This is a little embarassing but Im going to ask. I am taking hydro for lower back pain and Ive been experiencing chronic constipation. Any ideas on what I can do. Ive tried stool softeners and laxatives but they aren't working very well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Try drinking more water, it will help a little.

Yes lots of water and generic metamucile .
Alpha

fresh pineapple

flax seeds on your bran flakes

you'll be "good to go" lol

The question may be embarassing but the (no pun intended) bottom line is anyone who is on an extended regimen of opiate meds needs to address the issue. I am glad someone already suggested good hydration, Not to start horror stories, but upper bowel impaction can lead to very serious complications and potentially throw your body chemestry out of whack, so your concern is both a valid concern, and a good reminder for the rest of us. One thing, many pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, health food stores, etc. have free broucheres on "Bowel protocol for opiate med. consumers"...ANY respomsible pain clinic facility will generally have a printed list of suggestions. Lucky for me, I LOVE stewed prunes, walking daily is critical because this helps greatly with peristalsis which is the muscle action that moves the stool into lower intestine which makes the problem easier to deal with, If the situation has gotten so problematic that you are starting to feel uncomfortable, you may want to try a Fleets enema, (available at any store with a pharmacy section) Enema's are efective, BUT done on a regular. basis, will cause the peristaltic (muscle action to become flaccid) so it's best to start a good bowel protocol program early on. Any many professional knows the implication of constipation induced by opiod pain medicationsThank you for bringing this important topic up. Don't be afraid to discuss this with any informed Medical professional. It is fairly simple to control, but left untreated too long is SERIOUS stuff.
My best to you!
Dave

Stewed prunes Dave? I'm afraid I would need to be stewed myself to eat stewed prunes.
You may have my share of them Dave. I'll take the metamucile thankyou.
regards,
Alpha

Al - Just when I thought I heard the funniest line from you - you've got an even better one....lol I haven't heard the term "stewed" for years...I think maybe it was the time I got "Stewed in Atlantic City" and came home with $200 more than I went with...lol I always joked to every one that I just hope I had made the money in the casinos...lol

LOTS OF WATER AND LOTS AND LOTS OF MUSHY RIPE FRUITS LIKE CANTELOPES, PEACHES, APRICOTS, KIWIS - GOOD FOR YOU TOO.

Take care all...

Bev

fiber, fiber, fiber hey shaman yuo sure are a poopie expert!

If all of the above doesn't work, you'll really be in "deep do do"...or should I say YOU WON'T be! (Sorry, I couldn't resist saying that.)

Seriously, Traditional Medicinals makes a great herbal laxative tea called "Smooth Move"...I think there may be other brands as well. I works great!

Like Alpabeta and others said, lots of liquids, metamucil, or any other fiber foods (veggies, etc). Does make your diet more healthy if you weren't into veggies and salads before.
PB

I am also having the worst problem with this but I think mine is also because I am pregnant. I have been taking hydro for about a year for ddd and didnt have any constipation problems until becoming pregnant, now its horrible. I talked to my dr last week and he said more fiber! Ug! I bought metamucil and have been taking those for about 5 days and they arent helping very much. I drink about 2 gallons of water a day and I eat about 6-8 servings of fruit and still nothing. I take about 3-4 hydros a day. I dont know what else to try that will be safe for me and baby. Yucky!

Ok....I don't want to have anyone here think that this is too wierd, or gross or something....but, when I took care of my Father during his last years, he couldn't have a regular bowel movement.

This was caused by a number of reasons. He suffered from Spinal Stenosis....so he couldn't feel the lower portion of his body very well. Also the ammount of narcotics that he had to take, really "Boxed" him in.

Now.....Don't get too grossed out, but, I had to put on latex gloves and actually go in "there" and get it out.

He could feel the pressure, and it hurt when he had to "go" ...but, he couldn't even give a good push.

I was taught how to do this by a compassionate nurse, and I have to tell you that it gave him instant relief.

I worried about the times he had to be in the Hospital, because the nurses didn't want to do it for him, and he suffered greatly!!! I ended up talking with the Doctor in charge of him for each time, and requested that I be allowed to assist my Father since his staff were unwilling to do so, and was always given permission.

Imagine if you can a man of great position in his "Hey-Day" having to submit to this indignity.

Finally , he got so used to it that he even lost all embarressment over it, and would talk to his "Old Cronies" on the phone telling them that I was such a good daughter that I would even help him by "going on a dig".

One time he asked my Sister to "Help" him, as I was gone to the store while she came to visit him. She was horrified!!! She told him that she was in NO WAY able to do that for him. He'd come to think so little of it....that he got mad at her for turning him down. I had to remind him that it's not something that most people would feel comfortable doing....it's just that we were used to it. I told him to NEVER ask anyone to do it for him again

The LONG POINT of all this, is....if you or one of your loved ones are suffering, dont let it get so bad that they will have to have an operation to surgicly remove it.( I have heard horror stories of 12lb, "Tar babies" being removed!!) Gloves and vasoline will do the trick.!

BettyBrown

Great advice above. Senna works great! In any form. Tea, capsuls...Senna, fruit. If you have a juicer, juice, juice, juice. That will get you where you need to be.

OK Betty, you are a very good person and good daughter to do that....oh boy....
LA Weight Loss bars (on ebay) are like an instant "mover"! Lots of fiber in them I guess!
And yes fruit....

Obviously the above posters were all giving excellent advice regarding the dietary changes to include more water, fiber, etc... However, if you have not went for a while I'm afraid all the water in the world is not going to move you if you have become impacted. I know this is gross, but it is a common problem seen in ER's everyday...especially with people taking opiates.
A good laxative quick fix is Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution. This can be purchased at any Dollar Store, Wal-Mart, etc. for about $1.00 per 10 oz bottle. It is necessary for you to drink the entire bottle (as it states), but you should go. If not, sounds like an enema is your best bet.

ps. my doctor told me that it is important to always take a stool softener if you are taking pain meds. "surfak" is a good brand--kinda expensive though.