Acid Reflux & Back Pain: How to Get Relief

Key takeaways:

• Acid reflux and back pain are sometimes linked through shared nerve pathways and referred pain.
• Effective home treatments, including adjustments to your diet and posture correction, can reduce your symptoms.
• Continuing or severe symptoms require medical attention to address underlying conditions.

Acid reflux and back pain may seem like unrelated issues, but they can often occur together. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation. Surprisingly, back pain can also result from GERD, either through referred pain or strain caused by continuing symptoms.

Let’s examine the relationship between acid reflux and back pain, including common symptoms, potential causes, and effective treatment strategies. You’ll also discover practical tips to manage and prevent these symptoms at home, and guidance on when to seek medical attention.

By understanding the connection between acid reflux and back pain, you can take effective steps toward getting relief.

Relationship between acid reflux and back pain

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. This can cause discomfort such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. Surprisingly, acid reflux may also lead to back pain. This connection often results from referred pain, where nerve signals from one part of the body (in this case, your esophagus) are interpreted as discomfort in another (your back).

In some cases, the physical strain from chronic reflux symptoms can make back pain worse. For example, the repetitive, sudden motion of harsh coughing or vomiting due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can strain your back muscles. Also, your body's stress response to continuing discomfort may cause increased muscle tension, which can result in back pain.

For many people, lifestyle factors such as prolonged sitting, poor posture, or obesity can contribute to both acid reflux and back pain. Recognizing these overlapping triggers is important for understanding your treatment options.

Symptoms associated with acid reflux and back pain

Acid reflux and back pain each have a distinct set of symptoms that can vary in intensity and the way they impact your daily life.

Acid reflux symptoms:

• Heartburn: This is a burning sensation in your chest or throat, and is often worse after eating or lying down.
• Regurgitation: This is usually experienced as having sour-tasting stomach acid or food moving back into your mouth from your stomach and esophagus.
• Chest discomfort: This pain is sometimes mistaken for a heart issue but is often due to acid reflux.

Back pain symptoms:

• Discomfort: Pain may occur in your upper, middle, or lower back, depending on the underlying cause.
• Muscle tension: You may experience aches or tightness in your back. This can be worsened by poor posture or physical strain.
• Radiating pain: In some cases, pain may extend to your shoulders or neck.

When these symptoms occur together, they can interfere with your work, sleep, and overall quality of life.

Other conditions that may cause both symptoms

Several conditions can lead to acid reflux and back pain occurring together. It’s important to identify the root cause so you can get effective treatment.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes through the diaphragm into your chest cavity.

This condition often makes symptoms worse by altering your stomach's position and can cause pain that radiates to your back. Larger hiatal hernias may also cause a feeling of fullness, belching, or difficulty swallowing.

Gallbladder Issues

Gallstones or gallbladder inflammation can often cause referred pain in your upper back and shoulders, along with digestive symptoms such as nausea or bloating.

Although gallbladder pain is more common on the right side of the abdomen, it can mimic the discomfort of acid reflux and complicate your diagnosis.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, causes severe abdominal pain that often radiates to the back. This pain can be mistaken for acid reflux-related discomfort.

Chronic pancreatitis may also cause weight loss or difficulty digesting fatty foods and expert medical care is required for diagnosis and treatment.

Esophageal spasms

Painful contractions in your esophagus can mimic the sensation of acid reflux and may lead to back pain.

These spasms are often triggered by stress, certain foods, or an underlying esophageal disorder, making it important to identify contributing factors.

How to get relief from acid reflux and back pain at home

You will likely need a combination of treatment strategies to address both symptoms effectively.

Adjust your diet

Certain foods are known to trigger acid reflux and should be minimized or even completely avoided. These include:

• Spicy and fatty foods
• Acid-containing food like citrus fruits and tomatoes
• Carbonated beverages and alcohol

Instead, opt for:

• Low-acid foods: Such as oatmeal, bananas, and leafy greens.
• Smaller meals: Eating smaller, more frequent meals prevents overeating, which can worsen reflux.

Tracking your dietary habits in a food diary for a time can help you identify specific food triggers. Knowing what foods worsen your symptoms can greatly help you manage your condition.

Improve posture

Your posture plays a significant role in managing both reflux and back pain. When you slouch, this compresses your abdomen and increases the likelihood you will have acid reflux.

To reduce strain:

• Sit upright during your meals and for at least 30 minutes after eating.
• Use ergonomic chairs to support the natural curve of your spine.
• Avoid bending or heavy lifting after eating, as this can worsen your symptoms.

