Swollen Stomach and Back Pain? Don’t Ignore it
Bloating is not uncommon. It happens when the stomach becomes distended as the abdomen fills with gas, and can be the result of something as simple as indigestion. Back pain isn’t uncommon either, and can have to do with mundane things like the wrong sleeping position or poor posture. When bloating and back pain occur together, however, they should not be ignored. Bloating stomach pain that is accompanied by back pain can indicate that something serious is occurring in the body.
How to Get Rid of Bloating in the Upper Abdomen
It is important, when bloating occurs, to note which part of the abdomen is involved. This can help narrow down the causes of bloating, and determine the right type of treatment. Upper abdominal bloating is often accompanied by nausea and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Sometimes, lifestyle changes can alleviate this type of bloating. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help, as can cutting back on coffee, carbonated beverages, and alcohol. If the bloating persists, however, it is worth having a doctor run some tests. Upper abdominal bloating can be a symptom of stomach ulcers, caused by a stomach infection called Helicobacter pylori. This can be treated using antibiotics and antacid. It can also indicated abnormal stomach function, which a doctor can treat with prescription medications.
Red Flags Necessitating Medical Attention: Is Burping a Lot a Sign of Cancer?
Here’s the good news: burping does not usually signify cancer. In fact, it is estimated that the average, healthy person belches up to 30 times a day. Excessive belching can indicate different conditions, like ulcers, H pylori bacteria, gastritis, or lactose intolerance. However, when belching comes with certain other symptoms, it can be a sign of gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, or pancreatic cancer. Red flag symptoms that could indicate that burping is connected to cancer include poor appetite, unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain or discomfort, typically above the navel, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, with or without blood, a feeling of fullness after only a small meal, or fluid buildup in the abdomen. Other signs of issues requiring immediate medical attention include unrelenting pain, particularly with a rigid abdomen, pain radiating to the back, yellowing skin, dark urine, pale stools, or difficulty breathing.
Right Side Abdominal Pain: Is it Gallstones?
There are many different possible causes of right side abdominal pain. While gallstones are one of the reasons for pain on the right side, gallstones are often asymptomatic. Right side abdominal pain can also be a symptom of something harmless like gas or indigestion, or something more noteworthy, like irritable bowl syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Serious conditions that involve right side abdominal pain include appendicitis, kidney infection or kidney stones, or a hernia. This kind of abdominal pain can also be an indicator of certain reproductive issues, like testicular torsion or pelvic inflammatory disease. Experiencing right side abdominal pain that seems like more than indigestion warrants a doctor’s appointment.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Other Causes of Excessive Gas in Females
Did you know that about twice as many women have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than men? IBS is not life threatening, but it is uncomfortable, causing cramping, diarrhea and/or constipation, abdominal bloating, and excessive gas. Interestingly, estrogen fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause can also cause women to be gassy and bloated. However, women should not just ignore bloating if it is occurring in conjunction with back pain, writing it off as normal. These two symptoms together, especially when they come on suddenly, are a common symptom of ovarian cancer. A woman with back pain and bloating should seek immediate medical attention, especially if she is also extremely fatigued.
What Is Gastritis and Why It Can Hurt Beyond Your Stomach?
Gastritis affects the lining in the stomach, a soft tissue called mucosa. This lining protects the stomach from the irritants that pass through it every day, including acids, enzymes, and microorganisms. Gastritis occurs when the immune system detects a threat to the mucosa and triggers inflammation. The inflammation is meant to fight infections and promote healing, but when gastritis is chronic, it can cause damage to other tissues in the body. Gastritis can be erosive or non-erosive, with erosive eating away at the stomach lining and leaving ulcers, while non-erosive gastritis causes damage more slowly. The ulcers created by gastritis cause gastrointestinal bleeding, and this can lead to anemia, and they can also cause scar tissue to form in the stomach. This can become a problem when it narrows or blocks the opening at the bottom of the stomach. Additionally, sometimes ulcers don’t heal, and instead wear all the way through the stomach wall, causing a gastrointestinal perforation that allows bacteria into the abdominal cavity, a condition caused peritonitis. Peritonitis can lead to complications like sepsis and septicemia.
Can Gastritis Cause Back Pain?
Gastritis primarily causes upper abdominal pain, just below the breastbone. However, the pain can also radiate to the back, because the nerves from the digestive organs overlap partially with the nerves in the upper back. Many stomach issues, including gastritis and gallstones, trigger pain in the upper back, which is often perceived as being a more severe symptom than the abdominal pain. Abdominal pain and back pain together always warrant a doctor’s appointment, to rule out serious issues.
Experiencing Back and Stomach Pain? Visit Greater Maryland Pain Management
At Greater Maryland Pain Management, we’re committed to helping you overcome the pain that keeps you from living life to the fullest. As the field of medicine continues to evolve, our team strives to bring our patients the most effective, innovative, non-invasive treatments, to help them overcome life-limiting pain. Our practice was founded by Jank Vidyarthi, MD, a board-certified, award-winning Interventional Pain Management physician who has helped thousands of people to overcome chronic pain. We pride ourselves in treating each patient with the care and compassion we’d show our own loved ones, helping them to improve their quality of life through a customized approach that addresses the patient’s unique needs. We have multiple locations and schedule appointments quickly, sometimes even the same day, so contact us for a consultation.