Numerous conditions can cause both abdominal and back pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, abdominal pain manifests anywhere between a person's chest and groin. However, pain that originates in one of the abdomen's organs or structures may radiate to the lower back, too, causing lower back pain or discomfort. The NIH states that there are many possible sources of pain in the abdomen.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
An abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause abdominal pain and low back pain. According to the Cleveland Clinic--one of the top four hospitals in the United States--an abdominal aortic aneurysm is the distension or enlargement of the aorta, the principle artery carrying blood from the heart to the body's tissues and organs, where the aorta bifurcates or divides into two separate arteries in the lower abdomen. The Cleveland Clinic states that common signs or symptoms associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm include prolonged pain in the abdomen, back or groin that's unrelieved by a change in posture and the presence of a pulsating or tender mass in the abdomen that's detected by a physician during a physical examination. Numerous factors predispose a person to abdominal aortic aneurysms, including: atherosclerosis, hypertension or elevated blood pressure, diabetes, injury, infection, Marfan's syndrome and heredity.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can cause abdominal pain and lower back pain. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidneys Diseases--a division of the National Institutes of Health--states that kidney stones are one of the most painful urologic conditions and that every year over 500,000 Americans visit the emergency room for kidney stone problems. According to the NIDDK, most kidney stones do not provoke any symptoms, although if a person does experience symptoms, extreme pain is often the first indication of problems. Pain manifests when a kidney stone enters the urinary tract and obstructs urine flow. The classic pain pattern involves cramping pain in the lower back and flank region, along with pain in the lower abdomen. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the lower back and abdominal pain. The NIDDK notes that if a person has a fever and chills that accompany the pain, he may have an infection, and he should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain and back pain. According to the Mayo Clinic website, the pancreas is a long, flat gland in the upper abdomen, and pancreatitis is the medical term for inflammation in the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for generating enzymes that assist digestion and hormones that control the way a person's body manages sugar or glucose. The Mayo Clinic website states that pancreatitis can be either acute or chronic, and that mild types of pancreatitis often self-resolve. Severe cases of pancreatitis, however, can endanger a person's life. Common signs and symptoms associated with acute pancreatitis include the following: upper abdominal pain, abdominal pain that radiates to the back, abdominal pain that's made worse by eating, abdominal pain that's made better by bending forward or curling up in a fetal position, nausea, vomiting and an abdomen that's tender to the touch. Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by upper abdominal pain, indigestion, unexplained weight loss and oily stools.
