In most cases, back pain is caused by muscle contracture or changes in the spine and occurs due to poor posture throughout the day, such as sitting at the computer with your back hunched, spending many hours standing or sleeping on a mattress that is too thick. soft or on the ground, for example.
However, when back pain radiates to the belly, it may indicate kidney stones, gas, gallbladder inflammation or gastrointestinal changes, for example.
Therefore, if the pain in the stomach and back is very intense, interfering with daily activities, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, pain and burning when urinating or loose stools, for example, it is important that the doctor be consulted so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment initiated.
Main causes
The main causes of back and belly pain are:
1. Kidney stones
In renal crisis, it is common for a person to feel intense back pain, at the end of the spine towards the right or left side, but in some cases it can also radiate to the abdominal region. Furthermore, the presence of kidney stones causes inflammation of this organ, bladder and ureters, which can increase the risk of urinary infection, which can have pain in the stomach as a symptom.
What to do: It is recommended to go to the hospital so that the size of the stone can be identified and treatment can be started to alleviate the pain and to promote the elimination of the stone through urine.
Check the symptoms you present and find out if you may have kidney stones:
2. Back Problems
In the case of osteoarthritis in the spine, back pain is usually close to the neck or at the end of the back, being more centralized, although it can also affect the belly.
What to do: Go to the orthopedist to have an X-ray of the spine in order to identify the possible change and start treatment, which can be done with the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories or physiotherapy to improve posture, combat symptoms and prevent worsening with the onset of a herniated disc or parrot beak, for example.
3. Gases
In some cases, the accumulation of intestinal gas can also cause pain in the back and abdomen, leaving the belly swollen. The pain can be stabbing or stabbing and tends to start in one part of the back or belly and then move to another part of the belly.
What to do: Drinking anise tea and then walking for about 40 minutes can be useful to eliminate gas naturally, but if the pain doesn’t go away, you can try drinking plum water, as it helps to eliminate the stools that may be causing it. the production of gases. Eating light meals, eating fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables and drinking small amounts of water throughout the day, and drinking chamomile or lemon balm tea can help relieve pain.
4. Gallbladder inflammation
Inflammation of the gallbladder is, in most cases, caused by the presence of a stone in this organ, which can cause pain in the stomach, a feeling of heaviness in the belly, belching, abdominal swelling, nausea and vomiting, especially after fatty meals. In some cases, it is possible to have pain in the stomach and back at the same time, and it is important to consult a doctor. See how to identify gallstones.
What to do: It is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist and undergo an ultrasound to confirm the presence of the stone and the need for surgery to remove the gallbladder.
5. Bowel diseases
Intestinal diseases, as in the case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, generally cause pain in the abdomen that can radiate to the back, being more diffuse. In addition to abdominal and back pain, other symptoms may appear such as discomfort in the lower abdomen, soft or very hard stools and a swollen belly.
What to do: You should observe your bowel habits to identify whether it could be constipation, gas or diarrhea. A consultation with a gastroenterologist can be useful to identify other symptoms, perform tests to reach a diagnosis and begin treatment.
6. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a serious condition that may require urgent medical care, and emergency surgery may be performed. The pain from pancreatitis begins poorly localized and affects the upper part of the belly, in the part closest to the ribs, called “bar pain”, but tends to get worse and can radiate to the back. As the inflammation worsens, the pain becomes more localized and becomes even more severe. Know how to recognize the symptoms of pancreatitis.
What to do: You should go to the emergency room to find out if it really is pancreatitis and start treatment with analgesics, anti-inflammatories and specific enzymes for the proper functioning of the pancreas. Depending on what caused the inflammation, such as stone obstruction, tumor or infections, it may be necessary to use antibiotics or undergo surgery, for example.
7. Low back pain
Low back pain is pain in the lower back, but it can also occur in the middle of the back, especially after exerting a lot of effort such as climbing stairs or carrying heavy bags. Sitting or standing for a long time tends to worsen the pain, which can begin to radiate to the abdomen. If it radiates to the butt or legs, it may indicate inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
What to do: Placing a hot compress on your back can relieve mild or moderate pain, but you need to go to the orthopedist for exams and to start treatment, which can be done with physiotherapy sessions, for example.
8. Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary infection, that is, it affects the kidneys and ureters, which occurs due to the rise of bacteria in this region or as a complication of a lower urinary infection. In this case, it is common to feel intense pain in the back, on the side of the affected kidney, pain in the lower abdominal region when urinating, high fever with chills and tremors, as well as malaise, nausea and vomiting.
What to do: You should go to the emergency room, because you need to take medicine to relieve pain, as well as antibiotics and antipyretics and blood and urine tests. Find out more about pyelonephritis and its main symptoms.
Belly and back pain during pregnancy
Back pain that radiates to the abdomen at the beginning of pregnancy can happen when there is intercostal neuralgia due to stretching of the nerve due to the growth of the belly. However, another common cause is uterine contractions. The pain that starts in the belly, in the stomach region, and radiates to the back, may be due to gastric reflux, a very common cause during pregnancy, due to the increase in volume of the uterus and compression of the stomach.
What do you feel: The pain caused by intercostal neuralgia can be stabbing and is usually close to the ribs, but pain in the back that radiates to the bottom of the belly can be a sign of uterine contractions, as happens during labor.
What to do: Placing a warm compress on the area of pain and stretching, tilting your body to the opposite side of the pain can be a good help in relieving the pain. The obstetrician may also recommend taking vitamin B complex, as this vitamin helps in the recovery of peripheral nerves. As for reflux, you should eat lightly and avoid lying down after eating.
When to go to the doctor
It is important to see a doctor when back pain radiates to the abdominal region and has the following characteristics:
- It is very intense and makes it impossible to carry out normal daily activities, such as eating, sleeping or walking;
- It appears after a fall, injury or blow;
- It gets worse after a week;
- Persists for more than 1 month;
- Other symptoms appear, such as urinary or fecal incontinence, shortness of breath, fever, tingling in the legs or diarrhea.
In these cases, the cause of the pain may be caused by more serious situations such as inflammation of an organ or cancer and, therefore, you should go to the hospital for tests, such as an X-ray or ultrasound and start the most appropriate treatment as soon as possible. .
