Middle Abdominal And Back Pain
For pain in the middle abdomen that spreads to theback, the causes are well-defined. The main causes are:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is the dilatation of thewall of large blood vessel that bring blood from the heart into the abdomen. If the aorta balloons or dilates for any reason, it couldstart to leak blood in small amounts. This leads to middle or lower abdominalpain that spreads to the back.
This condition occurs in middle-aged or elderly menand women who have smoked in the past. The pain is often accompanied by dizzinessupon standing. Sufferers can collapse or faint with this pain if bleeding issignificant.
Youcan read more about symptoms of ruptured abdominal aorticaneurysm here.
Heart Attack
Heart attacks can start as abdominal pain. Typically,the pain begins in the middle upper abdomen, above the umbilicus and below thebreastbone.
Heart attack pain that starts in the abdomen tends tocome suddenly either as mild discomfort or severe ache. Patients describe thefeeling of more severe heart attack pain as a heavy load or pressure on thechest. Heart attack pain that starts in the abdomen could spread up to the leftarm, neck, and jaw. It is often accompanied by sweats, nausea, andvomiting. The pain could last a few minutes or up to an hour or two beforeit goes away. If it goes away.
Kidney Stones
The symptoms of kidney stone pain include:
Sufferersof kidney stones usually describe the pain as quite severe.
Prevention Of Abdominal Pain
In many cases, abdominal pain can be prevented by adopting lifestyle and dietary choices that address the cause of your pain. Constipation, digestive upset, and even abdominal injury can often be prevented.
The following steps may help you prevent abdominal pain:
Drink plenty of water.
Develop regular bowel habits. Many people can train themselves to have regular bowel movements to help avoid constipation.
Follow a balanced, fiber-filled diet. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods, like whole grains, can help support healthy digestion and reduce constipation.
Eat regularly and slowly. Eating moderately-sized meals, instead of waiting until youre very hungry and stuffing yourself, can help avoid pain from overeating or eating on an empty stomach.
Exercise regularly. Getting enough physical activity can help prevent constipation and strengthen your abdominal muscles, which may help prevent straining.
Wear a seatbelt properly.
Stomach Virus Or Food Poisoning
Gastroenteritis causes pain and inflammation in the stomach as the result of an infection.
Several different types of infection can cause gastroenteritis, including norovirus and food-borne illnesses such as salmonella.
A person with gastroenteritis may experience intense stomach cramping that radiates to the back. Sometimes, the condition may cause them to vomit so hard and so frequently that the muscles of the stomach and back become sore.
Some home remedies to try include limiting the diet to bland, easily digestible foods such as whole wheat toast to ease the vomiting, and drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Gastroenteritis usually clears up on its own, but a person should seek medical care if they:
- cannot keep any food down
- develop any symptoms of dehydration, such as sunken eyes
- continue vomiting longer than 24 hours
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Lower Left Abdominal Pain & Wine
Wine might cause abdominal pain in the lower left part of the abdomen. A common cause of this is diverticulosis.
Diverticular disease is the outpouching of the intestinal mucosa due to weakness in the muscle. It is associated with bloating and constipation that causes left-sided abdominal pain.
Alcohol is a risk factor for diverticulosis, especially in aged people.
Gas And Gastrointestinal Problems
Most of the time, gas is no more than a minor annoyance.
However, gas occasionally produces intense pain that makes the entire abdomen feel full and tender. This pain can radiate to the back, causing back pain and bloating. Minor gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach viruses, may also cause intense gas pain.
Sometimes, GI issues can cause muscle pain. This can happen after straining to have a bowel movement or repeatedly vomiting.
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Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of Pregnancy
Yes. Lower back pain is a common sign of early pregnancy-related symptoms. Many women find that back pain is a sign of pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced back pain can include abdominal bloating, constipation, heartburn, and mild uterine cramping or discomfort without bleeding. As pregnancy progresses, lower back pain can be a result of changes in posture, pelvic changes, alterations in weight, along with weakness in muscles or ligaments becoming loose and affecting various joints. Women can ease back pain in pregnancy by wearing low-heeled shoes with arch support, sitting in chairs with good back support, sleeping with pillows between the knees, and applying heat, cold, or massage pressure to the area in your back that hurts.
Upper Abdominal And Back Pain
Common causes of abdominal pain that radiates orspreads to the back include:
- Severe upper abdominal and back pain
- Pain that occurs after eating rich foods, fatty foods, or foods with lots of protein
- Abdominal and back pain that worsens when lying down and gets slightly better by leaning forward
Pancreatitis isa serious illness that can mimic gastritis, stomach ulcers, or duodenal ulcers.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a life-longcondition in which the bowels develop a sensitivity to stressful situations andcertain foods. IBS is a condition three times more common in women than in men. The abdominal pain of irritable bowel syndrome is often experienced bypeople as abdominal pain on the left side.
