Acid Reflux and Back Pain – Should You Be Concerned?



Posted: Thursday, March 29, 2007

by
Naturally Stop Acid Reflux

You may have never considered that there might be a connection between your acid reflux and back pain, but there can be in some people. You probably relate acid reflux to the digestive system, but there are times when it can cause problems elsewhere. Though back pain is usually not directly related, there are times when the pain in your back is a result of how you are caring for your reflux, and there are times when you will feel it along with your other symptoms. Or it may not be related at all.

Acid reflux affects both adults and children, and often begins as the occasional bout of heartburn. The stomach produces acids that break down the foods you eat so they can be digested. This acid should stay in the stomach area, but there are times when it leaks back up the esophagus. This happens when the valve between the stomach and esophagus (made of a ring of muscles) loosens and can not hold the acid in, as it should. The acid can damage the soft tissues of the upper most parts of the digestive system. This results in pain and burning, and sometimes, in other problems as well.

Because the acid is in your digestive tract, you probably don’t think it can affect the back. In most cases, that assumption would be correct. There are times though, when acid reflux is out of control, that there can be some associated pain in the back. The stabbing pains you might get in the stomach and esophagus can radiate to the back. Though this is not something that everyone with acid reflux will experience, there are some that will feel that pain at times. If you are having these pains when you are not having pains in your stomach, they are probably not related.

Chronic back pain, on the other hand, is not really a stabbing pain, but more of a dull ache that does not go away. This can be related, but probably not in the way you think.

In order to keep the acid contained within the stomach while you are sleeping, many doctors will recommend you sleep with your upper body raised above the stomach so the acid does not move into the esophagus when lying down.

When you are trying out new ways to sleep, whether it is a new pillow or even by propping up the top end of your bed, you may find that you have back pain. This is not from the acid causing problems, but is related because you are trying to modify your sleep positions. If you notice this type of pain, it might be that you have to adjust yet again.

You may not give it much thought, but it will be rather obvious to you when your acid reflux and back pain are related to one another. When you are having back pains that are not associated with your heartburn pains, or if you know it’s not the way you are sleeping, you should consider that something else is going on with your back. You should talk to your doctor about what you are feeling so that you can get some help as soon as possible.

By Kathryn Whittaker. Sign up for a free newsletter that has proven methods for tackling Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD head-on and discover more about acid reflux and back pain. In the newsletter you'll also find more about the different kinds of acid reflux help and what to do if you have severe heartburn.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Cindy
from South Africa 3 years 93 days ago.
This is exactly my problem. Only happens once or twice a year, this past weekend again, after I had vommited. Extreme back pain the next day between shoulder blades.
Thank you very much for this informative document!!!
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