A lot of people don’t like to talk about it, but constipation can be a painful and frustrating issue that interferes with daily life. Constipation affects over 63 million Americans, sometimes even leading to hospitalization in about 1 million cases. Minor constipation may cause stomach pain, bloating, or back pain while serious constipation problems can lead to vomiting, fissures, or hemorrhoids. Pregnant women, babies, and the elderly are more prone to constipation, but it is a painful problem that can affect anyone.
What Causes Constipation and How Do I Manage It?
Several things may cause constipation. An improper diet, frequent use of laxatives or other medications, and intestinal issues such as celiac or irritable bowel syndrome can all be causes of constipation. Taking laxatives can be an effective way to manage constipation that may work for some, but it doesn’t always work for everyone, and using them too frequently can lead to more constipation problems. Changing your diet and adding fiber can also work for some, but may not work for others. For serious constipation issues, a doctor might suggest surgery to remove blockage. Why do these methods work for some, but not others? Managing constipation through medicine or diet change can treat the symptoms, but they don’t get to the root of the issue. Chiropractic is a safe and easy way to treat the root cause of the problem to see long-term results with natural, drug-free, and non-surgical means.
How Can Chiropractic Help?
The nerves that run along your vertebrae, specifically the L1 vertebra, affect the function of the large intestines. A misalignment of this lumbar vertebra could cause issues such as constipation because of nerve interference between the central nervous system and the large intestines at the point of the misalignment. Interruption of nerve interference causes miscommunication between the brain and the body. For those complaining of constipation, a chiropractic adjustment from a Franklin chiropractor can aid in resuming nerve communication and relieving symptoms of constipation. Often times, those with misalignments in the L1 vertebra will pass a bowel movement shortly after an adjustment, experiencing immediate relief from constipation.
Does Chiropractic Work?
Many case studies have been done over the years to see if chiropractic really does help constipation sufferers. Thankfully, the results have been very positive. Children who are constipated are often prone to holding their bowel movements in an effort to avoid a painful experience, leading to more constipation, more painful bowel movements, straining, and bleeding. In one study of three children under the age of two who struggled with constipation, gentle chiropractic adjustments helped. After receiving adjustments one to two times a week, all three children were able to pass bowel movements regularly without pain or bleeding. In another study, several children with constipation experienced immediate relief after their first adjustment and turned to chiropractic for long-term care of constipation and other issues.
If you or your child is suffering from constipation pain, contact Franklin chiropractor Dr. Devan Arman of Unity Chiropractic for a consultation to discuss how chiropractic can help.
Sources
Angus, K., Asgharifar, S., & Gleberzon, B. (2015). What effect does chiropractic treatment have on gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: a narrative review of the literature. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 59(2), 122–133. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4486990/
Meyer, D. & Alcantara, J. “Successful Resolution of Chronic Constipation in Pediatric Patients with Adjustments to Sites of Vertebral Subluxation.” International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Clinical Chiropractic, 2008. http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/successful-resolution-of-chronic-constipation-in-pediatric-patients-with-adjustments-to-sites-of-vertebral-subluxation.html.