IBS can be associated with constipation, the passageof mucus in the stool, or diarrhoea. Sufferers may feel abdominal bloating, weariness,fatigue, backaches, and sometimes an increase in frequency or urgency ofurinating.
The symptoms are often made worse by stressfulexperiences and can last for months and years.
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Stomach And Back Pain: Common Causes Symptoms And Treatments
Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Paris, D.C on Nov. 6, 2018.
Are you experiencing lower back pain that radiates to your abdominal area?
Stomach and back pain often go hand-in-hand. After all, they are two sides of the same coin.
Stomach pain is very common among people who suffer from chronic lower back pain.
Either your back and stomach pain have a single cause, or the two symptoms are unrelated.
So how are you supposed to tell the difference?
One clue is the timing of your symptoms.
If youve been experiencing back pain for years, but the pain only recently spread to your abdomen, it could be a cause for concern.
Sometimes pain in the back and stomach indicates a medical emergency. Other times, its a sign of a worsening back injury.
This article will give you a good overview of what could be causing your back and stomach pain, what you should do about it, and when you should start to worry.
Acute Vs Chronic Vs Progressive
Acute abdominal pain usually comes on suddenly and is sharp/severe. It may improve within a few hours to a few days, depending on the cause. If sudden-onset pain lasts longer than this, you should see a doctor. You should also see a doctor or go to the emergency room if the pain worsens rapidly or you begin to experience fevers, severe or worsening nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea. Examples of acute abdominal pain can include gastrointestinal infection , appendicitis , cholecystitis , or an obstruction of your colon or small intestine.
Chronic abdominal pain is recurring and can come and go away without really worsening over a period of time. Chronic pain can be present for months or years at a time. You should always mention chronic stomach pain to your doctor or a healthcare provider. It can be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment, or you can get help reducing pain and improving your quality of life. Examples of medical conditions that can cause chronic pain include certain types of hernias, celiac disease , irritable bowel syndrome , constipation, pain related to the menstrual cycle, or peptic ulcer disease.
Stomach pain may also come in waves, called colicky pain. It can feel like spasms and may repeat over days, weeks, or years. This is frequently caused by kidney stones and gallstones .
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Home Remedies For Immediate Relief
If your stomach spasms are bothering you, there are ways you can get immediate relief or treat them at home. Some at-home treatments will treat the underlying cause of muscle spasms, while others relax the stomach muscles so that they stop spasming.
If youre having stomach spasms in pregnancy, talk to your doctor before trying any home remedies. Some home treatments may not be safe during pregnancy.
The Different Kinds Of Stomach Pain
Many different types of pain can be classed as stomach ache. Sometimes you may find your stomach ache is relieved once you have been to the toilet, as stomach pain is a common symptom of diarrhoea and constipation. Stomach ache can be described as:
- Dull or aching
- Constant or intermittent
- Comes suddenly or gradually
The most common symptoms are:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Acid at the back of the throat
- Diarrhoea
- Pain when passing urine and passing urine more frequently
- Discharge
- Lumps and bumps
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Can Stress Cause Stomach Pain
Yes. Stress and anxiety can cause stomach pain or make existing pain worse. Stress makes your body over-produce cortisol, the hormone associated with the fight-or-flight instinct. This can cause stomach cramps, as can stress-relieving behaviors like drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or eating unhealthy foods.
Why Pinched Nerves Are Often Caused By Spinal Issues
The human spine is made up of 33 vertebrae bones, which are stacked on top of one another. They are separated by tough rubbery discs, called intervertebral discs. These discs provide cushioning and structure.
The vertebra also protects the spinal cord, which is a collection of nerves running from the brain stem to the cauda equina, in the lower back. The nerves from the spinal cord exit the spinal column through holes in the vertebra.
Unfortunately, the spine can be injured quite easily. This can sometimes result in the compression of the nerves leaving the spinal column, causing pain. This type of nerve pain is called radiculopathy, or spinal nerve root pain.
Many of the patients who visit our London chiropractic clinic, MotionBack, have nerve pain caused by spinal issues like herniated discs, spinal compression, or poor posture. Fortunately, these problems usually respond well to chiropractic treatments.
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When You Should Seek Medical Advice
If your abdominal pain is associated with trauma or an injury, or if you have chest pain with your abdominal pain, seek immediate emergency medical care.
If you have an underlying medical condition that affects your gastrointestinal system, talk to your doctor about possible treatment plans. You should also see a doctor or seek immediate medical care if you have severe stomach pain accompanied by:
- Fever
- Pain lasting longer than one week
- Pain that is worsening in severity
- Blood in your stool or vomit
- Inability to pass stool
- Persistent nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Severe sensitivity or tenderness when you touch your abdomen
- Swollen abdomen
- Inability to move without causing further pain and/or inability to get comfortable due to severe abdominal pain
- Severe stomach pain in pregnancy
Your doctor will likely check your medical history for underlying causes or chronic conditions that might be causing new complications. Based on your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may order tests, such as an X-Ray, CT scan, colonoscopy, or endoscopy. Once your doctor has determined the cause of your pain, they will develop a treatment plan. These can include everything from prescribed medication to surgery to physical therapy to dietary changes.
