Main Causes Of Lower Left Side Back Pain
If youre experiencing lower left side back pain, youre not alone! Nearly 60% of adults feel some form of lower back pain in their lifetime. Lower left back pain is more common compared to the back pain felt in the lower right quadrant. Often we define lower left side back pain as ranging in between your hip and leg. Many people describe their lower left pain as dull and achy. Oftentimes the pain in the lower back is known to increase with the intensity of activities. For example, you may feel the most pain when carrying groceries or going for a run. The good news is, it often feels much more serious than it actually is. Most conditions that are associated with lower left back pain are fairly treatable, however, there are a few instances that may be something more serious.
What Are Your Lower Back Pain Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are many non-invasive treatment options available today, and only rarely is surgery necessary for pain in the lower back. Treatment is based on the practitioners diagnosis and may include any of the following:
- Rest and avoidance of the activity linked to the pain
- Ice or heat therapy
Pain In The Left Side Of The Back
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There are many potential causes for pain in the left side of your back. It could be a result of muscular or bone pain, for example, or the result of an injury.
Your back is made up of many bones arranged in the spinal column your spine. This provides support for your body and allows you to stand, sit and move around.
Your back also includes muscles, ligaments and nerves. These can sometimes be affected by a strain, injury or inflammation because of the amount of wear and tear you place on your back every day.
It’s also possible to injure your back if you hurt it in a fall or playing sport.
But back pain is very common and feeling pain in one side of the back is not unusual.
Another potential cause of pain in the left side of your back is inflammation or infection of the internal organs in that area.
For example, kidney stones can cause pain in the lower back. But in these cases, you would often experience other symptoms in addition to back pain.
Here we’ll look at what might be causing back pain in the left side and some of the most common symptoms.
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What Causes Sharp Lower Left Back Pain
The spine provides our bodies with strength and stability. More importantly, the spine protects the spinal cord, nerve roots, and nearby internal organs. Most people will experience various degrees of back pain at one point or another. But sharp lower left back pain, as well as other painful symptoms, may point to a more serious condition. Understanding the precise cause of sharp lower left back pain can help board-certified spine doctors identify any underlying conditions or injuries that are responsible for mild or severe pain.
After finding the underlying conditions responsible for sharp lower left back pain, spine surgeons can begin advanced spinal care tailored to each patients individual needs. With a dedicated staff of nationally recognized spinal experts, the team at New Jersey Spine Specialists treats various conditions that cause sharp lower left back pain, helping patients across northern New Jersey reclaim a pain-free lifestyle.
Diverticulitis And Other Digestive Problems
Diverticulitis can also cause abdominal or lower left back pain. Small pouches can develop along the walls of the colon as you age, specifically on the left side of the abdomen. Diverticulitis results when bacteria accumulate in the pouches to the point where an infection forms. Other symptoms of diverticulitis include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and fever.
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Left Side Back Pain/lower Left Back Pain Prevention
Im sure youve heard this saying before: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Im a firm believer in that.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you go about your day. Following these tips can help stop lower left side back pain before it starts.
Improve your posture: Your posture matters a lot! Try to keep an upright position when walking and sitting. No slouching!
Lift the right way: Always, always, always use your legs when lifting heavy objects. Sure, youve heard that advice before, but its too important not to repeat. Make sure you dont bend from the waist. Youll dramatically increase your risk of injury.
Build core strength: Exercises that strengthen your core will help reduce your chances of injury. Im a big fan of pilates for building up core strength. As you strengthen your core muscles, you gain extra support for your spine, which not only helps relieve pain in the lower left side of your back , but also improves posture.
Stretch daily: Stretching improves circulation, reduces stress, makes you more flexible, and improves balance and coordination. The key is to focus on one major muscle group at a time, making sure to stretch muscles on both sides of your body. Start with just 5 minutes a day, and increase the amount of time you spend stretching by 5 minutes each week until you reach an hour.
Cause You May Have A Knot In Lower Left Back
Muscle stress on the left side of the spine is the most common source of lower left pain. Tension in the muscles supporting and surrounding the spine may result from overuse or minor injuries such as uncomfortable sleeping positions or prolonged standing or sitting or also be a sign of knot in lower left back.
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Pinched Nerve Or Cervical Radiculopathy
My pain is radiating down the left side of my neck
Symptoms for Pinched Nerves
If you have a pinched or inflamed nerve in your upper left back your symptoms are most likely pain that is sharp and radiating down your neck, numbness or burning sensation, or the feeling of weakness on the upper left back.
