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What Causes Left-sided Mid Back Pain After Eating?
Posted on
Mon, 2 Apr 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 2 Apr 2018
Answered on
Wed, 6 Sep 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : What could middle-left back pain after eating indicate?
I've been having RUQ pain for years with no answer (after multiple CTs, an MRI, and endoscopy), as well as central abdominal nausea. I noticed sometimes after I eat, I'll get back pain and dont know what it could mean if all my labs are coming back fine.
I've been having RUQ pain for years with no answer (after multiple CTs, an MRI, and endoscopy), as well as central abdominal nausea. I noticed sometimes after I eat, I'll get back pain and dont know what it could mean if all my labs are coming back fine.
Brief Answer:
The acid peptic disorder most like mild to moderate gastritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Have you ever done cardiac investigations like 2d echo especially of the aortic region? As pain is directly related to eating food it could be either cardiac or gastric in origin. As soon as you take food parietal cells in stomach start to secrete acid in case of chronic gastritis (inflammation in the wall of the stomach) patient may experience pain which may radiate to back also as dermatomes and nerves innervating these areas have more or less overlapping or the same origin. In rare case, it could also be suggestive of an aortic problem (descending aorta).
Again history of undiagnosed RUQ pain is suggestive of an acid peptic problem. It's not necessary that inflammation in the stomach is always reflected in endoscopy.
Do this pain responds to antacids?
Next time when you feel this pain take one tablet of omeprazole (OTC) and see if pain responds to it.
Investigations are not always helpful in such cases the patient is diagnosed clinically.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
The acid peptic disorder most like mild to moderate gastritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Have you ever done cardiac investigations like 2d echo especially of the aortic region? As pain is directly related to eating food it could be either cardiac or gastric in origin. As soon as you take food parietal cells in stomach start to secrete acid in case of chronic gastritis (inflammation in the wall of the stomach) patient may experience pain which may radiate to back also as dermatomes and nerves innervating these areas have more or less overlapping or the same origin. In rare case, it could also be suggestive of an aortic problem (descending aorta).
Again history of undiagnosed RUQ pain is suggestive of an acid peptic problem. It's not necessary that inflammation in the stomach is always reflected in endoscopy.
Do this pain responds to antacids?
Next time when you feel this pain take one tablet of omeprazole (OTC) and see if pain responds to it.
Investigations are not always helpful in such cases the patient is diagnosed clinically.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
I have done a stress test and numerous EKGs. Doctor noted that my heart is every slightly enlarged but nothing to be concerned of (he said everything was fine for the most part). I’ve been shaky/uneasy all evening (not Parkinson’s type of shaking) and I don’t know what’s causing it. My pulse is around 60. I’m not sweating or anything. Just a little uneasy and I don’t know if it’s from 6 coffees that I’ve had within 24 hours or if it’s somehing serious.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
What are the levels of your anxiety?
What about the sleep cycle?
Do you feel fresh after sleep?
Do these symptoms (thoughts) keep comming to your head throughout the day?
Do you feel obbsessed by these thoughts?
Pain level on a scale of 1 to 10?
How does this pain respond to antacid and proton pump inhibitors?
Please respond to the questions above and let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
What are the levels of your anxiety?
What about the sleep cycle?
Do you feel fresh after sleep?
Do these symptoms (thoughts) keep comming to your head throughout the day?
Do you feel obbsessed by these thoughts?
Pain level on a scale of 1 to 10?
How does this pain respond to antacid and proton pump inhibitors?
Please respond to the questions above and let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
I understand doctor but this has been occurring for months/years now...could gastritis last that long without any tests diagnosing it?
I've been told that I might have a subconscious anxiety.
My sleep cycle is off; I'll wake in the middle of the night at times, not usually due to pain, and I find it hard to fall back asleep.
I do feel refreshed after a decent-length sleep.
Yes, I am worried about these symptoms quite often because I do not have an answer; it could be cancer for all I know and I have no answer.
Pain at its worst is around a 5; daily, the nausea is around a 2/3 (it's not usually painful, just cramping).
Proton pump inhibitors have had no effect; I've been taking Bentyl which seems to help quite a bit but it's not treating the underlying problem.
I've been told that I might have a subconscious anxiety.
My sleep cycle is off; I'll wake in the middle of the night at times, not usually due to pain, and I find it hard to fall back asleep.
I do feel refreshed after a decent-length sleep.
Yes, I am worried about these symptoms quite often because I do not have an answer; it could be cancer for all I know and I have no answer.
Pain at its worst is around a 5; daily, the nausea is around a 2/3 (it's not usually painful, just cramping).
Proton pump inhibitors have had no effect; I've been taking Bentyl which seems to help quite a bit but it's not treating the underlying problem.
Brief Answer:
Treat the root cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Until and unless its pangastritis(involving all three layers of muscles of the stomach) it can be missed some patients can have swelling in the middle or innermost lining of the epithelium.
Dear patient all these things are interconnected.
For e.g., if you have anxiety ...it would stimulate your nerves...they would stimulate the nerves this would lead to the secretion of acid by oxyntic cells. Now you can name it as gastritis or anxiety induced acid peptic disorder.
So taking acid inhibitor won't help because your brain via nerves is continuously stimulating your stomach to secrete acid.
I would suggest you take an SSRI like Paroxetine. It would calm your mind along with anti-anxiety like clonazepam.
You would get a prescription of this from a pyschiatrist.
Along with it take a proton pump inhibitor.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Treat the root cause.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Until and unless its pangastritis(involving all three layers of muscles of the stomach) it can be missed some patients can have swelling in the middle or innermost lining of the epithelium.
Dear patient all these things are interconnected.
For e.g., if you have anxiety ...it would stimulate your nerves...they would stimulate the nerves this would lead to the secretion of acid by oxyntic cells. Now you can name it as gastritis or anxiety induced acid peptic disorder.
So taking acid inhibitor won't help because your brain via nerves is continuously stimulating your stomach to secrete acid.
I would suggest you take an SSRI like Paroxetine. It would calm your mind along with anti-anxiety like clonazepam.
You would get a prescription of this from a pyschiatrist.
Along with it take a proton pump inhibitor.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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