Can Spinal Problems Cause Abdominal Pain?

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Chronic abdominal pain is common in SCI individuals with long-term injury, is often severe and is among the most common problems that impair the quality of life in those with gastrointestinal problems.

Can degenerative disc disease cause digestive problems?

It is more common to have these ruptured discs in the low back where they also can cause trouble with the bowels (constipation or loss of control) or the bladder (inability to urinate or to control the urination).

Can spinal stenosis cause lower abdominal pain?

This puts pressure on nerves and the spinal cord, causing pain in the back and lower body. The condition may also affect the stomach and urinary system.

What spinal nerves affect the stomach?

The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that wanders from the base of the brain parallel to the spinal cord to stimulate digestion in the liver, stomach, and intestines.

Can spine problems cause stomach issues?

Issues in the lower spine and sacrum can lead to symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or bladder malfunction. This occurs because the lower spine includes sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves that connect directly to the digestive system, so interference directly affects these processes.

Can back problems affect your stomach?

Any damage to the spine, especially in the lumbar spine area, can cause faulty signals that make your body feel discomfort in the gut area.

Will I end up in a wheelchair with spinal stenosis?

The symptoms are often so gradual, that patients seek medical attention very late in the course of this condition. Patients may be so disabled and weak that they require the use of a wheelchair for mobility. In rare instances, severe spinal stenosis can cause paraplegia and/or bowel/bladder incontinence.

What does abdominal nerve pain feel like?

The acute pain is described as localized, dull, or burning, with a sharp component (usually on one side) radiating horizontally in the upper half of the abdomen and obliquely downward in the lower abdomen. The pain may radiate when the patient twists, bends, or sits up.

What causes lower abdominal pain that radiates to the back?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that may occur due to a blockage or an infection. It typically causes intense pain in the right side of the abdomen. This pain can also radiate to the right side of the back.

What kind of pain does degenerative disc disease cause?

Generally, people with degenerative disc disease have chronic back or neck pain. Sometimes, though, pain will flare up—that’s called an acute episode. The main symptom, though, is pain, so you should pay attention to it and what makes it better or worse.

Can you become paralyzed from degenerative disc disease?

If the disc herniates in the direction of the spinal cord or nerve root, it can cause neurologic compromise. Disc herniations in the cervical spine can be serious. If significant enough, they can cause paralysis of both the upper and lower extremities, though this is extremely rare.

What is the maximum disability rating for degenerative disc disease?

VA Disability Rating for Degenerative Disc Disease

The VA rating for degenerative disc disease typically is 20%, despite how much pain the condition may cause.

Can back pain radiate to the abdomen?

A wide range of back injuries, ranging from minor muscle sprains and strains to more serious injuries such as herniated discs, can cause back pain. Sometimes the pain from a herniated disc radiates to other areas of the body, including the abdomen, and can create unusual sensations, such as bloating.

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Can back pain be referred to abdomen?

Common causes of back pain involve disease or injury to the muscles, bones, and/or nerves of the spine. Pain arising from abnormalities of organs within the abdomen, pelvis, or chest may also be felt in the back. This is called referred pain.

Can a trapped nerve cause abdominal pain?

There are several nerves attached to the abdominal wall, muscles, and organs which provide motor and sensory function. If one of these nerves become pinched, you may experience: Persistent radiating pain in the abdominal region. Pain that feels like it moves from the front to back of the abdomen.

How do I get rid of nerve pain in my stomach?

Local injection with an anesthetic and a corticosteroid is an effective treatment for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, with an overall response rate of 70% to 99%. For refractory cases that require more than two injections, surgical neurectomy generally resolves the pain.

What nerves can cause abdominal pain?

Four major nerves are largely responsible for these actions, including the thoraco-abdominal (T7-T11), subcostal (T12), iliohypogastric (T12-L1), and ilioinguinal (L1) nerves. Abdominal wall pain can involve injury of any one of these nerves on the right or left side.

Can a trapped nerve affect your whole body?

While a nerve may be pinched in a specific place and cause symptoms there, it also has the potential to send pain signals to other areas of the body. Pinched nerves can really happen anywhere, but they most commonly occur in the spine. And the pain from pinched nerves in the spine can travel throughout the body.

Will spinal stenosis cripple you?

Cervical spinal stenosis causes pain in the neck area and is caused by the constriction of the spinal cord. This is a more severe and a major concern as cervical stenosis can lead to extreme weakness causing paralysis.

Does spinal stenosis hurt all the time?

Key Considerations with Surgery for Lumbar Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is generally not progressive. The pain tends to come and go, but it usually does not progress with time. The natural history with spinal stenosis, in the majority of patients, is that of episodic periods of pain and dysfunction.

What type of pain does spinal stenosis cause?

Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spaces in your spine, can compress your spinal cord and nerve roots exiting each vertebrae. Age-related changes in your spine is a common cause. Symptoms include back and/or neck pain, and numbness, tingling and weakness in your arms and legs.

What does it mean when my stomach and back hurts?

If your abdominal bloating and back pain persist, make an appointment with your doctor. You may need medical attention if your symptoms are caused by infection or other severe or chronic illness. These conditions may include: ascites, fluid buildup in the abdomen.

What does it mean when your upper stomach and back hurts?

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs suddenly and causes pain in the upper abdominal (or epigastric) region. The pain often radiates to your back. AP can also involve other organs.

What causes lower abdominal pain and back pain in females?

Lower back pain is a common symptom of PMS, a condition most women experience during menstruation. However, severe lower back pain may be a symptom of conditions like PMDD and dysmenorrhea. It may also be a symptom of a more serious condition called endometriosis.

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