If you have received a diagnosis for GERD and are wondering why you often experience back pain, your health condition may be the reason.
GERD is a common digestive system condition that affects an estimated 20% of people in the United States and an estimated 783.95 people worldwide as of 2019.
GERD can cause many discomforting symptoms, including nausea, heartburn, and pain while swallowing. It may also cause back pain in some people who experience chest pain as one of the symptoms of the condition.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux, is a chronic disorder in which stomach acid constantly flows back into the tube that transports food from the mouth down to the stomach (esophagus).
GERD is often caused by a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES is a ring of muscle located on the lower part of the esophagus, close to the stomach, that is meant to close up after food enters the stomach.
For people with GERD, the LES may be loose, which makes it easy for stomach contents, including acid, to flow back into the esophagus. GERD usually lasts for a long time and is usually severe. If not treated, it may lead to serious complications over time.
Even though the terms “GERD” and “acid reflux” are often used interchangeably, they don’t exactly mean the same. Many people experience reflux acid, including babies and children, at some point in life. It only becomes a problem and could lead to GERD when it becomes more frequent and extends through weeks and months. GERD is a severe form of acid reflux disease.
People with GERD may experience symptoms like:
Most of these symptoms are usually experienced after eating food such as fried foods, fatty foods, chocolate, citrus juice and fruits, tomato products, and foods containing caffeine.
GERD may cause back pain in people with the condition who experience heartburn or chest pain. This is because the extensive network of nerves that connect muscles and other body tissues would cause pain from the chest area to radiate to the back and other upper body areas.
Back pain is not a common symptom of GERD. But, even though not everyone with GERD experiences back pain, there is still a link between the two.
Factors that can trigger back pain in people with GERD include:
The major negative effects of this disease on a patient are frequent heartburn. Heartburn often causes a constant painful sensation around the chest, which can reduce a person’s standard of living, making them uncomfortable, interfering with their sleep, and disturbing their work productivity.
According to endoscopic findings, every GERD patient either has a non-erosive reflux disorder (NERD) or erosive esophagitis (EE).
It’s important to be on the lookout for the symptoms of GERD to prevent it from escalating, which may lead to severe health complications such as inflammation of the esophagus or esophagitis. GERD can increase the risk of an uncommon disorder known as Barret’s esophagus, which may lead to cancer.
Once a patient is confirmed to have GERD, it might become a long-term condition requiring adequate management. The best way to manage GERD is to identify various causes of the symptoms and try to control or avoid any circumstances that will promote the disease.
There are medications for treating GERD that a doctor can prescribe you. However, some dietary and lifestyle adjustments can help manage the condition.
People with GERD are advised to seek immediate medical attention the moment they begin to experience unusual or alarming symptoms that are life-threatening or could lead to serious complications.
The following signs are an indication that you need to speak to a doctor as soon as possible:
It is also necessary to contact your doctor when you begin to experience frequent or severe GERD symptoms. Also, if you take non-prescription medication for two weeks without signs of recovery, it indicates that you need to see your doctor.
Both changes in habits and medication can also help to eliminate GERD. Seeing a doctor would also help to know the best medication meant for you. Also, keeping a record of the food you consume, when, and how you feel after eating can help you handle the symptoms better and provide useful information to your doctor on what to administer to make you feel better.
Some foods may help relieve GERD symptoms or prevent them from worsening, e.g., bananas, yogurt, oatmeal, green vegetables, root vegetables, melons, and foods that contain lots of water.
Your doctor may also prescribe common medications to treat back pain and other GERD symptoms, including:
Also, if you receive a diagnosis for another health condition, it will be safer to tell your doctor you have GERD, so they can prescribe for you medications that will not affect the stomach lining. This will help your healing process.