Pain in the left side behind the back - what is the symptom?

Pain in the left side of the waist is almost inevitable in each of us. Almost 60% of the adult population at any given moment of life experience them (incidentally, left-sided pain is more common than right-sided pain). The range of causes that cause this pain is very wide, therefore it is very risky to engage in self-diagnosis in such cases, and the most reasonable way is to consult a doctor.

How is pain in the lower back

This problem is very diverse - it can be a dull pain in the left side, and a constant aching, intermittent with periods of active build-up.

She can move down to the hip and give in the leg. Some during the attack note numbness and a feeling of coldness in the leg, while others, on the contrary, describe the hot flushes. In some cases, pain can be given to the scapula and even affect the neck and arm.

The causes of back pain are not always clear

The cause, which can cause pain in the left side from behind in the lower back, may be hypothermia and serious pathology of the internal organs. And patients, by the way, are sometimes disappointed that it is difficult to clearly define its nature, despite x-rays, blood tests and even more advanced visualization - CT or MRI.

It is not necessary to fall into despair in such cases, the reality is that low back pain often has a whole complex of reasons.

Muscles of lower back

A group of muscles and ligaments along the entire length of the spine supports and facilitates movement. Any trauma in them or strong tension can further cause, including pain in the left side from behind in the lower back.

This can occur as a result of falling, and when excessive bending or twisting at the time of sports or when lifting heavy objects. Obesity and bad physical form also play a sad role in this.

Many patients complain of painfulness of any movement, and this condition worsens with coughing, laughing and sneezing. The doctor in such cases, as a rule, appoints anti-inflammatory drugs that can provide a reduction in painful sensations.

If the relief is not observed, or the symptoms return after a time, the patient is prescribed a visit to physiotherapeutic procedures capable of supporting the basic treatment.

Intervertebral hernia and sciatica

The 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 amortization between the bones of our spine. Over time, they wear out, bulges are erased, and in some cases even a disc is interrupted. When this happens, the gelatinous nucleus is displaced from its normal position, which leads to the appearance of a hernia. It compresses the neighboring nerve and, as a result, causes severe pain.

If the disc in the lower back compresses the sciatic nerve, a condition arises that in medicine is defined as lumbosacral sciatica (sciatica). Pain in this disease, as a rule, acute, sharp. It gives into the gluteal region, the back of the thigh, down to the popliteal part of the foot, causing numbness of the limb. Most often this is a strong one-sided pain, in which the patient can not stand.

How is the pain in the left side of the back with the intervertebral hernia

Treatment of a herniated intervertebral disc is reduced to the use of physiotherapy, special massage, acupuncture courses, as well as pain medications. If the person already has numbness of the limb, the treatment may include injections of corticosteroids.

The main goal of therapy in such cases as pain in the left side at the back, which prevents the return of the patient to a normal state, is the improvement of blood supply and reduction of the inflammatory process in the hernia.

Surgical intervention is required only in cases when conservative treatment does not give the expected results.

Intercostal neuralgia and heart disease

There are several other causes that cause pain in the left side. The ribs and the area below them become painful in the 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 intense sweating, as well as redness of the skin. Any sudden movement, deep breathing, sneezing or coughing causes an increase in painful sensations.

This condition is caused by problems of the spine (including the intervertebral hernia), trauma, intoxication of the body and various pathologies of the endocrine system. Neuralgia is treated depending on what it is caused, and the main therapy is reduced to strict bed rest and the reception of pain medications. To them, as a rule, add anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants that relieve muscle spasm.

Renal infection

Pain in the left flank from behind in the lower back can 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 back pain, it can be:

• Fever, chills;
• malaise;
• The urge to vomit;
• Painful and frequent urination;
• Change in the composition of urine (it becomes turbid, has a sharp odor, it appears blood corpuscles).

Renal infection requires a mandatory visit to a specialist. Treatment is mainly performed by antibiotics, hospitalization is required only in severe cases of the disease.

Sometimes (very rarely) pyelonephritis becomes chronic, which is, as a rule, the result of the underlying disease or anatomical pathology of the urinary tract. In this case, consultation with the surgeon is also necessary.

Pain in the left side: kidney

Kidney stones can also lead to agonizing pain in the lower back, radiating to the lower abdomen and groin. It is joined by a feeling of constant urge to urinate, which is common to those who suffer from this disease, nausea, flatulence and the urge to vomit. In the urine, as a rule, blood appears, caused by trauma to the mucosa moving in the passageways of the urinary tract with a stone.

Most often, the pathology is accompanied by a dull pain in the left side, which, if the stone blocks the ureter or renal pelvis, may increase, up to the state of renal colic. Therefore, anesthesia in the treatment of kidney stones is a priority. Often a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic analgesics is required.

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, while at the same time preventing the formation of new ones. Large stones do not go out on their own. In this case, the medical procedures are aimed at helping them to leave the kidneys.

A specialist doctor (urologist) will determine the appropriate course of treatment. This may be the taking of drugs that dissolve stones, and their removal through the urethra using sound waves (lithotripsy). In particularly severe cases, open surgical intervention is used.

Stenosis of the spinal canal

Pain in the lower back also occurs when the vertebral canal begins to taper and thus encroaches on the spinal cord. This process occurs mainly in the elderly and is the result of benign fat formation (lipoma), intervertebral hernia, epiduritis (inflammation of the spinal cord) or Bekhterev's disease (deposits in calcium salt bonds).

Common symptoms include pain in the left side from behind in the lower back, numbness of the limbs, general weakness, the appearance of lameness due to the pain giving away in the caviar. In severe cases, they are joined by violations of the bladder and intestine (the patient is difficult to control the process of excrement).

The main treatment for stenosis is similar to the therapeutic actions with the infringement of the intervertebral hernia. Anesthesia can be achieved with non-steroid drugs, along with which muscle relaxants and antidepressants are used. And physiotherapy procedures help maintain strength and mobility in the spine.

In case of ineffectiveness of usual painkillers, patients are given steroid injections, which 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

Pain in the bottom of the left side is caused by a variety of reasons, And only a doctor can find the best way to detect them. These 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 an intestinal infection has been transferred by the patient, he may have an inflammation of the large intestine called colitis. Its main symptoms are:

• Aching pain in the lower left side;
• weakness;
• False desires for Defecation;
• Rumbling in the abdomen and flatulence;
• A disorder of the stool with blood or mucous secretions in the feces.

Treatment of colitis involves compliance with a special diet and drug therapy. Infectious colitis requires antibacterial and analgesic drugs, and in severe cases and compliance with bed rest.

In what cases it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor

From what has been said above, it is not difficult to conclude that the constant pain in the left side At the back may be a sign of a serious illness that is life-threatening. So, you need to immediately consult a doctor, especially if along with the pain in your back, the following symptoms appear:

• Sudden sharp pain in the abdomen;
• Severe weakness, fever, or chills;
• Unexplained weight loss or night sweats;
• Disruption of the bowel and bladder functions.

Any of these can be a sign of a life-threatening process, for example, a rupture of the abdominal aorta, cancer, or severe infection. Do not risk your health and life, contact your doctor!