Left Side Back Pain

Almost 9 out of 10 people suffer from left side back pain and thus, we can say that almost everyone experiences this pain once in a lifetime. The cause of left side back pain can be too serious or even a mild ailment. It is difficult to diagnose the exact cause of this pain, since, there are so many situations that can lead to this condition. The left side back pain can be experienced anywhere between the upper back and the lower back. Any inflammation or irritation in the organs, muscles or bones that are present in the left side back portion, can cause pain that may be acute or chronic. Sometimes, this pain is also due to presence of a tumor, which can be fatal. Hence, it is mandatory to find out the exact cause of back pain on left side.

Causes of Left Side Back Pain
As mentioned earlier, there is a myriad of reasons that can cause left side back pain. Basically, the pain in the back is a consequence of problems in the bones or muscles of the back. Whenever these bones and muscles are under stress that cannot be sustained, it leads to back pain. Given below are some of the significant causes.

Wrong Posture: Wrong posture while sitting or sleeping is a very common cause of left side back pain. Sitting in a stiff chair for quite a long period or driving long distance with motorcycles, can lead to back pain that may be alleviated with topical creams and some pain killers.

Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is actually inflammation of glands, called pancreas that is present in the rear part of the abdomen. It causes pain in upper abdomen, but the pain may extend towards the back portion, either left or right. This pain may increase after eating or drinking.

Muscle Strain: Muscle strain is one of the common reasons that causes pain in the middle portion of the left side of the back. The spine and the ribs that are present in the back are supported by the tendons and muscles. Any physical activity that puts strain on these muscles causes pain in the back.

Kidney Stone: Kidney stones are tiny deposits of minerals and salts in the internal regions of the kidney. These stones cause severe pain that starts from the back and extends up to abdominal region. The lower left side back pain caused due to kidney stone may last for 20 to 60 minutes.

Pregnancy: Left side back pain is very common during pregnancy and is due to the increased body weight. The increase in the body weight brings strain over the abdominal muscles and also the muscles in the back.

Gastroenteritis: The inflammation or irritation of gastrointestinal tract is known as gastroenteritis. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and sometimes, it also causes pain in the middle of left side back.

Slip Disc: The spinal cord is protected by a chain of small bones, that form the vertebrae. This vertebrae has discs, that are made up of cartilage tissues and these discs act as shock absorbers. When these discs move from their places, they cause pressure on the nerves that are present in the spine. This further cause inflammation and pain in the left side or right side of the back.

Aging, physical trauma, degeneration of bones, intestinal problems, nerve root problem, etc are some of the other causes of left side back pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Left Side Back Pain
The diagnosis of the cause of left side back pain is necessary for providing appropriate treatment to the patient. Initially, certain medications like pain killers may be taken to alleviate the pain. Sometimes, diagnostic tests like X-rays, CT scan, MRI, bone scan, etc. may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is done, the physician will provide the required treatment. For certain problems like kidney stone, surgery may be the treatment, while some causes like wrong posture can be treated with body massages and correcting the wrong posture.

I hope, the information provided above has helped you clear the doubts on left side back pain. It is recommended that you consult your physician at the earliest, to diagnose the problem, since, some causes require treatment at the earliest.