However, in rare instances, a herniated spinal disc can affect the bowels. This article explains how this can happen and why it can be a serious issue. There are nerves that connect to the bowels and control the actions required for proper bowel function.
Herniated disks can protrude and cause GI issues, such as : abdominal pain. diarrhea. constipation.
The cauda equina nerves are responsible for controlling an individual's awareness of the sensation around the anus. They are also responsible for the control of bowel movements.
Severe L4-L5 spondylosis causes intense back pain, weakness in legs, bladder and bowel disorders, erectile dysfunction in males, and female reproductive issues.
This syndrome is a medical emergency and typically causes severe pain, weakness, numbness, and/or tingling in the groin, genital region, and/or both legs. There may also be loss of bowel and/or bladder control.
The most common levels for a herniated disc are L4-5 and L5-S1. The onset of symptoms is characterized by a sharp, burning, stabbing pain radiating down the posterior or lateral aspect of the leg, to below the knee. Pain is generally superficial and localized, and is often associated with numbness or tingling.
DISC DEGENRATIVE DISEASE L4-L5 SYMPTOMS
Pain that radiates to the nearest limb. Lower back pain (if the degenerated disc is in the lower back) Pain in the neck and shoulders (if the degenerated disc is in the upper back) Tingling in the legs or fingers which is caused by nerve impingement.
Nonetheless, another study noted that L5/S1 herniation can lead to "bowel dysfunction."
L5 radiculopathy is usually associated with numbness down the side of the leg and into the top of the foot. S1 radiculopathy typically results in numbness down the back of the leg into the outside or bottom of the foot. Weakness is another symptom of nerve root compression.
Very large disc herniations may result in urinary difficulty and constipation. In cervical disc herniation, the spinal cord as well as the nerve roots may be compressed. The symptoms and signs produced are the result of nerve root compression, spinal cord compression, or both.
(A) The colon and rectum are innervated by two distinct spinal pathways, the lumbar splanchnic and sacral pelvic nerves.
With a spinal cord injury, damage can occur to the nerves that allow a person to control bowel movements. If the spinal cord injury is above the T-12 level, the ability to feel when the rectum is full may be lost. The anal sphincter muscle remains tight, however, and bowel movements will occur on a reflex basis.
If your injury is above level T11/T12, then the muscles of your sphincters and pelvic floor may be tight, which leads to constipation. If your injury is level T11/T12 or lower, then these muscles may be loose, which leads to stool incontinence.
L2, L3 and L4 spinal nerves provide sensation to the front part of your thigh and inner side of your lower leg. These nerves also control hip and knee muscle movements. L5 spinal nerve provides sensation to the outer side of your lower leg, the upper part of your foot and the space between your first and second toe.
The 4th lumbar nerve root (L4) is the 3rd most frequently affected nerve and results in pain that radiates through the lateral thigh and the inside of the lower leg. Numbness usually occurs on the outside of the thigh. The thigh muscle can be weak and the knee reflex can be decreased or absent.
Self care: In most cases, the pain from a herniated disc will get better within a couple days and completely resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Restricting your activity, ice/heat therapy, and taking over the counter medications will help your recovery.
The best sleeping position for lower back pain is on your side with a partial bend in the knees. View Source . Keeping the knees bent helps balance the body and reduces pressure on the lumbar spine. Many people find it helpful to put a small pillow between their knees to make this position more comfortable.
“Many people who have pain from a bulging disc will get pain relief with a few days of rest and some anti-inflammatories. Traction, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections can be beneficial as well.”
Symptoms of an L4-L5 lumbar disc herniation
When a patient has a lumbar hernia at these levels, one of the common symptoms will be sciatica, the pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve that passes through the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and leads into one of the legs.
We think that large, extruded L5-S1 disc herniations may affect the superior hypogastric plexus or pre-sacral nerve which is situated anterior to the last lumbar vertebra, the middle sacral artery, the lumbosacral intervertebral disc.
To begin with, it is important to know the most common symptoms of an L4-L5 lumbar disc herniation: low back pain, of either intervertebral disc or joint origin, and sciatica pain or radicular pain.
L5-S1 Disc Bulge Symptoms
The symptoms experienced in the lower back can be terribly painful. Pain from L5-S1 might occur suddenly or develop gradually over time. Common symptoms of L5-S1 disc bulge can be as follows: A sharp, burning, stabbing, or shooting pain in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, or toes.