🌿 When Sitting Still Hurts: The Connection Between Constipation and Back Pain

By Simply Flava

Let’s be honest — constipation isn’t glamorous to talk about, but it’s something so many of us quietly deal with. Between long hours sitting at work and stress that tightens everything (including our gut), it’s no wonder our bodies start to protest by the end of the day.

I’ve noticed that when I’m backed up, my lower back pain flares by 3 PM. Some days it’s so intense, I have to get up, stretch, and move around before I can even walk comfortably to my car — and yes, Poopsie’s seat feels like heaven after a day of sitting in that office chair! 😂

💩 What’s Actually Going On

Constipation can cause pressure to build inside the intestines. That pressure pushes on the lower back, pelvic nerves, and muscles, creating the same dull ache that a bad chair would. When you add long periods of sitting, the combination compresses your spine and slows digestion — a double whammy.

💺 My Daily Routine Reality

I sit most of the day answering phones in a spine clinic (ironic, right?). By afternoon, my back tightens and my gut feels heavy. When I lie flat at home, the relief tells me exactly where the tension’s coming from — inside and out.

🧘 What’s Helping

Taking short walk breaks between calls

Staying hydrated (seriously, water is magic)

Using my Squatty Potty at home — thanks to SJ, NP, for that tip!

Rotating between Senna, Magnesium Citrate, and fiber supplements under her guidance

Trying out a yoga ball chair — Dr. K suggested it, and Emma downstairs swears by hers

🚗 Poopsie Knows Best

Here’s the funny part — my car seat supports my back better than any office chair! It fits my shape perfectly, relieves pressure, and lets my spine and abdomen relax. If only we could order car seats for the clinic. 😄

🌼 Final Thought

Your gut and your back are more connected than most people realize. Listen to your body, keep things moving, and never be embarrassed to talk about it. Healing starts with awareness — and sometimes a little magnesium citrate on the weekend.

Okay… let’s be real — when your gut’s backed up, your back knows it! 😅

Between sitting all day, stress, and those not-so-great office chairs, our bodies start talking — loud and clear.

In this week’s Friday Health & Wellness, I’m sharing how constipation and back pain connect (yep, it’s a thing!) and what’s helping me find relief — from movement to magnesium citrate to mindfulness.

Remember: your body’s always communicating… sometimes you just have to listen a little closer. 🌻

— Simply Flava