Can A Bulging Disc Cause Stomach Problems? Answered
Dr Deuk
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Can A Bulging Disc Cause Stomach Problems?
“Can a bulging disc cause stomach problems?" is a question patients ask when they experience unexplained abdominal discomfort alongside spinal issues.
In this article, we’ll explore how spinal problems can contribute to pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. We’ll examine the complex interplay between the spine and nervous system, outline common spinal disorders, and delve into how and why they may lead to symptoms mistaken for digestive issues.
To finish, we will review the most advanced treatment options available at institutions like Deuk Spine Institute.
Can Spinal Problems Cause Stomach Issues?
While the spine does not directly govern digestion, it does house nerves that influence various body systems, including those connected to the abdomen. Specifically, the thoracic spine (T6 to T12) contains nerve roots that extend toward the abdominal wall and rib cage.
If there is a disc injury in this region, some people may experience referred pain that radiates around the ribs or into the upper abdominal area.
It's important to clarify that a bulging or herniated disc does not cause stomach problems in the way gastrointestinal disorders like gastritis or ulcers do. Instead, what patients often perceive as stomach pain may be misinterpreted as discogenic or radicular pain originating from the thoracic spine.
This type of referred pain, though uncommon, can complicate diagnosis.
Common Spinal Problems
Based on our observations, there are several spinal conditions that may produce pain in regions overlapping with abdominal structures. These include:
- Bulging Discs: These occur when the outer layer of the disc (annulus fibrosus) protrudes outward but remains intact. This can place pressure on surrounding nerves, especially in the thoracic region.
- Herniated Discs: More severe than a bulge, herniated discs involve a rupture where the nucleus pulposus escapes the annular tear, triggering inflammation and nerve irritation. Some patients with lumbar disc injuries even report herniated disc groin pain.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: This gradual breakdown of the disc structure often follows trauma and includes both bulging and herniated discs as stages of progression.
- Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spaces in the spine that can lead to nerve compression.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Traumatic events to the spine can disrupt autonomic and somatic nerve pathways, occasionally leading to systemic effects.
Why Spinal Issues Might Cause Stomach Symptoms
Our findings show that the thoracic spinal nerves are connected to specific areas of the skin and soft tissue that wrap around the trunk.
When one of these nerves is irritated or inflamed, it can produce sensations of tightness, aching, or discomfort in areas like the ribs or upper belly. Although less common, an L5-S1 disc herniation abdominal pain correlation may occur due to complex nerve interactions.
This is misread as a digestive problem when, in fact, it's a spinal nerve symptom.
Pain in the thoracic spine is often inflammatory in nature, stemming from a disc injury or facet joint damage. This inflammation may irritate nearby nerves that follow a path toward the abdominal area.
While GI evaluations may come back normal, thoracic MRI and a specialized physical exam can reveal the spinal source of symptoms.
Treatment And Management
The most effective way to manage these symptoms is by directly addressing the root spinal condition. Here are some of the options available.
Ineffectiveness Of Conservative Care
Physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and pain medications are commonly recommended first-line treatments. However, these options do not address discogenic pain or repair annular tears, the true source of most spinal discomfort.
Injections may provide temporary relief but have known risks, including infection, systemic side effects, and recurrence of symptoms once the medication wears off. These methods fail to resolve the structural damage inside the disc.
The Deuk Spine Institute Approach
Deuk Spine Institute offers Deuk Laser Disc Repair®, a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that permanently eliminates thoracic disc pain. Using a 4 mm incision, an endoscopic camera and laser are guided precisely into the damaged disc.
The laser debrides inflamed tissue and removes the herniated or protruding nucleus pulposus, allowing the disc to heal naturally.
This method has several advantages:
- Permanent pain elimination
- No damage to bone, ligament, or muscle
- No metal implants, fusion, or hospital stay required
- Recovery within 1 hour, with most patients walking pain-free the same day
Spinal Cord Injuries
For patients facing advanced disc degeneration threatening the spinal cord, Deuk Laser Disc Repair is the way to go.
By precisely targeting and removing damaged disc tissue without harming surrounding nerves or muscles, it can relieve dangerous compression before it escalates into permanent spinal cord dysfunction.
Herniated Discs
Deuk Laser Disc Repair provides an innovative solution by directly removing inflamed disc material while sparing healthy tissue.
Unlike conventional spinal surgeries, this approach eliminates discogenic pain at its source, drastically reducing recovery time and avoiding the risks associated with large incisions and fusion procedures. Patients regain mobility faster, with less disruption to autonomic functions like digestion.
Bulging Disc
A bulging thoracic disc represents an earlier, milder stage of disc injury where pressure on adjacent nerves can mimic symptoms of indigestion or upper abdominal discomfort.
Although symptoms may be subtle or intermittent, untreated bulging discs can gradually worsen, leading to more serious nerve compression over time.
Our intervention can correct the issue without the need for fusion or hardware. This preemptive approach not only resolves current symptoms but also prevents progression toward more debilitating conditions.
When To Seek Help From A Doctor
Our findings show that ff you experience persistent abdominal symptoms that don’t respond to GI treatments, it may be time to consider a spinal origin. In such cases, consider scheduling an MRI review and virtual consultation with Deuk Spine Institute.
How Long Before A Bulging Disc Injury Causes Stomach Problems?
It’s worth reiterating that these are not stomach problems per se, but referred pain or neurological irritation that may be perceived as digestive discomfort. This confusion often delays proper spinal diagnosis, as both patients and clinicians may first explore dietary, bacterial, or organ-based causes.
Once spinal involvement is suspected, rapid intervention can drastically improve outcomes. Deuk Spine’s treatment protocols aim to:
- Accurately identify the source of pain (disc vs. facet vs. nerve).
- Eliminate inflammation and nerve irritation at its root.
- Restore normal function without damaging the spine.
Conclusion
Spinal problems can occasionally produce symptoms that mimic stomach problems. These sensations are caused by nerve irritation or inflammation, not by direct impact on digestive organs. For this reason, spine-related causes are frequently overlooked in patients with unexplained upper abdominal pain.
If you’ve been through GI testing and still lack answers, it’s time to consider whether your spine may be the hidden culprit. To find out if your pain might originate from the spine, submit your free MRI review at Deuk Spine Institute.
If you want to learn more, why not check out these articles below:
- Herniated Disc Hip Pain