Thoracic back and silent reflux (LPR)!?

Hello. I suffered from a thoracic back injury at the end of last year. Started seeing Chiropractors, but saw no relief for a quite a while. I had mris of my spine, but revealed nothing serious even though I was in extreme pain. So, after a while of Chiropractic treatments and changing Chiros, I noticed my mid back pain reduced considerably. But, at the same time, I started experiencing symptoms of what I think is silent reflux (LPR). Now, I know doctors say that there is no connection between the two, but that is not what my body is telling me. I think that the two are definitely connected to each other. I never had any digestion problems in my life till now. Also, I know a few of you will say it could be the anxiety or stress from suffering thoracic pain, but a key point is that only when the pain in my mid-back reduced did I start getting digestion problems. Almost as if the pain switched. I am thinking it might be related to the nerves or something. So, I was wondering if anyone here has experienced a similar situation. Also, if people suffering from these two individually could chime in and share your knowledge. Also, it is important to note that I suffered from thoracic back injury before suffering from silent reflux, if that is what it is, not the other way around.

Hi 

I have terrible thoracic back pain on and off and currently indigestion, not burning tummy just bloating, burping, nausea currently getting tested for H Pylori,  I noticed antacids made it got but stopped a couple of days ago and it’s back,  I do have terrible posture and shoulder tendinitis with big lumps of calcium in.  I noticed my back pain came on two months ago walking around London for miles it comes on when I walk a lot.  I did get told I have beginnings of a stoop so maybe it’s that.  Plus when I sit in my chair I slouch.  Hope that helps.

Hi Robin I am stuffing bad thoracic pain for past few weeks, I do have a hernia and from it acid reflux, you definitely can get thoracic pain from reflux, it all started with me last April and the first sign I got of it was thoracic pain really severe, I went to gp who insisted on endoscopy, all fingers tg except for showing up hernia and slight inflammation, the pain lasted four months almost daily even though I was on ppi v twice a day, nearly went insane, now it's back again, I feel I really need another endoscopy but can't get my doc to order one, I'm worried sick, have stomach pain and nausea too. I would strongly advise you to get an endoscopy it's your only peace of mind. Hope you feel better soon.

 As far as I know their is no connection.  Now, it could be stress that created  this problem because we all know it is connected.  You say is not, but is not like you are going to get reflux with the pain, is more like with all this time of stress (pain) reflux slowly kicked in (the same applies with anxiety) Plus, with all the pain you did not even noticed the reflux was coming and now that the pain is much less is easier to detect. Btw, congratulations on getting better from the back pain. How many therapies you took before you felt better? 

I do think a lot of mine is stress induced.  I aren’t sure if there’s a connection or what connection, either not eating enough, not eating the right things,  I recall in summer eating strawberries then having relux.  I’ve had a lot of grief to recover from the last year and a half and have been dealing with anxiety and depression as well ensuing from the grief, I never had IBS before in my life until last summer.  It’s just hard getting to the bottom of the cause when there seems to be a few things causing it.

Hi Sue,

I know what you mean, its hard to know what the actual cause is,

Im in my mid fifties and I also have been told for the first time

ever that I too have developed IBS along with reflux.

Id give anything to go back to when I felt normal,

today Im putting up with pain in my stomach which

just came out of no where, I am so sorry to know

that you are suffering from grief, it can be a very lonely place.

Your mentioned strawberries, I was going along fine until

I went away on a break for a week, I felt fine for ages up to

that and now that I recall I had a few deserts with strawberies,

still its hard to know if that was a trigger for my symptoms of

the past 6 weeks. Im totally fed up with the whole thing.

Hope you feel well soon.

Thanks Kate.  The tummy pain I’ve had the last week sometimes before a calling to the loo the pain probably same as you is very sharp only maybe once a day I think it’s IBS that it seems to come from the colon.  I’m same age I swear oestrogen loss had something to do with all our problems.  I aren’t sure if grapes cause anything but I look back and have been having those.  X

Hi Sue,

I thought I was out of worst part of menopause but lately I have my doubts again, my GP feels a lot of whats going on with me is due to menopause, he wants me to go on hurt but I'm scared because my mam died of breast cancer, it's tempting though because he says it would make me feel like a new woman

Sorry about miss spelling, I meant hrt

Me too Kate I aren’t on it, too scared same as you.  They say it has no bad reviews one day then they say it does.  I can understand how you feel with your Mam sorry about your Mam.  

Hope we can stay in touch Sue, it's comforting to have someone to chat to who understands what it's like

The pain in that region goes hand in hand with reflux as your duodenum and esophagus are in the thoracic region.. 

i started with mild reflux, upper abdomen pain and gagging, now i have back shoulder and chest pain and tightness.. aswell as breathing difficulties, have had a full heart and lung check which is normal, so the dr presumes it is all on the reflux and the stress and anxiety it causes.

I feel you message on here I’ll see it or message me, yes it is nice instead of just jollying on hiding it wink

The oesophagus lies close to your spine behind the heart and lungs so back pain as a result of reflux is not uncommon. As your back injury came first it could have affected your oesophagus perhaps?

Hi robin

i just thought I would mention I was seen by a dr yesterday and he referred me for full stomach scan and to gastroenterologist.  He said maybe my gallbladder was to blame as I have back ache as well.  Very worried if I’m honest.  I felt sick all yesterday and so was lucky to be seen at short notice.  God knows how long the wait to see the consultant will be though.  Have they mentioned gall bladder to you?