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Does Constipation Cause Abdominal Stiffness?

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Posted on Wed, 5 Oct 2016
Question: Dear Doctor,

Is it possible to have a soft abdo and no mass during an examination and consequentley still be constipated...thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
it is possible

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

constipation does not (always) cause abdominal stiffness. The stool may be palpable or not. An x-ray may be more explicit regarding the intestinal contents. The stool content has a characteristic radiographic appearance. The cause of constipation is important though. If there's intestinal obstruction for example there will be detectable signs from clinical examination like altered bowel sounds and distention. So in conclusion the clinical signs depend on the cause.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 hours later)
Thank you Doctor..one further question if I may, huge pain while pressing in the middle low abdomen area, could there be a connectiin to the reason why soiling like leakage is occuring like constipation
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
not related to it

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

having huge pain while pressing on the abdomen requires investigation to exclude serious disorders like diverticulitis for example which commonly accompanies constipation. Watery leakage may occur when the lower part of the intestine is almost obstructed by hard stool (fecaliths).

Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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Does Constipation Cause Abdominal Stiffness?

Brief Answer: it is possible Detailed Answer: Hello, constipation does not (always) cause abdominal stiffness. The stool may be palpable or not. An x-ray may be more explicit regarding the intestinal contents. The stool content has a characteristic radiographic appearance. The cause of constipation is important though. If there's intestinal obstruction for example there will be detectable signs from clinical examination like altered bowel sounds and distention. So in conclusion the clinical signs depend on the cause. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!