Pinched Nerve Causes
The most common reason you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain on the left side is because of a pinched or inflamed nerve that occurs within your spine. Your nerves are the main carriers of information from the brain to the rest of the body, and vice-versa. If a nerve is pinched or inflamed, the signal of this information sending is interrupted in some way. A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues. This can be caused by a variety of things, including compression, constriction, or overstretching of the nerve. Pinched nerves can happen as a result of things like a herniated disc, degenerative disc, and bony growths.
Treatments for Pinched Nerve
If youre suffering from a pinched or inflamed nerve we highly recommend rest for a faster recovery. Along with rest, some use medication, physical therapy, or anti-inflammatory medication to tame the inflamed nerves. Its also recommended that you isolate your neck and keep it still during your recovery time. Neck collars or immobilizers are a great way to help lead you towards a faster recovery by isolation of the neck.
Can Back Pain Be Prevented
Recurring back pain resulting from improper body mechanics may be prevented by avoiding movements that jolt or strain the back, maintaining correct posture, and lifting objects properly. Many work-related injuries are caused or aggravated by stressors such as heavy lifting, contact stress , vibration, repetitive motion, and awkward posture.Recommendations for keeping ones back healthy
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Can Lower Back Pain Be Related To Weather
If you feel like your lower back pain worsens on days when its cold or the weather is changing, you are not imagining things. Back pain can indeed be related to barometric pressure and outdoor temperature. Changes in pressure can sometimes cause pain in arthritic joints, including the spine. Muscles and joints in general react to the environment, which can make them stiffer and more likely to suffer an injury.
Complications Related To Sciatica
If you develop a loss of bladder or bowel control, contact your doctor right away. This can be a sign of a medical emergency that requires surgery to avoid permanent damage. Fortunately, this complication is rare. Most cases of sciatica go away within a few days or weeks and cause no lasting harm.
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What Are Muscle Knots
When your body develops muscle knots, its usually a sign that a specific muscle group has been stressed so much that it transforms into a trigger point. These hard yet sensitive knots can be painful and uncomfortable to the touch, even if you arent doing anything.
Here are the basic characteristics you need to understand about muscle knots:
Other Tips For Lower Back Pain
There are also a number of tips for people with lower left back pain. Here are a few things you should consider:
- Dietary measures: Diet and detoxification can help free the body from toxic buildup, constipation, and extra weight that may lead to back pain. Eat plenty of fibrous vegetables, while staying away from food high in sugar and saturated fat. Also avoid anti-inflammatory substances like alcohol and caffeine.
- Acupuncture: Several studies cite acupuncture as an effective treatment for chronic lower back pain, including a meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine in 2013.
- Massage therapy: Massage is very effective for back pain. Its definitely worthwhile despite any perceived obstacles, including getting a referral from your doctor.
- Aromatherapy: Many essential oils have relaxing and stress-relieving properties, including lavender, jasmine, and geranium. Other good essential oils include peppermint, Idaho balsam, and frankincense.
If you are suffering from lower back pain on the left side, then try the relief tips listed above. As always, speak with your doctor first.
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Common Causes Of Sharp Stabbing Lower Left Side Pain In The Back
The most common causes of stabbing, sharp pain in the lower left side of the back include:
- An injury to structures along the spinal column such as facet joints or spinal discs
- Damage of soft tissue structures that support the spine such as the ligaments or muscles
- Conditions that affect internal organs such as the intestines, kidneys, or reproductive organs
What Are Common Causes Of Lower Left Back Pain
Lower left back pain can be caused by both internal and external factors. Lets look at both, so you have a better understanding of what might be precipitating your pain. Keep in mind that in some cases, lower left back pain can be caused by more than one thing, such as a sports injury exacerbated by driving or poor work ergonomics.
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When To See Your Doctor
Mild, short-lived pain in the lower left abdomen that goes away on its own typically does not require medical care. But pain in this area that persists, recurs, progresses or is severe should never be ignored, as this symptom might signal a serious medical problem.
According to Dr. Borkar, pain on the lower left side that comes with lower back pain, unintentional weight loss, severe or worsening abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting and blood in the stool all require a trip to your GI doctor for an evaluation.
