Pain in the left side of the lower back is a virtually inevitable occurrence in each of us. Almost 60% of the adult population at one time or another in life experience them (by the way, left-sided pain is much more common than right-sided). The range of causes that cause this pain is very wide, so self-diagnosis in such cases is very risky, and the most reasonable way is to see a doctor.
How is lower back pain manifested?
The aforementioned problem manifests itself in a variety of ways - it can be a dull pain in the left side, and a constant aching, alternating with periods of active growth.
It can move down to the thigh and give to the leg. Some during an attack note numbness and a feeling of coldness in the leg, while others, on the contrary, describe hot flashes. In some cases, pain can be given to the shoulder blade and even affect the neck and arm.
The causes of lower back pain are not always clear.
The cause, which can cause pain in the left side behind the lower back, may be hypothermia and serious pathologies of internal organs. And patients, by the way, are sometimes disappointed that it is rather difficult to clearly determine its nature, despite x-rays, blood tests and even more advanced imaging - CT or MRI.
In such cases it is not necessary to fall into despair, just the reality is that back pain often has a whole range of causes.
Muscles of the lower back
A group of muscles and ligaments along the entire length of the spine supports him and promotes movement. Any injuries in them or severe stress can subsequently cause, including pain in the left side, behind in the lower back.
This can occur as a result of a fall, or with excessive bending or twisting at the time of playing sports or lifting heavy objects. Obesity and poor fitness also play a sad role in this.
At the same time, many patients complain of pain in any movement, and this condition worsens with coughing, laughing and sneezing. The doctor in such cases, as a rule, prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs that can provide a reduction in pain.
If relief is not observed, or after a time the symptoms return, the patient is prescribed a visit to physiotherapeutic procedures that can support the main treatment.
Intervertebral hernia and sciatica
Constant pain in the left side in the back can be caused by the presence of an intervertebral hernia.
Intervertebral discs are structures that provide cushioning between the bones of our spine. Over time, they wear out, the bulges on them wear out, and in some cases even rupture of the intervertebral disc occurs. When this happens, the gelatinous nucleus is forced out of its normal position, resulting in a hernia. It compresses the adjacent nerve and, as a result, causes severe pain.
If the disk in the lower back compresses the sciatic nerve, then a condition occurs that in medicine is defined as lumbosacral radiculitis (sciatica). The pain in this disease is usually acute, sharp. She gives to the gluteal region, the back of the thigh, down to the popliteal part of the leg, causing numbness of the limb. Most often it is a strong one-sided pain in which the patient cannot stand.
How the pain in the left side is removed from behind with an intervertebral hernia
Treatment of a hernia of the intervertebral disc is reduced to the use of physiotherapy, special massage, acupuncture courses, as well as pain medications. If a person already has numbness in the limb, then treatment may include injections of corticosteroids.
The main goal of therapy in cases such as pain in the left side behind, which prevents the patient from returning to normal, is to improve blood supply and reduce the inflammatory process in the hernia.
Surgical intervention is required only in cases where conservative treatment does not give the expected results.
Intercostal neuralgia and heart disease
There are several other causes of pain in the left side. The ribs and the area below them become painful in case of cardiac pathologies, manifest as angina pectoris, aortic aneurysm or pericarditis.
And with the appearance of intercostal neuralgia, the patient experiences not only acute piercing pain that does not pass day or night, but also increased sweating, as well as redness of the skin. Any sudden movement, deep breath, sneezing or coughing causes an increase in pain.
This condition is caused by spinal problems (including intervertebral hernia), injuries, intoxication of the body and various pathologies of the endocrine system. Neuralgia is treated depending on what caused it, and the main therapy is reduced to strict bed rest and the use of pain medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, which relieve muscle spasm, are usually added to them.
Renal infection
Pain in the left side behind the lower back can also be caused by a kidney infection called pyelonephritis. In most cases, it is a complication of infectious diseases of the bladder. But sometimes the kidneys become infected and bypass the bladder.
