Does IBS make your legs ache?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 23, 2026
A study published in the October 2012 edition of the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility confirmed the link between IBS and restless legs syndrome . Researchers looked at 225 people with IBS and 262 healthy people and found restless legs syndrome occurred significantly more frequently in those with IBS.
restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease (WED), is generally a long-term disorder that causes a strong urge to move one's legs. There is often an unpleasant feeling in the legs that improves somewhat by moving them. This is often described as aching, tingling, or crawling in nature.
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Is leg pain a symptom of IBS?
In a study of extra-intestinal symptoms in IBS patients we found that thigh pain, muscle and joint pain, and back pain are more frequent in IBS-C than IBS-D and IBS-M.Can IBS cause lower back and leg pain?
In addition to bloating and gas, people with IBS often develop extraintestinal symptoms, or symptoms that involve body parts beyond the gut. These may include sleep problems, headaches, urination troubles, fatigue, muscle pain, pain in the pelvis or jaw—and back pain.Can IBS make you ache all over?
3 out of 4 people with IBS report continuous or frequent abdominal pain, with pain being the primary factor that makes their IBS severe. Importantly, and unlike chronic pain in general, IBS pain is often associated with alterations in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation, or both).Can irritable bowel cause restless legs?
A greater percentage of patients with RLS had diarrhea-predominant IBS (62%) compared with patients with constipation-predominant IBS (4%) or mixed-symptom IBS (33%). CONCLUSION: Restless legs syndrome is prevalent in patients with IBS, especially those with diarrheal symptoms.Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, Animation
Can bowel problems cause pain in legs?
Does constipation typically cause leg pain? Although leg pain is not normally associated with constipation, constipation can cause back pain, which can lead to pain or discomfort in other areas of the body.Can bowel problems cause back and leg pain?
The truth is that bowel problems and lower back pain are inextricably linked. This is because the nerves of both the back and the abdominal area run through the lower part of the spine. If you suffer from abdominal pain and bloating, it is likely that you also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.Can bowel problems cause hip and leg pain?
When you begin to have issues with either part of the intestine, it can cause the iliopsoas muscles to quickly tighten around the intestinal area. Medical issues like irritable bowel syndrome can cause hip and groin pain, which is why if you start to have lower back pain, it could be due to your digestive issues.Can IBS cause joint and muscle pain?
People with IBS may be more likely to experience joint pain. Scientists still do not know why, but it may be due to increased inflammation in the body. A 2019 study found that eating a low FODMAP diet relieved symptoms of joint hypermobility syndrome for people with IBS.What are the worst symptoms of IBS?
The main symptoms of IBS are: stomach pain or cramps – usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo. bloating – your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen. diarrhoea – you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly.What are aching legs a symptom of?
Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.Can constipation make your legs ache?
Leg pain on its own isn't usually caused by constipation. However, you may experience constipation with leg pain if your leg pain is also accompanied by back pain. For example, you may have constipation if you have sciatica, which affects the sciatic nerves.What IBS pain feels like?
What It Feels Like. The main symptoms of IBS are belly pain along with a change in bowel habits. This can include constipation, diarrhea, or both. You may get cramps in your belly or feel like your bowel movement isn't finished.Can gas cause back leg pain?
CAN EXCESSIVE GAS CAUSE BACK PAIN? While seldom discussed, several studies have also linked back pain to excessive gas. In fact, bloating, which is a condition brought on by air or gas filling the gastrointestinal tract, is responsible for a large percentage of cases involving back pain in America.What are the 3 types of IBS?
What are the different types of IBS?
- IBS with constipation (IBS-C): Most of your poop is hard and lumpy.
- IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): Most of your poop is loose and watery.
- IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M): You have both hard and lumpy bowel movements and loose and watery movements on the same day.
What are 3 symptoms of IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.Can IBS cause fibromyalgia?
Previous studies have found that IBS typically overlaps with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) in the same patient, suggesting a common cause. FM occurs in up to 60% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Up to 70% of patients with a diagnosis of FM have symptoms of IBS.Can IBS cause swelling in the legs?
Bloating or fullness of the abdomen is often seen with irritable bowel syndrome. This may not be related to swelling of the foot or ankle, but these symptoms may be present at the same time in the case of edema or swelling throughout the body, as can happen with chronic kidney disease or heart disease.Can inflammatory bowel disease cause joint pain?
Arthritis, or inflammation (pain with swelling) of the joints, is the most common extraintestinal complication of IBD. It may affect as many as 30% of people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Although arthritis is typically associated with advancing age, in IBD it often strikes younger patients as well.Can bowels put pressure on sciatic nerve?
Yes… constipation. Pressure from the bowel can press on the nerve roots.Where is back pain with IBS?
The Link Between IBS and Back PainPhysical factors: Sensations in the intestines like gas pressure, colon spasms, or swollen bowels can lead to pain in the abdomen and lower back.