Acid Reflux Disease And Back Pain - Are They Connected?

With all of the information on acid reflux disease or GERD that is available, back pain is NOT in the mix. While it is true that there is no apparent connection between Acid reflux disease and back pain, there is an indirect possibility. As part of the treatment for GERD or acid reflux disease, positional therapy might be prescribed. This includes such things as sleeping on the left side or sleeping with the head elevated. You are probably asking yourself what this has to do with acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux is a weakening of the muscles associated with the esophagus. The stomach produces acids and materials, which are supposed to be kept in the stomach. This is done through a combination of valves and muscular structures between the top of the stomach and the throat. When these muscular structures are weakened, the acid in the stomach is allowed to enter into the esophagus-sometimes all the way into the mouth.

That being said, it should become obvious why the use of positional therapy is sometimes used. The acid is subject to gravity. So when you are lying flat on your back, the weakened valves allow the acid to submit to gravity’s pull and travel up the esophagus. When this happens, the sufferer may awaken several times during the night with severe pain in the chest. This pain occasionally makes it’s way around to the back. Many acid reflux patients report moderate to severe upper back and neck pain associated with attacks of acid reflux.

The remedy for some acid reflux sufferers is to sleep with the head and shoulders elevated a bit and this may be why some people combine together acid reflux and back pain. While this may lessen or even alleviate the nocturnal acid reflux, it needs to be done properly and, if not done properly, may indirectly cause chronic lower back pain as well. This back pain will not be immediate, but can occur over a period of time. That can mean lasting damage to the back. Since acid reflux does not directly affect the back (the back pain is always an indirect by-product), please consult your physician in all cases.

It is well and good to mention that sometimes, pain from acid reflux that radiates to the back can indicate a cardiac condition. Also, the back pain associated with acid reflux may be hidden among other pains and, as a result, overlooked or simply ignored. In some cases, a chiropractor may be the ticket.

If you have found yourself in any of these situations, it is imperative that you consult a physician. Statistics show that patients who seek out medical treatment for acid reflux have less occurrences and a lower level of pain. Only your doctor knows for sure what the best remedy is in each case.

So to summarize, acid reflux disease and back pain are related simply because back pain is an indirect product of positional therapy used to treat the pain associated with acid reflux disease. It can be relieved through proper elevation of the head and shoulders as prescribed by a doctor. If the back pain is chronic or high level, a chiropractor may be consulted.