IBS Complications: Back Pain, Hemorrhoids, Anxiety, and Other Health Issues

1. Back Pain

Symptoms

• Back pain
• Gas pains
• Lower abdominal pain

Cause: Upper and lower back pain is a common issue for people with IBS. It may be referred pain, meaning that the pain from gassiness or constipation may radiate (spread) to the back. Or it may be that people with IBS are more likely to have other chronic pain syndromes.

Treatment

• Physical therapy to strengthen and support back muscles
• Exercise
• Weight loss
• Treatments for constipation, like laxatives
• Treatments for bloating, including probiotics, simethicone, and peppermint oil

2. Pelvic pain

Symptoms

• Sharp or dull pain in the pelvic area (low abdomen)
• Pain during sex
• Altered bowel movements

Cause: Many people with IBS also have chronic pelvic pain (CPP). It’s not clear why, but pelvic pain may be a response to psychological stress, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. If you have IBS and pelvic pain, it’s important to see a gynecologist and a gastroenterologist (digestive tract specialist).

Treatment:

• Physical therapy
• Hormone therapy (birth control pills)
• Antidepressants

3. Hemorrhoids

Symptoms

• Lumps near the anus
• Rectal bleeding
• Anal pain
• Anal itching

Cause: If you regularly have hard stool and constipation, you can develop hemorrhoids. When you strain to have a bowel movement, the blood vessels and tissue around the anus can swell and bulge. This pressure can cause hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can also be caused by sitting on the toilet for too long.

Treatment

• Eat more fiber
• Take sitz baths
• Use topical ointments around your anus (such as Preparation H)
• Laxatives can help improve constipation
• If severe, you may need procedures to shrink hemorrhoids or cut off their blood supply, such as sclerotherapy and banding.
• Surgery to remove hemorrhoids

4. Mucus in stool

Symptoms

• White or yellow discharge with stool

Cause: A small amount of mucus in stool is normal because it helps lubricate stool, allowing it to pass through the colon. About half of all people with IBS complain of increased mucus in stool, though it’s not understood why this occurs. Mucus in stool is usually harmless unless you have an overlapping condition, like a stomach bug (gastroenteritis) or inflammatory bowel disease.

Treatment

• Avoid potential dietary triggers like lactose (found in dairy products), which may increase mucus in stool.

5. Anxiety and depression

Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Fatigue
• Changes in appetite
• Feeling irritable

Cause: People with IBS are more likely to have anxiety and depression than those who don’t have IBS. The brain and gut are in constant communication with each other, and disruptions in the gut-brain connection are believed to contribute to IBS. This connection may go both ways. This means that changes in mood can cause GI symptoms, and also that irritation in the gut may send signals to the brain that trigger certain emotions.

Treatment

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication
• Exercise

6. Pregnancy and IBS

Women with IBS who become pregnant may notice that their symptoms change. The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can change your GI function and make IBS symptoms worse. For example, high levels of estrogen and progesterone can slow digestion and lead to constipation, according to a study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Pregnancy can also cause increased stress, which may worsen IBS symptoms.

Treatment:

• Dietary changes, such as increasing fiber
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Medications that are safe during pregnancy, including some laxatives. Talk to your doctor to make sure that your medication is safe to use during pregnancy.

Can you get cancer or other serious complications from IBS?

IBS doesn’t make you more likely to develop more serious diseases. While some worry that IBS could increase their risk of colorectal cancer, this is not true. You may get more medical tests that expose you to low levels of radiation, but this doesn’t affect your risk of developing cancer. Also, IBS does not increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.