5 Possible Reasons Why You Feel Pain After Eating

pain after eating

You wouldn’t think that eating could cause pain – in your back, for instance. You know (more or less) where the food you ate five minutes ago is now, and it’s not back there. So why would you feel back pain after eating?

There are a lot of possible reasons for pain. So bring in your medical team to help you figure it out. Especially if symptoms don’t go away, or keep returning, or you develop new ones, see your doctor. And get to Emergency Care if you develop more serious symptoms.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease that can be difficult to diagnose. One possible symptom of Crohn’s is abdominal pain that generally starts within an hour of eating. You may feel it on the right side of your lower abdomen or near your navel.

Heart Attack

Check it out at Emergency Care. It probably isn’t a heart attack, but don’t risk not knowing. An unusually heavy meal can increase the risk of a heart attack by four times within two hours.

Typical symptoms include chest pain, nausea, sweating, or pain in the arm, jaw, or neck. The atypical symptoms experienced more often by women include back pain or pressure, abdominal pain, or shortness of breath.

Gallbladder Problems

Gallbladder problems can cause severe pain after eating a fatty meal. The gallbladder produces bile to help your system process fat. And when it becomes inflamed, eating fat can trigger a very painful attack, usually felt in your upper abdomen or your back.

Kidney Infection

A kidney infection can cause abdominal or back pain, as well as difficulty urinating, fever, chills, and nausea, sometimes more severe after eating. See your doctor.

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Pain after eating may be a symptom of your body’s reaction to a particular food. One way to find out, with your doctor’s help, is to try eliminating foods you suspect.


There are a lot of reasons why you might feel pain after eating. Your medical team is the best place to find the answer.