Your "Bad Back" Could Be Pancreatitis

Hi Friends,

Dr. Storage here.

You finish a burger and a couple of beers. A little later, a deep pain starts in your upper belly and bores through to your back.

Most of us would blame indigestion or a strained back and move on.

It may be acute pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Digestive enzymes switch on while still inside the organ and begin irritating it.

Why You Should Read This

• Acute pancreatitis accounts for more than 270,000 admissions a year
• Gallstones cause 40 to 70% of cases, and many people don't know they have them

How It Feels

• Sudden, steady upper belly pain that radiates to the back
• Pain that can start or worsen after a meal, especially a fatty one
• Nausea and vomiting
• Some relief when sitting up and leaning forward

This pain is intense and doesn't ease up on its own. Severe belly pain that won't let up, especially with vomiting or fever, needs same-day medical care.

How to Lower Your Risk

• Take gallbladder pain seriously. Pain in the upper right belly after fatty meals can signal gallstones. An abdominal ultrasound can confirm them, and your healthcare provider can advise whether removal makes sense.
• Check your triglycerides. They're part of a standard cholesterol panel, and levels above 1,000 mg/dL raise pancreatitis risk significantly.
• Keep alcohol moderate. Heavy and binge-style drinking, common over long weekends and holidays, is a leading cause.
• Skip smoking. It raises risk on its own and adds to the effect of alcohol.
• Flag new medications. If upper belly pain starts after a new prescription, bring it up with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

About 8 in 10 cases are mild, but the pain has a pattern worth recognizing before it sends you to the ER.

Talk soon,
Dr. Storage