Regardless of how the infection occurred, the complex of symptoms accompanying pyelonephritis is the same. In addition to lower back pain, it can be:
- fever, chills;
- malaise;
- vomiting;
- painful and rapid urination;
- a change in the composition of urine (it becomes cloudy, has a pungent odor, blood cells appear in it).
Renal infection requires a mandatory visit to a specialist. The treatment is mainly carried out with antibiotics, hospitalization is required only in severe cases of the disease.
Sometimes (very rarely) pyelonephritis becomes chronic, which is usually the result of an underlying disease or anatomical pathology of the urinary tract. In this case, a consultation with the surgeon is also necessary.
Pain in the left side: kidneys
Kidney stones can also lead to excruciating pain in the lower back, radiating to the lower abdomen and groin. A feeling of constant urge to urinate, which is common for those who suffer from this disease, nausea, flatulence and the urge to vomit, joins it. In the urine, as a rule, blood appears, caused by trauma to the mucous stone moving in the passages of the urinary tract.
Most often, the aforementioned pathology is accompanied by a dull pain in the left side, which if the stone clogs the ureter or renal pelvis, may intensify, up to the state of renal colic. Therefore, analgesia in the treatment of kidney stones is a priority. Often this requires a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic painkillers.
With small stones, the patient is advised to follow a diet and drink plenty of water, which can help them get out of the kidneys, at the same time preventing the formation of new ones. Large stones do not come out on their own. In this case, medical procedures are designed to help them leave the kidneys.
A specialist doctor (urologist) will determine the appropriate course of treatment. This may be taking drugs that dissolve the stones, and removing them through the urethra using sound waves (lithotripsy). In severe cases, open surgery is used.
Spinal stenosis
Pain in the lower back also occurs when the spinal canal begins to narrow and thus impinges on the spinal cord. This process occurs mainly in the elderly and is the result of a benign fat formation (lipoma), intervertebral hernia, epiduritis (inflammation of the spinal membranes) or ankylosing spondylitis (deposits in the ligaments of calcium salts).
Common symptoms include pain in the left side behind the lower back, numbness of the extremities, general weakness, and lameness due to pain radiating to the calf. In severe cases, disorders of the bladder and intestines join them (it is difficult for the patient to control the process of bowel movement).
The main treatment for stenosis is similar to therapeutic actions for infringement of an intervertebral hernia. Anesthesia can be achieved using non-steroidal drugs, along with which muscle relaxants and antidepressants are used. And physiotherapy procedures help maintain strength and mobility in the spine.
In case of failure of conventional pain medications, patients are prescribed steroid injections that can provide long-term relief for many, but sometimes, when the condition can lead to disability, surgical intervention is required. The surgical procedure in such cases is aimed at removing the pressure exerted on the spinal cord.
Other possible causes of pain: colitis
The pain in the lower left side is caused by many reasons, and only a doctor can find the best way to detect them. It can be: ovarian cysts, fibroids and various tumors, as well as gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer or inflammation of the pancreas.
For example, if a patient has had an intestinal infection, then he may have inflammation of the large intestine called colitis. Its main symptoms are:
- aching pain at the bottom of the left side;
- weakness;
- false desires for defecation
- rumbling in the stomach and flatulence;
- upset stool with blood or mucous discharge in the feces.
The treatment of colitis involves following a special diet and drug therapy. Infectious colitis requires antibacterial and painkillers, and in severe cases, bed rest.
In which cases it is urgent to consult a doctor
From the above it is not difficult to conclude that the constant pain in the left side from behind it may be a sign of a serious illness that poses a danger to life. So, you must immediately consult a doctor, especially if, along with back pain, the following symptoms appear:
- sudden sharp abdominal pain;
- severe weakness, fever, or chills;
- unexplained weight loss or night sweats;
- disorders of the intestines and bladder functions.
Any of them may be a sign of a life-threatening process, for example, rupture of the abdominal aorta, cancer or severe infection. Do not risk your health and life, consult a doctor!