Health
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are the Most Common Causes of Back Pain and Bloating?

Jessica Reed
Jessica Reed

When back pain and bloating occur, it's best for the sufferer to first rule out common digestive problems. Digestive issues are the most likely reason for bloating, and back pain may accompany this symptom with problems such as a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI) or a kidney infection. Other digestive problems which include pain, bloating, and possibly upset stomach include gallstones, a low-functioning gallbladder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or even food allergies. Often a doctor will rule out food allergies and bladder infection before moving on to more extensive testing that includes scans, blood work, and using a scope to examine the inside of the stomach.

After eliminating the possibility of a bladder or kidney infection, the latter having back pain as its most common symptom, a person should determine whether or not she has a food allergy. Blood work and allergy tests can show common allergies and will indicate if the person has a virus or other ailment that is affecting her body. If these tests do not give an indication of the problem and an adjustment in diet does not help, the patient should consider a problem with the digestive tract as a possible cause. She should keep a journal of what she eats during the day and when she feels bloated or experiences pain. She should also consider the possibility that the back pain may be unrelated to the bloating.

Eating lots of salt can cause bloating.
Eating lots of salt can cause bloating.

Digestive orders that cause back pain involve the kidneys or the gallbladder. Gallstones or a gallbladder functioning improperly often cause severe pain in the right side under the rib cage though it can also manifest across the back and focus in the center. An ultrasound can show gallstones, but if none are present, the doctor may request a HIDA (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid) scan to measure gallbladder function. If the function is below 30% to 40%, the doctor may recommend the gallbladder be surgically removed.

Drinking water can help with bloating.
Drinking water can help with bloating.

Other possible digestive disorders include irritable bowel syndrome. IBS can cause back pain and bloating along with constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, and even increased anxiety in certain individuals. Back pain is not the most common symptom for IBS, but symptoms vary widely among patients. IBS may also form after gallbladder surgery or as a result of another disease or problem with the digestive tract. Diagnosis by a doctor is necessary to ensure the pain and bloating aren’t signs of a more serious illness that requires immediate treatment or surgery.

Digestive problems can cause bloating.
Digestive problems can cause bloating.

Back pain and bloating may also occur during pregnancy and a woman should consult her doctor on what symptoms are normal. If the person is not pregnant and does not have any of the above mentioned problems, she should see a specialist for either her stomach, her back, or both. A GI (gastrointestinal) doctor can diagnose stomach problems and determine if the pain and bloating are caused by the same medical issue. In rare causes, the signs may point to a serious medical ailment like cancer and for this reason a patient should always be persistent with getting her symptoms properly examined, diagnosed, and treated.

A kidney infection may be the cause of back pain and bloating.
A kidney infection may be the cause of back pain and bloating.

For patients with IBS or who have yet to find a cause for the back pain and bloating, a doctor may prescribe medication to help calm the upset stomach and a muscle relaxant or pain killer for the back pain. Over-the-counter medicines are available for different digestive symptoms such as general IBS, gas, or upset stomach. Patients may experience relief from herbal remedies such as peppermint oil capsules, which aim to relax the stomach and prevent bloating, but should consult a doctor first, as the claims made by these herbal remedies have not been tested or verified by the Food and Drug Administration.

Discussion Comments

burcidi

@feruze-- Yes, they can be. Are you pregnant?

If your period is late but you have not tested for pregnancy yet, these may be symptoms of pregnancy. Pregnancy can cause bloating, flatulence and stomach and back pain. Do you have any other symptoms of pregnancy like breast tenderness and nausea? Sometimes these symptoms show up even before a missed period. If you suspect pregnancy, you should do a home test.

If it's not pregnancy, it's probably a gastrointestinal problem. I have irritable bowel syndrome and these were the first symptoms I developed before I was diagnosed.

bear78

Are back pain and chronic bloating symptoms of pregnancy?

ZipLine

I have back pain and stomach bloating but I don't think that the two are related. The diabetes medication that I'm on causes bloating as a side effect.

As for the back pain, I think I have kidney sand. It has happened to me several times in the past. My kidneys make sand (versus a kidney stone) and I have pain while I'm passing it. I can always tell it apart from other types of back pain because this pain is a persistent ache that lasts for several days without a pause. Also, the pain affects both sides of my back, it's not on just one side.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Eating lots of salt can cause bloating.
      By: Aaron Amat
      Eating lots of salt can cause bloating.
    • Drinking water can help with bloating.
      By: Yasonya
      Drinking water can help with bloating.
    • Digestive problems can cause bloating.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      Digestive problems can cause bloating.
    • A kidney infection may be the cause of back pain and bloating.
      By: olly
      A kidney infection may be the cause of back pain and bloating.
    • Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track which foods are causing symptoms.
      By: pio3
      Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track which foods are causing symptoms.
    • A doctor may need to be consulted to treat back pain and bloating.
      By: JackF
      A doctor may need to be consulted to treat back pain and bloating.
    • Pregnant women often have both back pain and bloating.
      By: taramara78
      Pregnant women often have both back pain and bloating.
    • The presence of gallstones can cause sever pain in the right side under the rib cage.
      By: designua
      The presence of gallstones can cause sever pain in the right side under the rib cage.