Gas Pain I Can Feel in My Lower Back

Identifying and treating common causes of back pain

By Jean Cherry, RN, MBA
Identifying and treating common causes of back pain

Do you have back pain? You are not alone.

Approximately 80 percent of people experience back pain during their lifetimes. This article will describe some common causes and how to treat the type of back pain you have.

What are the causes of back pain?

The two most common causes of back pain are: sprains and strains due to overstretched muscles and ligaments; and degenerative changes in the spine as people age.

Degenerative changes include disk injury from a tear or herniation, disk degeneration from intervertebral disks wearing away, and spinal stenosis where space narrows between the vertebrae causing pressure on the spinal nerves and the spinal cord. Other causes are gas, pregnancy, constipation, arterial disease, vascular disease, or a history of cancer.

Do digestive issues cause back pain?

Some people experience stomach and back pain simultaneously. This may happen as a result of gastritis, heartburn or acid reflux. These conditions often result in pain in the upper-center portion of the abdomen. The pain often spreads to the back. Because eating can be a trigger for abdominal discomfort, some people experience back pain after eating.

There are over-the-counter and prescription medications available to treat digestive issues. See your healthcare provider to determine the cause of your discomfort and ask about treatments that are best for you.

Can gas cause back pain?

Yes. Gas pain in the stomach may be felt in the upper back, and gas pain in the abdomen may be felt in the lower back. Some gas is normal for our digestive systems, with many people passing gas up to 20 times a day. Still, too much gas can get trapped or stop moving through your digestive system, causing bloating, pain or distention of your stomach or abdomen. Abdominal distention can create a feeling of fullness and tenderness with pain that radiates to the back. (High stress can also cause people to tense their muscles, triggering back pain and stomach bloating.)

Dietary factors known to cause excess gas include a diet of high-fiber foods, carbonated beverages, eating too fast, gum chewing, fiber supplements, and sugar substitutes. Medical conditions contributing to gas pain include food allergies, constipation, stress, shifts in hormones, chronic intestinal diseases, and an overgrowth of small-bowel bacteria.

Most back pain and bloating symptoms are common, mild, and harmless. Self-care options include beano for prevention and simethicone for expulsion. If the symptoms last longer than a week, you should see a doctor.

Does sciatica cause back pain?

Yes, sciatica can cause back pain. Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down to the hips and buttons and then each leg. It's very common for people to experience back with hip pain.

Healthcare providers often recommend the application of gentle ice or heat to the painful area. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also provide relief. Staying active can help reduce the chances of complications. In some cases, healthcare providers recommend physical therapy to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility.

Can urinary tract infections cause back pain?

If left untreated, a urinary tract infection (UTI) can spread to one or both kidneys, resulting in kidney and back pain. It's important to seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms of a kidney infection.

What causes back pain during pregnancy, menstruation and ovulation?

Menstrual and ovulation back pain usually occurs in the muscles and is caused by hormonal changes. Over-the-counter pain relievers are often recommended by health care professionals in order to manage the pain. Applying gentle heat can also be helpful.

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.

Can the flu cause back pain?

The flu is a viral infection which can cause muscle aches all over the body, including in the back. Healthcare providers often recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce body aches until the flu passes.

Does interrupted sleep cause back pain?

If back pain is interfering with your sleep, be sure to see a healthcare provider to determine the cause. Some people experience back pain from a mattress. It's important to find a comfortable mattress that reduces back discomfort so that a good night's sleep is possible.

What treatments help common back pain?

Conventional treatments including using multiple interventions at the same time are:

  • Hot/cold packs: Help to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Even though they don't resolve low back injury quickly, they allow for greater mobility.
  • Activity: Limit bed rest. Instead, stretch and resume regular activity as soon as you can. Bed rest has been shown in studies to increase back pain and can lead to blood clots in the legs, less muscle tone, and even depression.
  • Physical therapy: Core muscle groups are strengthened, allowing for better back support, greater mobility, and better posture.
  • Medications: Some OTC medications that help relieve back pain include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. Prescriptions include opioids—which are addictive and should be used under careful supervision from a physician for a short duration—and COX-2 inhibitors, which treat pain and inflammation. Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and counter-irritants may help some people for specific back pain causes.
  • Additional therapies with insufficient evidence: Spinal manipulation (chiropractic care), traction, acupuncture, nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations (TENS), and epidural steroid injections for thoracic back pain may be used. Behavioral options include biofeedback, meditation, music, distraction, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you have questions about medications or various therapies for your back pain.

Surgery should be considered only after other treatments have failed, but may be needed for serious musculoskeletal injuries and nerve compression. (In some cases, surgeries may not be successful and flexibility may be reduced.)

The best strategies for keeping a back healthy is completing low-impact exercises for 30 minutes per day, especially those that strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles, as well as maintaining good posture when standing, sitting, and lifting.

Published on December 29, 2019

References:

AAOS: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2019. AAOS OrthoInfo: About your back. Accessed 10 28, 2019. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/about-your-back.pdf.

Bastian, LA, and HL Brown. 2019. UpToDate: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. 09. Accessed 10 29, 2019. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-early-pregnancy?search=pregnancy%20signs&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1.

Knight, CL, RA Deyo, TO Staiger, and JE Wipf. 2017. UpToDate: Treatment of acute low back pain. 12 06. Accessed 10 23, 2019. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-acute-low-back-pain?source=history_widget.

National Institute of Health: NIDDK. 2018. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases- Definition & Facts for Constipation. 05 01. Accessed 10 29, 2019. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/definition-facts.

National Institute of Health: 2018 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Symptoms & Causes of Constipation. 05 01. Accessed 10 29, 2019. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/symptoms-causes.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 2019. NINDS: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet. 08 13. Accessed 10 23, 2019. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2018. MedlinePlus: Abdominal Pain. 01 12. Accessed 10 28, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003120.htm.

Gas Pain I Can Feel in My Lower Back

Source: https://www.walgreens.com/rx-healthanswer/health/p2/a/1800002/back-pain-common-causes-and-treatments/2449005

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