Does Intense Upper Back Pain After I Eating Suggestive Of Acid Reflux Disease?

Posted on Sat, 7 Feb 2015

Question: I have intense upper back pain after I eat? Is this a symptom of acid reflux disease? It even happens after I eat something like white rice and cheerios. I took two Tylenol 8 hours ago and a Prilosec. The pain seemed to subside but I'm afraid to eat and I think it's coming back. I'm afraid to eat anything. I am burping up gas, but pain was intense. Started after a slight case of diahrea two days ago, and I also just got over the flu.

Is the doctor working on my question now?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pancreas or gallbladder issues. Acid reflux is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Do you have any nausea, vomiting? Any abdominal pain?

Upper back pain is more characteristic for gallbladder and pancreas than for acid reflux disease. Please note that diaphragm is close to the liver, bile ducts and pancreas and the nerves of the diaphragm can be sensed in the upper back area. In most cases it is upper right side or even right arm.
Gallstones, pancreas inflammation can give back pain caused by foods intake. Abdominal pain (upper right) is usually present, however lack of it does not rule mentioned issues out. Diarrhea can appear with gallstones or pancreas chronic inflammation as well.

Typical acid reflux disease symptoms are chest burning, feeling of food stuck in the esophagus, cough, nausea. Diarrhea is never a symptom of acid reflux problems. Back pain is a rare (however possible) symptom of acid reflux.
One more thing. In case of acid reflux, you should be able to get relief when swallowing mineral water. Literally you should feel the water moving through the esophagus and in some point pain subside for a few seconds.

Here is what should be done:
- consult your doctor and have abdominal ultrasound, blood work, liver tests (AST,ALT,GGTP,AP), amylase, urine amylase, bilirubin level and urine analysis
- if nothing will be found in this tests, get scheduled for gastroscopy
- in a meanwhile please avoid fatty foods, spicy foods, fried foods, coffee (very important), chocolate, orange juice, alcohol
- start probiotic intake

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (42 minutes later)

Hi, the pain I had was in my upper left back mostly and down my left arm, not my right arm. I have not had nausea or vomiting.

All of this pain started after eating a couple of oranges, and having a slight case of diahhrea. the pain right now seems to be in my lower back toward the right side and I burp up gas.

And right now, the pain is in my mid back on the right side.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow as advised above. Spine MRI should be considered.

Detailed Answer:
Left arm pain radiating to left arm is not a esophageal pain for sure. Such pain can be related to a heart ischemia or caused by spine disc problem.
Like I have mentioned before, right side pain can be esophageal pain or liver/gallstones/pancreas.
Does this pain gets worse when lifting something heavy or bending? If yes, spine disc problem is much more possible than acid reflux.

I suggest you to follow as advised above. Additionally, if the pain seems to be spine related, spine MRI should be done.

Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari