Unfortunately, MS constipation is not an uncommon problem throughout the course of the progressive disease. In fact, multiple sclerosis constipation is a common symptom for many people who are diagnosed with the disease. This is because multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the nervous system. When the nerves that send signals to the bowels are affected, it can cause a variety of problems. Constipation is one of these problems. The nerves could no longer be signaling the body to have a bowel movement regularly. They could also be keeping the pelvic muscles from being able to relax. These nerve problems could be causing constipation in the body.
Certain medications that treat multiple sclerosis can also cause constipation. It is a side effect of many different treatments, both traditional ones and alternative ones. Another reason someone with multiple sclerosis could have constipation is because they are not getting enough exercise or because their diet is poor and low in nutrients and fiber. It could also be due to stress or depression. In order to find out the true cause of constipation, it is important to see a medical professional to get the situation accessed. Then the proper treatment can be started to help with the problem.
Ways to Treat MS Constipation
Constipation can be a painful problem on top of having a chronic disease. Luckily, there are many different ways to help treat multiple sclerosis constipation. There are medications that can help as well as natural things that can be done at home, such as altering a diet or increasing gentle exercise. The first thing to do should be to consult a medical professional. This could be a primary care physician, a gastroenterologist, or another type of doctor. They will help a patient to figure out the cause of the constipation. This will lead to the best course of treatment.
One of the first options for helping constipation is to increase your fiber intake. This is a simple thing that can be done right at home. You can do this by changing your diet to include more foods that contain fiber. If this is difficult, there are fiber supplements that can be taken. These can be in pill form, they can be chewable tablets, or they can be a powder that is mixed with water. There are many different ways to get fiber, and they are easy to add to a daily routine.