Can Gastritis Cause Back Pain In Both Sides?

Experiencing gas is common, but it can sometimes cause back pain if it moves upwards. The burning sensation may result in upper back discomfort between the shoulder blades. Gastritis can manifest as gas pain in the upper back. Various factors can lead to gastritis, including autoimmune disorders, bacterial infections, bile reflux, etc.

What is gastritis?  

Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the stomach lining. This lining, known as mucosa, is a delicate tissue that safeguards the stomach against the acids, enzymes, and microorganisms that pass through it daily. Gastritis occurs when the immune system perceives a risk to this protective barrier. In response, the immune system activates tissue inflammation to assist in combating infections and encourage healing.

Essential information about gastritis

Often described as burning or bloating, gastritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the stomach lining, leading to stomach discomfort, nausea, and additional symptoms. This unease can appear suddenly or develop over time.

Typical symptoms of gastritis

Several symptoms are linked to gastritis, including:

• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark stools
• A feeling of fullness during or after eating
• Decreased appetite
• Upper stomach pain
• Stomach ulcers
• Vomiting blood
• Weight loss
• Hiccups
• Burning sensations
• Indigestion
• Pain in both the upper and lower back.

If you have any of these symptoms, consult a healthcare expert promptly to address them early.

Causes of gastritis-related back pain

Trapped gas within the intestines can result in cramping or bloating throughout the digestive tract. This discomfort may lead to back pain associated with gastritis.

• Swallowing air

The primary contributor to back pain due to gas is if you swallow excess air. When more air is ingested, the gas volume in your stomach increases. Various factors can lead to gas-related back pain, such as eating or drinking too quickly, using straws, consuming carbonated drinks, chewing gum, taking fibre supplements, or eating foods with artificial sweeteners.

• Gas released during digestion

When bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates (fibre, starch, sugars), gas levels rise in the colon, which can result in back pain. While the bacteria may consume some of the gas, a portion is still released.

• Excessive alcohol consumption

Consuming alcoholic drinks can harm your stomach lining, potentially causing stomach ulcers and gastric back pain. Both conditions can lead to significant discomfort and indigestion.

• Medications

Regularly taking NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) and other pain relievers can disrupt the stomach's pH balance, potentially leading to ulcers, gastric back pain, and damage to the stomach lining. These medications may have side effects that also contribute to back pain.

• Stress

Sudden or severe physical and mental health issues can lead to heightened stress levels. Consequently, blood flow to the stomach may diminish, making it more susceptible to a low pH. This acidic environment can harm the stomach lining and result in ulcers, which in turn cause back pain.

• Chronic health issues

Any health condition that hampers digestive function may elevate the risk of trapped gas, contributing to back pain. Gastric back pain is commonly associated with chronic conditions such as diabetes, intestinal disorders, and specific food intolerances (like lactose or gluten).

How is gastritis back pain different from typical back pain?  

Several key distinctions exist between back pain due to gastritis and back pain resulting from a musculoskeletal injury or poor posture:

• Location – Pain from gastritis is typically felt higher up, positioned between the shoulder blades or in the upper back, while ordinary back pain is often localized in the lower back.  
• Timing – Back pain linked to gastritis may fluctuate but is often triggered after meals. Mechanical back pain also occurs intermittently but isn't necessarily related to eating.  
• Nature of pain – Gastritis-related back pain generally presents as a consistent, dull ache, contrasting with the sharp, stabbing pain associated with muscle strains or spasms.  
• Associated symptoms – Back pain from gastritis is usually accompanied by abdominal issues like nausea, stomach discomfort, and reflux, whereas mechanical back pain is typically confined to the back.  
• Exacerbating factors – Gastritis back pain tends to worsen after eating but improves with rest, while muscular back pain tends to intensify with movement and physical activity.
   

Types of gastritis

Gastritis can be chronic, developing gradually and persisting over an extended period, or acute, appearing suddenly and resolving quickly. The condition may also be classified as erosive or non-erosive. Erosive gastritis is severe and may wear down the stomach lining, suddenly or over time. Conversely, non-erosive gastritis causes alterations in the stomach lining without a gradual breakdown.

There are also specific subtypes, such as acute stress gastritis, which is erosive and arises in response to significant changes caused by critical illness.

Tests and diagnosis for gastritis

A healthcare professional will begin by inquiring about your symptoms and medical history. Based on your responses, they may suspect gastritis, but testing will be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. They may start with an imaging test, like an upper GI series, which involves a set of X-rays of your upper gastrointestinal tract. Although this test can identify ulcers or damage in your stomach lining, it may not necessarily indicate gastritis itself.

The definitive diagnosis of gastritis relies on microscopic analysis, so a healthcare provider will need to obtain a tissue sample to verify it. This sample (biopsy) can be collected during an upper endoscopy procedure. This examination inserts a small camera attached to a long tube (endoscope) into your upper gastrointestinal tract. An endoscopist can take a biopsy through the endoscope, and they will likely be able to visually identify gastritis even before the biopsy confirms it.