What Are The Symptoms Of Long Covid
According to Dr. Gumrukcu, the most common symptoms of long COVID are fatigue, brain fog and memory issues, headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.
heart symptoms like irregular heartbeat, and tinnitus, , he says.
Some of the above symptoms, like feeling short of breath and experiencing chronic chest pain and cough, can also add to an inability to handle exercise, even if you feel like youre not even working that hard. So thats something else to keep in mind if you have big goals on tap like completing a marathon, the last thing you want to do is try to bounce back too hard after having Covid.
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Lower Back Pain On Left Side Is Nearly Inescapable And Has Various Causes Self
Low back pain is a common and nearly inescapable phenomenon. Nearly 60% of adults will experience an episode of severe back pain at some point in their lifetime. Besides, lower back pain on left side is actually more common than lower back pain on right side.
Symptoms of lower back pain include a dull or aching pain often punctuated by periods of rapid increase in intensity. The pain can travel down the hip and into the leg. Some will note a numb of cold sensation in the leg or foot while others describe a hot-poker type sensation.
There are a variety of causes and contributing factors that trigger back pain. People are often frustrated that a clear-cut cause for the pain cannot be found even with x-rays, blood tests and even more advanced imaging like CT or MRI. Don’t let this get you down as doctors are also often left puzzled on what is causing the pain. The reality is that lower back pain is often multifactorial in cause.
Medications can help ease the pain, but ask your doctor for a referral to a back specialist if the cause is not apparent and your symptoms persist.
The Top 2 Reasons For Upper Left Back Pain
Upper left side back pain is less common than lower left back pain. This is because the bones in the upper region of our bodies are much less flexible than bones elsewhere. This area is commonly known to range from the base of the neck to the rib cage. This includes the shoulder blade and the connection of the rib cage to the thoracic region. The area includes many structures that may cause pain, including shoulder joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Common issues in this area arise from the musculoskeletal, this includes conditions such as fractured vertebrates.
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Low Back Pain Symptoms And Signs Pain In The Lumbosacral Area Lower
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Lower Left Back Pain: Causes Treatments And When To See A Doctor
Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health
Lower left back pain is a condition that affects many people young and old. Very often, lower back pain affects just one side of your body and can cause discomfort ranging from mild aches to agonizing sharp pain. Lower back pain is also called lumbago because it causes discomfort in your lumbar region or lower back. This is the area in your lower back that is above your hips and below the bottom of your back rib cage. Muscle injury, nerve damage, or problems with internal organs can all result in pain in the lower left back side.
Lower left back pain may also cause other painful symptoms on the left-hand side of your body. For example, if pinched nerves are causing you pain in your lower left back, you might have a tingling sensation or shooting pains down your left leg. However, it can be difficult to diagnose the exact cause of lower back pain on the left side. Kidney infections and kidney stones can cause pain that radiates to your left lower back or right back. Also, many women experience back pain in their left lumbar region because of problems with their reproductive system.
In this article, you will learn about various causes of lower left back pain. You will also find out what to do if you suffer from aches and pains in your left back area below your ribcage.
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Causes Of Lower Left Back Pain While Breathing
Scoliosis, kyphosis, and other conditions that affect your spine can cause back pain and breathing issues.
- Scoliosis a common condition among pre-teens and teenagers , scoliosis is the result of your spine curving to the side. The most severe cases of scoliosis cause the curvature to place extra pressure on the lungs. This might make breathing harder, even painful for the patient.
- Kyphosis this condition happens when the spine curves forward, resulting in a hunched position. Common causes of kyphosis are spinal injury and aging. Aside from back pain, you will also experience swelling and balance difficulties. Severe cases of kyphosis can make breathing and eating more difficult or at least uncomfortable.
Can You Strengthen Your Back To Prevent Pain
Prevention is considered the best approach for back pain. There are various ways to prevent back pain and strengthen your back muscles. Here are few things you can try.
- Its important to stay in shape by getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. Some low-impact exercises include swimming or walking. You may also consider working with a personal trainer to avoid any further back pain.
- You should also do regular exercises that strengthen your abdominal and core muscles, which will further reduce the risk of back pain.
- Avoid standing for long periods of time, although if you must stand for work you should alternate resting your feet on a stool.
- When sitting in a chair at work, make sure you are sitting with a straight back, and that the chair also has a swivel seat, armrests, and an adjustable back and seat.
- Its also good practice to use a small pillow behind your lower back when sitting or driving for long periods of time.
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