Back Pain After Eating: Causes, Treatment, And More - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeBack PainWhy Do I Have Back Pain After Eating?

Medically reviewed by Megan Soliman, MD — Written by James Roland — Updated on May 3, 2024

Causes
Other causes
FAQ
Takeaway

Key takeaways

Experiencing back pain after eating could be related to digestive issues like GERD or peptic ulcers, where irritation in the esophagus or stomach causes referred pain in the back.
Posture, kidney problems, and, in rare cases, heart attacks can also cause back pain, although these may not always be directly triggered by eating.
If you experience persistent or severe back pain after eating, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and to determine the underlying cause.

Woman with back pain after eating — davidf/Getty Images

Back pain is often caused by muscle strain or arthritis in your spine. Nerve damage, kidney infections, cancer, and referred pain may also result in pain and tension along your back.

If your back pain only comes after eating, it may be related to a digestive challenge, including acid reflux. However, other acute and chronic conditions may also cause this symptom.

Is back pain after eating a symptom of GERD?

GERD is a chronic condition caused by persistent acid reflux. This refers to stomach acid moving back up into your esophagus (food pipe) causing a variety of inflammatory symptoms.

Back pain isn’t part of the diagnostic criteria for acid reflux or GERD, but it could happen to some people with the condition because of referred pain.

Referred pain occurs when you have a health challenge in one part of the body but feel it somewhere else. For example, you may have sciatica (pressure on the sciatic nerve at the hip level) and experience pain down your leg.

Eating may trigger GERD symptoms resulting from irritation in the esophagus. Some of the nerves innervating this area connect to the back, making it possible for you to experience referred back pain after eating.

If GERD is causing your back pain after eating, you may also have one or more of these symptoms:

burning pain in the chest (heartburn)
pain in the upper stomach
burning sensation in your throat
persistent sore throat
tension and tightness in the throat
shoulder pain
belching
shortness of breath
acid and other stomach contents traveling back up your food pipe
chronic cough
fatigue and daytime sleepiness
sour stomach

These symptoms, including back pain, may be present even when you’re not eating.

Read about heartburn relief and GERD treatment options.

What else can cause back pain after eating?

Back pain may result from the following:

chronic stress
herniated spinal disc
multiple myeloma in the vertebrae
strained muscles
osteoporosis
chronic pancreatitis

Common causes of back pain after eating may include:

Ulcers

A peptic ulcer can radiate pain to your back. This type of ulcer is a sore in your stomach or small intestine. Typical symptoms of a peptic ulcer may include:

moderate to severe burning pain in the abdomen or lower chest
sour stomach
bloating
nausea
vomiting
dark stools
changes in your appetite

Posture

One of the most common causes of back pain is posture. If you sit hunched over your food during a meal, you may end up with soreness in your back. That same pain can develop if you’re hunched over your computer or if you maintain a slouched position most of the time.

The chair where you sit when eating a meal may also impact your back muscles and could lead to back pain and tension.

Kidney pain

Your kidneys are situated on each side of your torso and under the rib cage. Kidney infections, kidney stones, and kidney disease may all cause back pain, among other symptoms, like:

sharp and intense pain in your side
frequent urination
burning sensation when urinating
abdominal pain
chills
fever

Kidney stone symptoms, particularly, may appear suddenly and could coincide with a meal.

Heart attack

Upper back pain can be an early sign of a heart attack for some people. You may experience back pain a few days or hours before the cardiac event.

Other warning signs of a heart attack may include:

chest pain
pain and tension in your neck, jaw, or arm
nausea
lightheadedness
sweating
nausea
radiating pain to the arms

Women may be more likely than men to experience back and neck pain before and during a heart attack.

Read more about signs of a heart attack in women.

This isn’t an all-inclusive list of causes of back pain after eating. If you experience persistent pain and discomfort, consulting with a healthcare professional may be a good idea.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean when your back hurts after eating?

Back pain after eating may have multiple causes, from acid reflux and GERD to posture problems and kidney stones. Only a healthcare professional can provide an accurate diagnosis. If the pain is persistent and severe, immediate medical care is highly advised.

Can digestive problems cause back pain?

Yes, digestive challenges may cause referred pain in the back. This is when the root of the pain is in one part of the body and you feel it somewhere else. GERD, peptic ulcers, kidney stones, and some cancers may cause referred pain in the back.

The takeaway

Back pain after eating is often related to referred pain caused by esophagus or stomach irritation. For example, GERD and peptic ulcers may worsen with some foods, which could trigger symptoms, including radiated back pain.

Other causes of back pain may include kidney problems, posture, and osteoporosis. However, eating may not be the trigger for these.

Only a healthcare professional can give you an accurate diagnosis, and they may need to perform several tests to arrive at the cause of the symptoms.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Dydyk AM, et al. (2021). Disk herniation.
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Medically reviewed by Megan Soliman, MD — Written by James Roland — Updated on May 3, 2024

Tag » Why Does My Back Hurt When I Eat

Back Pain After Eating: Causes, Treatment, And More - Healthline

Key takeaways

Is back pain after eating a symptom of GERD?

What else can cause back pain after eating?

Ulcers

Posture

Kidney pain

Heart attack

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean when your back hurts after eating?

Can digestive problems cause back pain?

The takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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