You may require additional tests to determine the cause of gastritis or to investigate any complications. Your provider might recommend:

• Blood analysis
• Stool examination 
• H. pylori breath analysis
   

Does gastritis go away by itself?  

Acute gastritis typically resolves once the underlying cause is addressed. If there's an infection, your immune system will generally eliminate it quickly, leading to reduced inflammation. If you’ve temporarily ingested excessive alcohol or medications, your stomach lining should heal itself soon. If blood flow to your stomach was briefly diminished but is now improved, healing of the stomach lining will commence.

Chronic gastritis does not resolve on its own, but treatment can aid in its resolution. Chronic gastritis is associated with another ongoing condition you may have. Certain treatments can eliminate some of these conditions, while others may not be curable, but prolonged treatments can mitigate the inflammation they induce. Chronic gastritis may have caused significant damage to your tissues, which may take additional time to heal.

Is gastritis contagious?  

Gastritis itself cannot be spread, but the infections that lead to it can be. H. pylori is especially noteworthy, as it has infected a large portion of the global population and is responsible for chronic gastritis in nearly half. It transmits through the fecal-oral route. Practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands after using the restroom and before preparing food, can help prevent the transmission of these infections, thereby reducing the incidence of gastritis.

Physiotherapy Treatment to Relieve Gastritis Pain?

Various physiotherapy treatments, such as breathing exercises, stretching, and low-impact activities, can assist regulate and reduce gastritis discomfort. Such techniques enhance circulation and target processes that help the stomach lining regenerate. Furthermore, the secretory glands' function improves, resulting in smooth digestion.

TruePal can ease your gastritis pain

As previously discussed, physiotherapy is a viable method of addressing stomach back pain. Our consultations and home visits are designed to help patients develop coping methods that reduce pain and increase function. Furthermore, Truepal's specialists recommend long-term benefits from lifestyle changes such as nutrition and yoga.

FAQs

1. What relieves gastritis back pain?

Exercise, dietary adjustments (avoiding alcohol, smoking, and artificial sweeteners), physiotherapy, and other treatments all help to relieve gastritis discomfort. Some physiotherapy treatments for managing and relieving gastric back pain include breathing exercises, stretching, and low-impact activities. Such techniques promote circulation and target processes that help the stomach lining regenerate. Furthermore, the secretory glands perform more efficiently, allowing for smooth digestion.

2. What is gastritis?

Gastritis is inflammation in the lining of your stomach. This lining (a soft tissue called mucosa) protects your stomach from the acids, enzymes and microorganisms that pass through it every day. Gastritis happens when your immune system detects a threat to this barrier. Your immune system triggers tissue inflammation to help fight infections and promote healing.

3. How is gastritis back ache different from regular back pain?

There are some key differences between back pain caused by gastritis versus back pain from a musculoskeletal injury or poor posture:

• Location – Gastritis back pain is usually higher up, between the shoulder blades or in the upper back. Regular back pain often occurs in the lower back.
• Timing – Back pain from gastritis may come and go but frequently occurs after eating. Mechanical back pain is also episodic but not necessarily tied to eating.
• Nature of pain – Gastritis back pain tends to be a steady, dull ache, versus the sharp, stabbing pain of a muscle strain or spasm.
• Associated symptoms – Abdominal symptoms like nausea, stomach discomfort, reflux, etc accompany gastritis back pain. Mechanical back pain is isolated to the back.
• Exacerbating factors – Gastritis back pain worsens after eating but improves with rest. Muscular back pain flares with movement and physical activity.
   

4. Can gastritis cause both back pain and chest pain?

Yes, gastritis can cause both back and chest pain. The stomach inflammation from gastritis can irritate the nerves connecting the digestive system to the spine and chest. This can send pain signals to these areas, causing achy or stabbing sensations even though the stomach itself is the root problem.

Upper back pain is a common referred pain linked to gastritis since the stomach has nerve connections to the thoracic spine. Chest pain can also occur because the nerves from the stomach travel up to the chest wall. The medical term for this is “referred pain,” meaning you feel the pain from an internal problem at a secondary location on the surface of the body. 

5. How do I know if my pain is gastritis?

The following symptoms can be recognised in gastric back pain-

• Dark stool
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Hiccups
• Burning sensations
   

6. Does gastritis cause back pain?

The answer is yes! Trapped gas in the digestive system can cause upper back pain between shoulder blades, cramps, and bloating, adding pressure to the back.

7. Why am I experiencing gas discomfort in my back?

Gas is normal, but if it creeps up, you could get back pain from the stomach. Because of the gas between the shoulder blades, the burning feeling results in upper back pain. Upper back gas pain might be a symptom of gastritis. Numerous conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections, bile reflux, and upper back pain between the shoulder blades, can result in gastritis.