According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) the definition of constipation is having less than three bowel movements per week. At least 4 million people in the U.S. report having constipation on a regular basis. When a person is constipated, stools may be small, hard and painful to eliminate. Constipation is usually short-lived and not of major concern. However, for some people, constipation is a symptom of an underlying medical problem. Extreme cases of constipation may require more involved treatment than conservative measures such as mild laxatives and dietary adjustments.
Causes
Common causes of persistent constipation may include lack of dietary fiber and physical exercise, irritable bowel syndrome (abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation) excessive use of laxatives and disregarding the impulse to have a bowel movement.
Secondary Constipation
The Mayo clinic says a number of conditions can cause persistent constipation. These include the use of narcotic medicines and diseases of the colon such as anal fissures (a tiny tear in the lining of the anal canal) and cancer.
Metabolic conditions including hypercalcemia (abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and diabetes mellitus (high levels of blood glucose) can all obstruct the inability to have regular bowel movements. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease may also result in constipation.
If it's determined that your constipation is a symptom of a primary disorder, your treatment will be directed at the cause.
Biofeedback
If constipation is due to pelvic floor dysfunction (excessive and unsuccessful straining while attempting to eliminate stools), your doctor may recommend biofeedback. This technique teaches patients how to coordinate abdominal and pelvic floor muscles to more easily have a bowel movement.
Suppositories & Enemas
There are a number of treatments that may be considered for extreme constipation. Rectal glycerin suppositories work by lubricating and motivating the defecation reflex.
Enemas may be used to flush water into the colon, thereby encouraging a bowel movement. An enema containing oil may be used to soften hardened feces. Disposable enemas distribute a liquid that contains non-absorbable salts that create a surge of fluid into the bowel that helps it contract.
Surgery
People who constantly suffer from extreme constipation as in the case of colonic inertia (lack of movement in the colon) may be candidates for surgical removal of the colon. However, this procedure may result in abdominal pain and diarrhea.
