes it even more important to visit a healthcare professional as soon as symptoms are noticed.
Patients We Are Treating For Cervical Spine Pain And Instability Will Start Revealing That They Have Urinary Challenges And Their Urinary Challenges Treatment As Mostly Or Wholly Unsuccessful
Typically, a patient we are treating for cervical spine pain and instability will start revealing that they HAVE urinary challenges and their urinary challenges treatment as mostly or wholly unsuccessful. They, in the past they admit, have been given the standard set of guidelines and urinary management suggestions: Dietary changes mostly, avoidance of caffeine as a primary lifestyle change along with healthier diet are recommended. There is usually nothing wrong with these recommendations but they are not working for this patient. Other recommendations were equally not helpful, such as holding it in as long as you can, to retrain your bladder to be able to hold it in. Of course, wearing some type of protective undergarments is always an option.
While these recommendations may be helpful to many, cervical spine and neck instability patients are dealing with multiple symptoms that they are not able to control. It is at this point the medications for urinary incontinence may be added to their treatments.
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People Getting Cervical Spine Surgery Already Have Urinary And Bladder Problems
In April 2019, doctors at the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Science University published their research findings that made a connection between lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary bother in patients who underwent elective cervical spine surgery. The research was published in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
The researchers record that the purpose of this study was to:
The research:
- 242 patients (youngest 34 to oldest 83 years average group age 58
- There were 108 males and 134 females .
- Patients were grouped into a myelopathy group and a non-myelopathy group based on diagnosis as assigned by the operating surgeon.
There Is A Connection Between Those Who Suffer From Urinary Incontinence And Low Back Pain
A study in 2013 showed that 52% of the women in their cohort that have been diagnosed with mixed urinary incontinence also have low back pain.1 Conservative treatment, including physical therapy and the proper core exercises, can significantly help reduce low back pain, and incontinence at the same time!
During physical therapy, we examine not only the pelvic floor musculature, but also other muscles that support the pelvic floor, such as outer hips, inner thighs, and the low back. We also consider posture and breathing mechanics, as all of these factors can lead to incontinence. Moreover, we confirm that the pelvic floor muscles are in fact weak, and need strengthening, as this is not always the case. Sometimes when the muscles are tight, or maybe working too hard, the muscles become less effective at doing their job, like maintaining continence. This would be a different treatment plan, but completely treatable with your physical therapist! If you have low back pain as well, physical therapists will address this region, which may help improve incontinence in doing so! Physical therapists are trained movement specialists, so it is important to get an assessment first, before starting an exercise program such as Pilates.
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