Lower back pain and bloated tummy: causes and best treatments

“Frankly, my head can never be bloated”

Lower back and abdominal pain can be a miserable and frightening experience when they occur together. The most common causes of this medical condition are usually the result of relatively harmless underlying diseases, but there are some rare factors that can be life-threatening.

In the regard of lower back pain and bloated tummy is one of the most annoying pains that we want to get a quick treatment for to relieve them, and you may feel some swelling in your stomach and severe pain, then you will be surprised that this pain also feels in your back! So, in this article, learn about the causes of this pain and how to treat it. We will talk first about lower back pain, then flatulence, and in the end we will move on to the relationship between them so that the reader will get a full statement.

Causes of lower back pain

• Muscle fatigue and joint sprains

Muscle fatigue and joint sprains are among the most common causes of severe lower back pain right side, as there is a sprain or tear in the ligaments or muscle tissue surrounding the spine in the lower back and causes severe pain, and tension and sprains occur for several reasons, the most important of which are:

1. Weight bearing or sudden movement of the spine.
2. Sudden fall to the back, causing gravity to focus on the lower back.
3. Sports injuries.

• Intervertebral disc degeneration

It is also one of the most common causes of lower back pain, and it occurs as a natural result of aging due to the lack of gel material that gives flexibility and prevents friction between the vertebrae and is accompanied by severe pain when moving.

• Nervous irritation (neuropathy)

Damage to the nerves coming out of the spine may occur due to the pressure resulting from the movement of muscles and bones, which may cause inflammation and irritation in parts of these nerves, leading to radiculopathy, which is characterized by severe pain, and this pain may extend to the hips or the entire lower trunk.

• Slipped disc

 A herniated disc is the sliding of a vertebral cartilage from its position, causing pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord, and pain and tingling in the lower back and lower body.

• Spinal stenosis

A narrowing of the neural canal of the vertebrae causes pressure on the spinal cord, and it may lead to malfunction and severe pain, depending on the area that was narrowed.

• Bacterial infections

Such as osteomyelitis, which infects the bone marrow and surrounding bones with a bacterial infection, and it often occurs due to the use of contaminated syringes or after a bite by predators such as dogs and needs immediate medical intervention.

• Tumors

It is one of the uncommon causes, as it is rare for tumors to start in the lower back, and are often the result of tumors spreading from other areas of the body.

• Kidney stones

Kidney stones cause pain in the lower back area, but this pain is characterized by being one-sided.

• Inflammatory diseases

Arthritis disease, rheumatoid arthritis disease, and osteoarthritis disease.

• Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis reduces bone density, making it more likely to fracture.

Lower back and thigh pain

• Sciatica is a condition where the pain spreads from the lower back to the thighs.

Lower back pain when standing

• Sprain resulting from some simple activities in daily life, such as lifting weights, getting in and out of the car, gardening, and housework.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Degenerative disc disease.

Lower back pain during the session

• Back pain during menstruation is common and occurs as a natural result of uterine contractions.

Lower back pain when sitting

• Sitting stresses the herniated disks, causing lower back pain to worsen after sitting for long periods of time.

Lower back pain when walking

• Lumbar spinal stenosis.
• Limited movement of the foot and ankle.
• Limited hip movement.
• Decreased hip strength
• Upper back stiffness.
• Stenosis or arthritis in the spine.

Lower back pain when coughing

• Coughing can put a lot of pressure on the muscles, leading to back pain.
• Coughing can put a lot of pressure on spinal discs.
• A regular cough can cause trauma to the bones of the spinal cord.

Pain in the lower back to the foot

• Herniated disc or lumbar disc.
• Sciatica.

Lower back pain and colon

There are few studies that have looked at the prevalence of back pain in people with IBS symptoms, but it is possible for abdominal pain caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome to spread to the back. Colon cancer can cause lower back pain, but it is not a primary symptom of colon cancer.

Pain in the lower back in the morning

Lower back pain in the morning is due to the stiffness caused by long periods of rest and reduced blood flow resulting from sleep, and the quality of the bedding and pillows used may cause this type of pain.