Use over-the-counter remedies

Several over-the-counter remedies can provide temporary relief for acid reflux and back pain:

• For reflux: Antacids neutralize your stomach acid, while H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors work to reduce acid production.
• For back pain: Applying heat or cold therapy to the painful areas, along with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (such as brand name Advil or Motrin) can help to lessen discomfort. Be sure to take these according to package directions and always take them with food, not on an empty stomach, or gastrointestinal irritation may result. Read our full guide on treating back pain for more.

How to prevent acid reflux and back Pain

Taking these proactive steps can reduce your likelihood of experiencing these symptoms together.

Maintain a healthy weight

Carrying excess body weight puts pressure on your abdomen and increases your risk of acid reflux and back strain.

Regular exercise and eating a balanced diet can reduce these risks while also improving your overall health. Focus on low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga, which help to strengthen your core body muscles without straining your back.

Elevate your head while sleeping

Nighttime acid reflux is common, often due to lying flat after eating.

Elevating the head of your bed by 6-8 inches or using a wedge pillow will help prevent stomach acid from flowing back into your esophagus. This simple adjustment can improve your nighttime symptoms.

Manage stress

Stress contributes to both GERD and muscle tension. Consider adding these stress-reduction techniques to your daily routine:

• Yoga: Combines gentle stretching with mindfulness to relieve tension.
• Deep breathing exercises: Calm your nervous system and can help reduce stress-related flare-ups.
• Meditation: Encourages relaxation and helps you manage chronic stress.

When you should see a doctor for acid reflux and back pain

While many cases of acid reflux and back pain can be managed at home, certain symptoms require a doctor’s advice.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your symptoms continue despite dietary and lifestyle changes.
• Your back pain interferes with your daily activities or sleep.
• You have difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or unexplained weight loss..

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You have severe chest pain that radiates to your back, particularly if you also have shortness of breath.
• You are vomiting blood or are passing black stools, which may be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• You have intense abdominal pain that is worsening.

Questions to ask your doctor about acid reflux and back pain

When consulting with your healthcare provider, asking the right questions can help you to better understand your condition and treatment options:

• What could be causing my acid reflux and back pain?
• Are there any specific tests I should have to confirm the diagnosis?
• What treatment options are available to manage these symptoms?
• How can I prevent these symptoms from recurring?

How a doctor can help treat acid reflux and back pain

Healthcare providers offer a range of treatments based on the underlying causes of your acid reflux and back pain.

Medications

Prescription-strength acid reducers like PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) or H2 blockers can effectively manage GERD symptoms.

For back pain, muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers may be necessary for severe symptoms..

Physical therapy

If your back pain is a result of poor posture or is from a muscle strain, physical therapy can provide individually tailored exercises to improve alignment and strengthen your supportive muscles. Techniques such as myofascial release or manual therapy may also be beneficial.

Diagnostic testing

In some cases, diagnostic tests like endoscopy, barium swallow, or imaging studies (such as X-rays or CT scans) may be recommended to identify problems such as hiatal hernias or esophageal inflammation.

Frequently asked questions: acid reflux and back pain

What if you’re experiencing acid reflux and back pain during pregnancy?

Pregnancy-related hormonal changes plus increased abdominal pressure can contribute to both GERD and back pain. Making changes in your diet, eating smaller meals, and using supportive pillows can help you manage symptoms.

What if you have acid reflux and are feeling back pain between your shoulder blades?

This may mean you have referred pain from your esophagus, gallbladder, or pancreas. You should consult with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.

What if you’re experiencing back pain from acid reflux at night only?

Nighttime reflux often happens if you are lying down too soon after eating. Elevating the head of your bed and avoiding large meals before bedtime can significantly reduce these symptoms.

Managing acid reflux and back pain

Acid reflux and back pain can be quite disruptive, but understanding their connection and adding targeted treatment and management strategies can provide relief. Simple adjustments to your diet, posture, and stress levels can often lead to significant improvement.

For worsening or severe symptoms, consulting your healthcare provider will ensure you get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

Sources

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FamilyDoctor.org. "Pancreatitis." FamilyDoctor.org, https://familydoctor.org/condition/pancreatitis/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Smith, R. E., S. Sharma, and R. D. Shahjehan. "Hiatal Hernia." StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562200/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

StatPearls. "Esophageal Motility Disorders." StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2024, https://www.statpearls.com/point-of-care/27894. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.