Back pain is one of the most common reasons individuals go to a doctor, massage therapist, physiotherapist, osteopath, and chiropractor. Various health conditions, some spine-related, others not, list back pain as a symptom. Many of these conditions begin in the stomach or abdominal cavity, which leads to stomach and back problems. Stomach and back pain can happen simultaneously, independently, or in combination and could be caused by gut problems, back issues, or something completely different. Understanding what causes these two types of pain simultaneously can help a chiropractor develop a treatment plan.

Stomach Back Pain Causes

Problems in the abdominal cavity and stomach issues can cause back pain and vice versa. Symptoms can also include referred pain when the pain is felt in one part of the body but is caused by pain or injury in another area. Stomach back pain causes depend on the type of condition/s that can include:

Appendicitis

• Inflammation in the appendix can cause sudden sharp pain in the abdomen.
• It presents mostly in the lower right area of the abdomen but can appear in or spread to other sites, especially the back.

Dysmenorrhea

• The medical term for painful menstrual periods.
• Dysmenorrhea can cause pain in the abdomen and back at the same time.
• This type of pain can be:
• Primary – A condition experienced throughout life.
• Secondary – Starts later in life due to another condition.

Endometriosis

• Endometriosis causes tissue to grow outside of the uterus.
• Similar to dysmenorrhea, symptoms include:
• Abdominal pain
• Referred low back pain

Fibromyalgia

• This condition generates pain across the muscles and joints of the body.
• It shows up with irritable bowel syndrome -IBS.
• Fibromyalgia can simultaneously present a wide range of stomach problems and back pain.

Gallstones

• Gallbladder stones or gallstones can cause blockages, inflammation, and painful swelling.
• A major symptom of gallstones is pain in the upper right of the abdomen, which can spread to the back.

Kidney Dysfunction

• Kidney stones, infections, and chronic kidney disease can cause pain that’s felt in the abdomen/flank and the mid and/or upper back.

Irritable bowel syndrome – IBS

• Bloated and distended muscles are common symptoms that can cause back pain.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – IBD

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a family of immune-mediated, similar to autoimmune conditions with back pain as a symptom that includes:
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Pancreatitis

• An inflamed pancreas can cause symptoms like:
• Stomach issues.
• Pain across the abdomen and back.

Pancreatic Cancer

• A common symptom of pancreatic cancer is a dull pain in the upper abdomen/belly and/or middle and/or upper back that is on and off.
• This can be because of a tumor that has formed on the tail of the pancreas or an area where it presses on the spine.

Stomach Bloating and Low Back Pain

• Bloating is caused by pressure in the abdomen increasing to the point that it causes discomfort and pain.
• It can cause simultaneous stomach and back pain as the bloating adds pressure on the muscles, organs, and spine.
• One of the most common causes of bloating is trapped gas in the GI tract.
• This happens when the body cannot properly move the gas through the system.
• Bloating can also be caused by extra sensitivity to regular pressure increases.
• In these cases, the amount and movement of gas in the system are normal, but the body reacts as though something is wrong.
• Several GI tract disorders can cause similar bloating issues that include:
• Dyspepsia
• Gastritis
• Celiac diseaseDiverticular disease
• Food allergies

A chiropractic functional medicine team can work with an individual’s primary physician or specialist to develop a personalized treatment plan to alleviate back pain symptoms, re-balance the body, strengthen the musculoskeletal system and restore function.

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Back and Stomach

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References

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