Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesConnectionSymptomsTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Connection

Symptoms

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a condition that affects thedigestive system, which is responsible for breaking down and absorbing food. While the most commonsymptomsare abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation, anddiarrhea, some people with IBS also report havingback pain.

Experts believe this could be due to intestinal discomfort or what’s known as “referred pain,” in which thebrainaccidentally signals IBS pain to be felt in a different area of the body. Fortunately, treatment options are available once a healthcare provider confirms the underlying cause.

This article explores the potential causes of IBS back pain and when you should consider seeking treatment.

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Woman with side back pain sitting on bed at home - stock photo

What Causes IBS Pain?

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of IBS. This pain is usually felt near the intestines, but there’s no physical harm to your organs. WhileIBS painis very real, it’s not due to obvious, physical damage in the body.

Researchers are still figuring out exactly what causes IBS and the pain associated with it. It likely involves one or more of the following factors:

The Brain’s Role

In addition to abdominal-related symptoms, research shows that people with IBS are likely to feel pain in other parts of the body.As many as 81% of people with IBS may also experience back pain.

RecapBack pain is a common complaint among IBS patients, though the underlying cause may differ. Experts believe it could be due to physical symptoms like gas or bloating, referred pain, or unknowingly having another health condition at the same time.

Recap

Back pain is a common complaint among IBS patients, though the underlying cause may differ. Experts believe it could be due to physical symptoms like gas or bloating, referred pain, or unknowingly having another health condition at the same time.

The key symptom of IBS is pain or discomfort in the abdomen. But other symptoms that do not involve the abdomen can also occur, like back pain.

Additional related symptoms include:

It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider about any new or worsening symptoms that come with your IBS. If IBS pain becomes severe or involves bleeding, vomiting, or breathing problems, seek immediate medical care.

Tracking Symptoms

Treatment for IBS Back Pain

Before starting any treatment plans for IBS back pain, your healthcare provider will first try to confirm the underlying cause. Questions they may work to find answers to include:

From there, they may recommend one or more of the followingtreatment options for IBS back pain:

RecapIt’s wise to speak to a healthcare provider to discuss back pain treatment options and rule out other conditions as the cause. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for back pain that are safe for people with IBS. Managing your IBS well may also ease back pain.

It’s wise to speak to a healthcare provider to discuss back pain treatment options and rule out other conditions as the cause. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for back pain that are safe for people with IBS. Managing your IBS well may also ease back pain.

Summary

People with IBS commonly experience pain in other parts of the body, including the back. Experts think this may be due to the physical sensations of IBS, having another painful condition, or referred pain (pain felt in another part of the body away from the actual source). A healthcare provider can help determine the source of the pain and recommend an individualized treatment plan to manage the pain.

A Word From Verywell

For the millions of people who have IBS, living with the condition can be physically, emotionally, and socially challenging. Adding back pain into the mix can make the situation even more frustrating. Remember that stress is a common trigger for IBS symptoms, so getting to the root of your pain and treating it will help. Don’t hesitate to bring up any new or changing IBS symptoms, like back pain, to your healthcare provider.

Learn MoreIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Migraine

It depends on the underlying cause of your back pain. When pain is chronic, it can take time (weeks or months) to go away. The upside is that taking good care of your IBS symptoms may help relieve your back pain. If it’s due to another underlying cause, there are treatment options available that can help speed up recovery.

First, check with a healthcare provider to rule out any other causes of your back pain, which may require different care. If it’s determined that your back pain is linked to IBS, treatment options such as physical activity, pain-relieving medications, alternative therapies, and diet adjustments may be recommended.Learn More10 Things to Stop Doing When You Have IBS

First, check with a healthcare provider to rule out any other causes of your back pain, which may require different care. If it’s determined that your back pain is linked to IBS, treatment options such as physical activity, pain-relieving medications, alternative therapies, and diet adjustments may be recommended.

Learn More10 Things to Stop Doing When You Have IBS

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Understanding and managing pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Kindler LL, Bennett RM, Jones KD.Central sensitivity syndromes: mounting pathophysiologic evidence to link fibromyalgia with other common chronic pain disorders.Pain Manag Nurs. 2011;12(1):15–24. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2009.10.003Ballou S, Bedell A, Keefer L.Psychosocial impact of irritable bowel syndrome: A brief review.World J Gastrointest Pathopsyiol. 2015;6(4):120-123. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v6.i4.120MacLean EW, Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Whitehead WE.Development and validation of new disease-specific measures of somatization and comorbidity in IBS.J Psychosom Res. 2012;73(5). doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.08.007Whorwell PJ.Back pain and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol. 2004;127(5):1648-1649. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2004.09.071International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.IBS symptoms.Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL.Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review.BMC Musculoskelet Disord.2012;13:169. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-169

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Understanding and managing pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Kindler LL, Bennett RM, Jones KD.Central sensitivity syndromes: mounting pathophysiologic evidence to link fibromyalgia with other common chronic pain disorders.Pain Manag Nurs. 2011;12(1):15–24. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2009.10.003Ballou S, Bedell A, Keefer L.Psychosocial impact of irritable bowel syndrome: A brief review.World J Gastrointest Pathopsyiol. 2015;6(4):120-123. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v6.i4.120MacLean EW, Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Whitehead WE.Development and validation of new disease-specific measures of somatization and comorbidity in IBS.J Psychosom Res. 2012;73(5). doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.08.007Whorwell PJ.Back pain and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol. 2004;127(5):1648-1649. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2004.09.071International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.IBS symptoms.Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL.Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review.BMC Musculoskelet Disord.2012;13:169. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-169

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Understanding and managing pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Kindler LL, Bennett RM, Jones KD.Central sensitivity syndromes: mounting pathophysiologic evidence to link fibromyalgia with other common chronic pain disorders.Pain Manag Nurs. 2011;12(1):15–24. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2009.10.003Ballou S, Bedell A, Keefer L.Psychosocial impact of irritable bowel syndrome: A brief review.World J Gastrointest Pathopsyiol. 2015;6(4):120-123. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v6.i4.120MacLean EW, Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Whitehead WE.Development and validation of new disease-specific measures of somatization and comorbidity in IBS.J Psychosom Res. 2012;73(5). doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.08.007Whorwell PJ.Back pain and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol. 2004;127(5):1648-1649. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2004.09.071International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.IBS symptoms.Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL.Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review.BMC Musculoskelet Disord.2012;13:169. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-169

Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(22):6759-73. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Understanding and managing pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Kindler LL, Bennett RM, Jones KD.Central sensitivity syndromes: mounting pathophysiologic evidence to link fibromyalgia with other common chronic pain disorders.Pain Manag Nurs. 2011;12(1):15–24. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2009.10.003

Ballou S, Bedell A, Keefer L.Psychosocial impact of irritable bowel syndrome: A brief review.World J Gastrointest Pathopsyiol. 2015;6(4):120-123. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v6.i4.120

MacLean EW, Palsson OS, Turner MJ, Whitehead WE.Development and validation of new disease-specific measures of somatization and comorbidity in IBS.J Psychosom Res. 2012;73(5). doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.08.007

Whorwell PJ.Back pain and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol. 2004;127(5):1648-1649. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2004.09.071

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.IBS symptoms.

Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL.Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review.BMC Musculoskelet Disord.2012;13:169. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-169

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