How Is Abdominal Pain Treated
Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. Options include:
- Medications for inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers.
- Antibiotics for infection.
- Changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.
- Local or spinal injections of numbing agents or corticosteroids by pain management physicians.
In more severe cases like appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.
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What Other Symptoms Relate To Abdominal Pain
Pain in the abdomen may be experienced as aching, stabbing, burning, twisting, cramping, dull, or a gnawing pain.
The pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, constipation, wind , belching , fever, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration or loss of appetite
The pain might be steady or it might get stronger. It can be made worse or it can be improved by changes in posture or by coughing.
Describing the pattern and location of your symptoms to a doctor may help them in identifying the cause of your abdominal pain. These causes include:
- Peptic ulcer The pain is often felt in the upper abdomen, as a knife-like pain which goes through to the back.
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease The pain usually causes a central burning pain that develops just under the breastbone, and may rise upwards. It may be accompanied by belching.
- Appendicitis The pain usually starts near the navel before moving down to the lower right abdomen when it becomes more constant.
- Gallstones or gallbladder irritation The pain is felt in the upper right abdomen, back or right shoulder.
- Lower abdominal pain: Also referred to as lower stomach pain, it is probably coming from your bowel.
- Period pain This is usually a dull, cramping pain, felt low down, which may radiate through to the back.
Posture And Back Pain
Sitting for long periods hunched over a desk is not doing your back or health any favors.
Poor posture over extended periods creates stress in the muscle tissues, lumbar joints and discs of the spine. Over time weakening the back and causing pain and discomfort.
But bad posture can impact your health in other ways:
- Increase risk of arthritis
Do you slouch while eating?
Its a bad habit is you do because its probably making your acid reflux worse.
Dr. Kyle Staller | gastroenterologist at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital
Slouched posture after a meal can trigger heartburn
Slouching puts pressure on the abdomen, which can force stomach acid in the wrong direction. And some evidence suggests that transit in the intestines slows down when you slouch.
If poor posture is a problem find a physical therapist who can design a personalized program of exercises. It should include stretch routines to increase strength and flexibility in the back and core muscles.
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Can Ibs Cause Back Pain How Are The Two Related What Are The Treatments For Ibsand Can Those Therapies Help Ease Discomfort In Your Back
Irritable bowel syndrome may not be life-threatening, but anyone who says its not life-changing has probably never experienced the gas, bloating, abdominal pain and changes in bathroom habits the condition causes.
As if that werent enough, many people with IBS also develop symptoms outside of their intestines. One of the most common of these is back pain.
Can IBS cause back pain? How are the two related? Most important, what are the treatments for IBSand can those therapies help ease discomfort in your back? Heres what you should know.
When To Call The Doctor About Abdominal Pain
If your abdominal pain is serious, doesn’t go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Call 911 right away if your belly hurts because you had a recent injury there or if you have any chest pain.
You should also contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have symptoms along with the pain, such as:
- Can’t keep food down for more than 2 days
- Signs you’re getting dehydrated, including not urinating frequently, dark-colored urine, and being very thirsty
- Can’t have a bowel movement, especially if you’re also vomiting
- Pain when you pee, or you need to urinate often
Also call your doctor if:
- Your belly is tender to the touch
- Pain lasts more than a few hours
You may have other symptoms that could be a sign of a problem inside your body that needs treatment as soon as possible. Get medical care right away if you have abdominal pain and you also:
- Have unexplained weight loss
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Gastrointestinal Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain may arise from problems in the digestive tract including:
- : You may experience early signs of appendicitis in the center of the abdomen, but the telltale sign is lower right abdominal pain and fever. Appendicitis is often a medical emergency because an inflamed and infected appendix can rupture and spread the infection.
- Bowel blockage or obstruction: Marked by stomach pain, and swelling, constipation, , bloating and nausea, a bowel obstruction can lead to intestinal tearing and infection if not treated promptly.
- Celiac disease: You may experience abdominal bloating and pain, , weight loss, and fatigue. There is no cure for celiac diseasea chronic, immune-mediated condition that causes your body to overreact to gluten and damages the lining of the small intestinebut eliminating gluten from your diet is a must.
- Colitis: An infection or inflammation of any part of your colon. Colitis is less severe than a form of inflammatory bowel syndromebecause UC is a chronic, lifelong condition. Antibiotics can clear bacterial colitis, and viral colitis will typically clear on its own.
- : An uncommon, but possible cause of abdominal pain. Symptoms may also include fatigue, blood in stool, a change in bowel habits, bloating, and gas.
- Gallstones: Upper-right abdominal pain is a classic sign of , especially after eating a meal. Medication may dissolve small gallstones, but is the most common treatment.
