Treatment for constipation may be directed at a specific cause. For example, the doctor may recommend discontinuing medication or performing surgery to correct an anorectal problem such as rectal prolapse, a condition in which the lower portion of the colon turns inside out.
People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control bowel movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity, which is displayed on a computer screen, allowing for an accurate assessment of body functions. A health care professional uses this information to help the patient learn how to retrain these muscles.
Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Topics on Constipation:
Constipation
Complications of Constipation
Diagnosis of Constipation
Treatment of Constipation
Other Treatments for Constipation
Constipation in Children
Simple Tips to Relieve Symptoms and Prevent Recurrence of Constipation
Content Excerpted from: Constipation. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 06–2754: February 2006
Page Last Revised: May 21, 2012
People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control bowel movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity, which is displayed on a computer screen, allowing for an accurate assessment of body functions. A health care professional uses this information to help the patient learn how to retrain these muscles.
Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Topics on Constipation:
Constipation
Complications of Constipation
Diagnosis of Constipation
Treatment of Constipation
Other Treatments for Constipation
Constipation in Children
Simple Tips to Relieve Symptoms and Prevent Recurrence of Constipation
Content Excerpted from: Constipation. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 06–2754: February 2006
Page Last Revised: May 21, 2012