Read Also: Instant relief of pulled muscle in the lower back

Diagnosis of lower back pain

• About lower back pain

Information on the current symptoms the patient is experiencing; it may include information about the severity of the pain, when it is felt, the location of the pain and how far it has spread.

• The patient’s daily activity level

Sleeping habits followed, such as number of sleeping hours, sleeping position, etc.

Pain-relieving posture.

Exposure to injuries.

• Clinical physical examination for back pain

The physical examination helps to identify options causing the condition and be able to diagnose it.

The patient’s back is examined by hand to be able to determine the presence of any muscle spasms or any problems in the joints.

• Neurological examination for lower back pain

Includes manual movement of the hip, knee, big toe and flexion (forward and backward movement) as well as ankle movement; This may include examining the patient’s reaction to light touch or a pin prick in the lower torso, buttocks and legs.

Treatment of lower back pain

One of the basic concepts in the treatment of lower back pain is the patient’s awareness of his health condition and his knowledge of the consequences of not following the instructions of the health care provider from not carrying heavy objects, rest, etc.

The treatment of lower back pain in general depends on the condition causing the pain, but there are some methods that can be followed at home to reduce the severity of pain and inflammation as follows:

Treating lower back pain with hot and hot water compresses

The effect of hot compresses is not direct and powerful, but they can reduce pain and inflammation and enable the patient to move more easily.

Lower back pain treatment through rest

Rest is not intended to lie on the bed for long periods of time, but rather to carry out daily activities normally, but without violent straining movement or carrying heavy weights.

Treating back pain with physical therapy

It is under the supervision of specialists and is one of the most successful treatment methods for getting rid of lower back pain.

Treating lower back pain with medicines

Treatment with drugs aims to relieve symptoms and not cure most of the time except in cases of arthritis or bacterial infections, and medicines include the following:

Nonsteroidal pain relievers

Anti-inflammatories.

Anticonvulsants.

Antidepressants.

Read Also: Best 5 tips for Dealing with lower Back pain

Treatment of lower back pain surgical operations

Surgical intervention is the last option if the patient does not respond to previous treatment methods, or if the diagnosis shows a deterioration in the integrity of the nerves, which may lead to major complications if the intervention is not performed surgically immediately.

Causes bloated tummy

Numerous studies point to the fact that the older we get, the more common diseases we have such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and various digestive problems, such as bloated tummy or flatulence.

What happens is largely related to everyday life practices, such as:

• Smoking.
• Stress.
• Lack of exercise.
• Eat high amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol.
• Consuming large amounts of sugar and salt.
• Consume less fiber.

All the factors mentioned contribute to bloated stomach abdominal pain.

What is flatulence?

Every person produces gases in his body during the digestion of food, such as: methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.

And some of them are released outside the body, sometimes in small quantities that he himself does not notice and sometimes in larger quantities that may affect the normal course of life.

Causes of bloated stomach

Mostly the causes of feeling bloated and stomach pain are caused by swallowing the air while eating and drinking, the air that does not go out by belching.

The problem begins when some gases reach the large intestine, to start “walking” in the abdomen and cause annoying pressure and bloating.

These are some of the causes of stomach pain and bloating after eating and gases in the digestive system:

• Intolerance to a certain food

When food does not decompose properly due to the lack of certain enzymes needed to break it down, for example, hydrogen is produced in large quantities in those people with lactose-intolerance to milk sugar.

• Food allergy

When a reaction occurs in the immune system due to eating a certain food, as in celiac disease (celiac disease, celiac disease) in which the body is unable to deal with gluten.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It is a group of physiological phenomena that are attributed to the improper activity of the intestine, caused by disturbance in the process of digesting food in the intestine, as well as the presence of psychological factors such as stress.

• Certain foods

There are foods that are known to cause bloated tummy and lead to gas in the digestive system, which are foods that are best avoided, and of course there are foods that relieve flatulence and are advised to eat them.

