Yes, heartburn can sometimes cause upper back pain. This is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and causes irritation or inflammation. Factors that may increase your risk of experiencing heartburn-related upper back pain include eating certain foods or beverages, smoking, drinking alcohol, and being overweight. To reduce your risk of heartburn-related upper back pain, it is important to make lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and limiting your alcohol and tobacco intake.