Answered: Why is My Stomach Bloated & My Back Hurts?
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is my stomach bloated and my back hurts?”
Don’t worry — we’ve all been there. It can be a very confusing ordeal: eating, bloating, and pain are never good in the context of an otherwise healthy person.
“I have a bloated belly all the time!”
“My tummy is always bloated.”
“My stomach is always bloated.”
Different verbiage, same concern.
If you can relate to these, you’re definitely not alone.
There are many reasons why your stomach might be constantly bloated. But there are also lots of ways to figure out what’s going on and get relief. This article will cover some of the most common causes for a forever-bloated stomach, as well as some strategies for getting your gut back in shape.
First things first: do you know for sure if it is your stomach that’s bloated, or just your belly always bloated? The difference is that a bloated belly is usually just a little puffy because of water weight, while bloating in your stomach can be painful and more chronic.
Maybe you’ve had a few too many salty foods; maybe you have an underactive thyroid; maybe you’re retaining water because of PMS. Whatever the cause, you can probably safely assume that this type of “bloating” isn’t permanent and won’t last long.
What Are Some Common Causes of Bloating and Back Pain?
In this section, we discuss the common causes of a very bloated belly, which is often coupled with back pain.
Injuries
Bloating and back pain are common symptoms that can be caused by a variety of factors. Injuries, however, are one of the less common causes of these symptoms.
Severe bloating can happen when a person experiences damaged or injured bones and muscles in the lower spine or pelvis area. This may happen after a car accident or fall, or from overworking or lifting something too heavy. Back pain is also experienced with severe bloating. However, if you notice either of these symptoms occurring, it is best to contact your local doctor for advice.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can often cause bloating and back pain as the body retains water to help with the growth of the baby. Many women have experienced this before, but it might be more noticeable this time around due to being pregnant again.
There are many different remedies you can try that may help alleviate some symptoms associated with pregnancy such as drinking lots of water or taking short walks outside in nature. Some women may even want to consider acupuncture or massage therapy if they are still experiencing discomfort after trying these other methods first.
It is important for pregnant women to know that back pain is common during pregnancy and does not mean there is anything wrong with their baby or themselves; however, if it becomes severe, then it would be wise for them to talk about their concerns with a doctor before attempting any remedies on their own at home.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is one of the common causes of bloating and back pain. Acute pancreatitis, which is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, can last for days or weeks. Chronic pancreatitis, which is a persistent, long-term inflammation of the pancreas, can last for years.
The pancreas is located near your stomach, so when it becomes inflamed, you may experience pain in your upper abdomen as well as your back. Pancreatitis can also cause nausea and vomiting. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options.
Stress
Bloating is a common symptom of stress, but did you know that it can also be caused by the back pain that often goes along with stress? Studies have shown that the body reacts to acute anxiety in much the same way it does to physical threat—which means your body may be tensing up in preparation for a fight or flight reaction even if you’re just sitting at your desk.
This tension can cause discomfort in your back as well as bloating. Stress management techniques like yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation can help you relax your muscles and reduce bloating.
Gallstones and Kidney Stones
Gallstones and kidney stones are one of the common causes of bloating and back pain. They are small, hard deposits made from cholesterol, calcium salts and other compounds that are found in the bile duct or the urinary tract.
The main symptom of a gallstone is severe pain in the center or right part of your abdomen. The area may be tender to touch, and you may experience fever, chills, nausea or vomiting; in certain cases you may also have pain between your shoulder blades or in your right shoulder. Kidney stones similarly cause pain in the upper abdomen, often radiating to the lower abdomen and groin.
Other symptoms include painful urination or blood in your urine, as well as fever and chills. Often, your symptoms are the first clue to tell you that something’s up. If you have had a recent onset of stomach pain and bloating, it might be time to visit your doctor and get some tests done.
Hormonal Shifts
It’s not in your head—your hormones are affecting you in more ways than you probably know. Hormonal shifts can be to blame for the bloating and back pain that many women experience around their period.
The reason is that estrogen and progesterone, two of the hormones that fluctuate over the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle, are also involved in fluid retention, which can lead to bloating. So what can you do about it?
Since hormonal shifts are inevitable, the healthiest way to deal with them is to take care of yourself by balancing your diet and exercise, regulating your sleep schedule, and drinking plenty of water. You can also try taking some over-the-counter pain relief when your symptoms get bad during “that time of the month.”
Gastrointestinal Problems
One of the most common causes of bloating and back pain is gastrointestinal problems. There are many different things that can cause this, including eating too much food or eating too fast. If you think your stomach is bloated but don’t know why, try cutting back on some of the foods you’re eating or slowing down when you eat. You might also want to talk with your doctor about whether there might be other issues at work, like an ulcer or something else.
Digestive Contents
When food isn’t digested properly, it can lead to a buildup of undigested food that causes bloating and discomfort. When this happens, the undigested food can push against internal organs and irritate nerves in the pelvic region, causing back pain.
Another reason why digestive contents can cause bloating and back pain is because constipation is a common culprit for both problems. Constipation can exacerbate back pain because it puts added pressure on internal organs in the abdominal area, which pushes against the lower back. Additionally, constipation can worsen abdominal bloating as well.
Bloating also occurs when gas builds up in the stomach or intestines as a result of improper digestion or swallowing air while eating or drinking. When this happens, the air expands in your abdomen, leading to discomfort and tightness that may radiate to the lower back region as well.
What Relieves Bloating?
Some tips that I can give to relieve bloating would be the following:
Probiotics
Make your gut a place for good bacteria to thrive! Take foods that contain prebiotics and probiotics, you might also want to incorporate fermented foods for gut health. I would also recommend taking an all-natural health supplement for gut health to make sure your body has all the support it needs.
Regular Exercise
Just start with five minutes a day. Really. Just five minutes of walking around the block or doing yoga stretches can make a huge difference in how much pain and discomfort you feel during your next bout of bloaty-ness (and we totally know how uncomfortable that can be).
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is full of antioxidants—especially green tea, which has been proven to reduce inflammation. The next time you’re feeling a little too puffy, try sipping on a mug of the good stuff. If you don’t have time to grab your teacup and wait for the water to boil, just grab an over-the-counter tea supplement and pop it in your mouth so you can move on with your day!
Magnesium
If you’re having problems with bloating—whether it’s chronic bloating or just occasional bloating—you may be suffering from low levels of magnesium. If so, taking a supplement could help alleviate the problem by reducing your stomach size and allowing you to eat more without feeling bloated.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient Egypt. It has many health benefits, one of which is its ability to relieve bloating. It’s easy to add peppermint oil to your diet: You can either place a few drops on your tongue and swallow it or you can mix it with water or tea.
How to Prevent Stomach Bloating?
Here are other quick hacks on how you can prevent stomach bloating:
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid processed foods
- Eat enough fiber
- Chew thoroughly and don’t overeat
Conclusion
Remember to always drink a bit more water, to keep your digestive system healthy. Also, do not forget to exercise and move around a little more, as this will also relieve bloating. While we’re at it, I invite you to join our amazing community, please join our FB group and be surrounded by empowered people looking after their wellness goals like you are!
