Have you ever wondered if your upset stomach could be related to your back pain?
Surprisingly enough, it could be.
Back pain and bloating can be pretty uncomfortable when you have them both at the same time.
Luckily though, the most common causes of back pain and bloating are usually due to harmless underlying conditions.
However, some far less common causes can be pretty serious, even life-threatening, so if you have back pain and stomach problems for more than a few days you should see your doctor.
In the article below, we will take a look at back pain and bloating, how they're related, and what could be causing them.
Table of Contents
Causes of Back Pain and Bloating
There are a few very common causes that are likely causing your back pain and bloating.
Those causes include:
Hormonal Shifts
Your hormones are your body's chemical messengers.
As hormone levels swing, they can affect the way your body behaves.
It's a pretty common misunderstanding that only women are susceptible to these hormone shifts, but both men and women are vulnerable to them.
Many women experience back pain or cramping with bloating during or right before their period.
In this situation, they are generally nothing to worry about.
If you are undergoing hormone replacement therapy you may also experience bloating and back pain, and if so, you should discuss the symptoms with your doctor.
Pregnancy
This is one cause the men reading this won't have to worry about.
But, for the women, pregnancy can cause bloating, constipation, and gas, especially late in the pregnancy when the uterus begins compressing the organs.
The additional weight at their midsection can also put a strain on the back and hips.
If you experience any symptoms while you're pregnant, you should discuss them with your doctor right away, because anything you experience could affect your baby.
Thankfully most causes of bloating and back pain in pregnancy clear up soon after the delivery.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Most of the time gas is no more than a minor annoyance.
Sometimes, though, gas can produce intense pain that makes your entire abdomen feel full and tender.
That pain often radiates to your back, causing pain and bloating.
Minor gastrointestinal problems, like stomach viruses, can cause intense gas pain.
GI issues can also cause muscle pain. This typically happens after straining to have a bowel movement or repeatedly vomiting.
Stress
Stress changes your entire body, not just your mind.
Intense stress or anxiety can actually trigger back pain as well as stomach pain, including bloating.
Back pain typically occurs when people who are experiencing stress tense their muscles without even realizing it.
Stomach pain and bloating are common in people dealing with stress as well as another underlying condition like irritable bowel syndrome.
When To See A Doctor
Nine times out of ten stomach pain and back pain are minor annoyances that will go away on their own.
And, most of the time, they are unrelated.
People that suffer from chronic lower back pain could experience gas every once in a while that makes their stomach hurt and their back pain worse.
But, the two aren't related.
If the pain doesn't go away within a few days, it's not a bad idea to get checked out by your doctor just to be sure everything is okay.
On rare occasions, you might need to visit the emergency room.
Go to the emergency room if:
- The pain is unbearable and happens suddenly
- The pain is accompanied by rectal bleeding
- You have a severe medical condition
- You have recently suffered a serious injury
Other cases that aren't so serious, but require a doctors attention within the next 24 hours are:
- Having a fever along with the pain
- The pain gets noticeably worse
- The pain is different from previous episodes of back or stomach pain
However, if your back pain was caused by a car accident you must see a medical professional. Read our blog post: "When Should I Go to the Chiropractor After a Car Accident."
Home Remedies
As we've mentioned already, most of the time stomach pain and back pain are not serious conditions, and will go away on their own.
There are a few home remedies that you can try to speed up your recovery process.
Only try these if you're sure you don't need to visit a doctor for one of the reasons listed above.
The most helpful at-home remedies are:
- Taking an anti-gas medication
- Using a heat pad on the affected area
- Drink plenty of water. If you think you've had enough, drink more.
- Get Plenty of rest
- Do deep breathing exercises
- Use over the counter pain relievers if necessary
Main people turn to painkillers for back pain, but is that wise? Read our blog post: "Is Chiropractic Care Better for Pain Relief than Pain Killers?"
Try Chiropractic Care
Stomach pain and back pain are very common complaints and have several possible causes.
Unless your pain is extremely intense or accompanied by other, more severe symptoms, the pain will often go away on its own.
However, never self-diagnose, or let the "internet" diagnose you.
Only experienced healthcare providers can determine what's causing your pain and what should be done about it.
If you experience back pain and stomach pain more than you'd like to, a chiropractor may be able to help.
Chiropractors are notorious for treating back pain, and they can also help you with your stomach pain.
Chiropractors make sure your spine is aligned, and your nervous system is working properly, so the rest of the systems in your body are functioning properly as well.
To speak with a chiropractor today about your back pain and stomach pain, click the button below.