The foods that may cause flatulence are:

• Foods from the cruciferous family: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli (cooked and fresh).
• Dried fruit: apricots, prunes, raisins, and the like.
• Foods from the legume family: beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils.
• Soy.
• Eggplant.
• Lettuce.
• Onions.
• Artificial sweeteners.
• Dairy products.

Treatment of bloated tummy

What we do usually, the phenomenon of gases does not indicate a medical problem, but it is not necessary to diagnose independently and refrain from performing a reliable and accurate examination by a doctor. Often the treatment will come as follows:

• Adding various medicines such as: anti-acid, activated charcoal tablets, various other medicines.
• Medicinal herbs can be used, such as chamomile, ginger, angelica, coriander, and aloe vera. But professional persons in this field should be consulted.
• Lifestyle changes such as reducing stress.
• Increase physical activity.
• Change in diet and the way you eat, such as following the following rules:
• Eating slowly.
• Adopt small bites.
• Focus on eating without any other activity such as watching TV.

Causes of lower back and bloated tummy

Pain in lower right back and abdomen can be a miserable and frightening experience when they occur together. The most common causes of this medical condition are usually the result of relatively harmless underlying diseases, but there are some rare factors that can be life threatening.

There are many causes of severe lower back pain right side and bloated tummy, see the following:

• Gastritis

Various types of infections can cause gastroenteritis, including noroviruses, and food-borne diseases such as salmonella.

If you have gastroenteritis, you may experience severe cramps in your abdomen that quickly spread to your lower back.

Sometimes, this condition can cause severe and frequent vomiting, which causes pain in your stomach and back.

Some of the home remedies that you should try include restricting your diet to light, healthy, and easily digestible foods such as wheat bread to reduce vomiting, and drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

• Back injuries

A wide range of back injuries, from simple muscle sprains, to more serious injuries such as discs, also known as herniated disks, can cause back pain.

Sometimes the pain spreads from a herniated disk to other areas of the body, including the abdomen, and distension.

• Hormonal changes in women

Hormonal changes that occur in women may cause pain in the lower back and abdomen, including:

Menstruation: It occurs when the uterus sheds the lining once a month. This condition may cause pain, cramps and discomfort, which are normal.

Pregnancy: Early pregnancy symptoms may be fatigue, morning sickness, swelling of the breasts, and constipation. Some women may also experience cramps, slight bleeding, and pain in the back and abdomen.

• Kidney stones or kidney infection

Your kidneys rest on either side of the middle of the back. Feeling pain in this area, especially if it is on one side only, may indicate that you have a kidney stone, or a kidney infection.

You may also experience nausea, and you may have pain that radiates to the groin, and pain in the abdomen and back.

• Stress

Stress can affect your physical and mental health. Excessive stress or anxiety can lead to lower back pain and discomfort in the abdomen, and it may cause bloating.

Back pain often occurs in people who suffer from stress, as a result of the effect of stress on their muscles, causing them to tighten involuntarily.

Stomach pain and bloating are the most common symptoms of people who are under stress, along with some underlying conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

When should a doctor be consulted?

Consult your doctor if any of the following symptoms appear:

• Inability to tolerate pain.
• The pain affects my daily activity and normal functions.
• You notice blood in the stool.
• Feeling of difficulty breathing, chest pain or vomiting.
• You also feel chills along with the heat.
• A pregnant woman should consult a doctor if this pain persists.

Treatment of lower abdomen and back pain

The doctor will ask you to take a complete blood count, along with some other tests, but you can also follow some easy tips that will help in treating back and abdominal pain at home:

1. Make sure to drink enough water and fluids.
2. Do not take antacids without consulting a doctor.
3. Avoid foods that cause bloating, including lentils.
4. You can alternate cold and warm compresses for 10 minutes at a time.
5. Avoid heavy loads that strain your back.
6. You can apply massage technique to relieve back pain.
7. Pay attention to the good posture of your back when exercising.
8. Prolonged sitting should be avoided.
9. Analgesics can be used, but avoid overuse of pain relievers and consult your doctor.

Also Read:

4 wrong sitting postures cause back pain

References:

Villines, Z. (2020, January 6). Can stomach problems cause lower back pain? Medicalnewstoday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321833