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Lower back pain
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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According to statistical data, pain in the lower back on the left is more than ninety percent of people, and not only the elderly, but also young. The reasons why pain in the lower back on the left may be troubling are quite diverse. These include disorders of the spine, the work of internal organs, lack of motor activity, crooked posture and many others.
Pain in the lower back on the left can signal the pathology of the kidneys. Pyelonephritis, the deposition of stones and other kidney diseases, in addition to specific symptoms and signs, can manifest themselves in the form of pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back on the left is also a frequent companion of inflammation of the uterine appendages in the female. Very often the pain in the lower back on the left occurs as a result of the presence of such a disease as osteochondrosis. Its localization in the lumbar region causes pain in the lower back on the left, which may be accompanied by irradiation to the lower extremities. With osteochondrosis, dystrophic lesions occur in the intervertebral discs.
Causes of low back pain
The causes of back pain on the left are quite diverse and may have a connection with the following diseases:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.
- Congenital pathologies: spondylosis, spondylolisthesis.
- Lumbar injuries.
- Inflammatory diseases: destruction of the vertebral bodies, inflammation of the sacroiliac joint.
- Sprain.
- Tumor neoplasms.
- Injury of the sciatic nerve.
- Radiculitis.
- Renal diseases: pyelonephritis, deposition of stones.
- Diseases of the intestines.
- Cystitis.
- Inflammation of the uterine appendages.
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Symptoms of low back pain
Symptoms of pain in the lower back on the left may differ among themselves in the strength and nature of pain and irradiation to other parts of the body. The pain in the lower back on the left may be acute or chronic, accompanied by pulling, aching, raspiruyuschimi or pricking sensations. The nature of the pain that occurs in the lower back on the left is divided into neuropathic (nerve-induced, for example, when it is entrapped) and nociceptive (lesions that do not affect the nervous system, for example, with arthritis). Painful syndrome in the lower back on the left, increasing with deep inspiration, may indicate a traumatizing muscle. If the symptoms increase with sudden movements, there may be a question of compression on the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of low back pain in kidney disease are accompanied by pain during bladder emptying, the presence of bloody contents in the urine. Pain syndrome can increase when tapping the palm of the hand on the left side.
Acute lower back pain
Sharp pain in the lower back on the left can be quite strong, accompanied by lumbago and cause irradiation in the legs, buttocks, and also limit the motor activity of the patient. This type of pain can occur with osteochondrosis or radiculitis. With acute pain in the lower back on the left, muscle tension and stiffness of mobility in the lumbar region are also noted. Acute lower back pain, or lumbago, always occurs suddenly, usually when lifting weights, careless sharp movements, inclines. The causes of lumbago, in addition to osteochondrosis and radiculitis, include overexertion in the lumbar region, displaced vertebrae or congenital pathology of the spine. When the intervertebral disc falls, acute pain in the lower back on the left is combined with pain in the thighs and buttocks, which can give to the lower leg and feet. The direct cause of acute pain in the lower back is a pinched nerve or displacement of the vertebrae.
Drawing pain in the lower back on the left
Drawing pain in the lower back on the left, in addition to spine diseases, can be caused by inflammatory pathologies, such as inflammation of the uterus or bladder, kidney disease. With adnexitis, drawing pain in the lower back of the female can be combined with symptoms such as lower abdominal pain, in the sacral region, high fever (with acute disease), a malfunctioning cycle, bloody or other discharge from the vagina, pain during sexual intercourse. With inflammation of the bladder, pain in the lower back on the left is accompanied by soreness with urination, pain in the area of the pubic articulation, in severe cases, nausea or vomiting may occur, and fever may rise. With pyelonephritis, low back pain is accompanied by chills and fever, headache, and uncomfortable sensations in the muscles. Drawing pain in the loin increases, as a rule, with frequent loads, cause a persistent feeling of fatigue, a desire to lean against the back of the chair when sitting or take a horizontal position. In this case, as a rule, pain sensations decrease if the pain is not associated with inflammatory processes. Causing pain in the lower back can also cause a disease like spondylolisthesis - the bias of any vertebra in relation to others. With this pathology, the patient can feel the tension in the popliteal tendon and the decrease in the motor activity of the lumbar region. In some cases, pain, numbness or tingling in the lower limbs may occur.
Dull pain in lower back on left
Dull pain in the lower back on the left can bother with the same illnesses as traumatic pain. In women, it can be inflammation of the uterine appendages, cystitis, as well as the period of menstruation or pregnancy. In men, dull pain in the lower back on the left may be associated with the development of prostatitis. Kidney diseases are also capable of causing dull pain in the lower back on the left, depending on the degree of severity of the disease symptoms can increase, causing a fairly intense pain in the lower back. Dull pain in the lower back on the left may be the result of trauma to the spine, may indicate pathology of the internal organs, as well as the development of infectious or tumor processes. With a sedentary lifestyle and forced long stay in the same position, dull pain in the lower back can also occur. Influence on the occurrence of this type of pain can and hypothermia of the body, as well as excessive physical loads, congested lumbar spine.
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How to recognize the pain in the lower back on the left?
Diagnosis of pain in the lower back on the left is based on the differentiation of its types, which include a combination of various symptoms. With local pain, there may be pathologies associated with pinching of the nerve root. The pain in this case, as a rule, is constant and can subside or increase depending on the position of the body or motor activity. The nature of the pain can be as sharp or as blunt. Even if the pain spreads to other parts of the body, it is always clearly expressed in the place of injury.
Refractory pain can occur with pathological processes of the spine or with irradiation from other internal organs - with diseases of the pelvic region or abdominal cavity. When the diagnosis is made, the following symptoms are taken into account: the pain does not subside in the lying position, is not associated with movements and can change as a result of the condition of the internal organs with which it is connected.
Radicular pain is usually quite intense, characterized by peripheral dissemination. If such a pain occurs, a diagnosis can be made of the curvature, stretching or compression of the nerve root. The pain can be irradiated from the spine to the legs, it can grow with the tension of the lumbar region, and also if the patient coughs or sneezes.
Myofascial pain, in turn, can be local or reflected. Spasmodic muscle, which in this case occurs, can be associated with both spinal problems and internal organs, and can cause a feeling of tension in the sacrum and buttocks.
For more accurate differentiation of the symptoms of the disease in the diagnosis of low back pain, in addition to full-time examination and palpation of the spine, methods of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, myelography and X-ray study are used.
Treatment of low back pain
Treatment of pain in the lower back on the left, which is not related to the problems of the spine, consists primarily in eliminating the causes of the underlying disease. If the pain in the lower back on the left is a consequence of osteochondrosis, the patient is shown performing massage procedures, acupuncture, the use of anti-inflammatory non-steroid agents, traction of the spine, the performance of a set of various physiotherapy procedures, and therapeutic gymnastics. Physiotherapy methods include treatment with low-frequency current, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, etc. Such methods of treatment can relieve pain syndrome, reduce manifestations of inflammatory processes. Carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures helps to shorten the duration of treatment, to increase the effectiveness of the effects of medications. Massage procedures for back pain help to remove tension and pain in the muscles, improve blood circulation, and also have a restorative effect. Extension of the spine can increase the intervertebral space, calm pain and restore the correct shape of the spine. In the treatment of low back pain, acupuncture is successfully used, which also makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of concomitant methods of treatment. Ancillary treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of creams, ointments, tablets or injections is indicated in the acute phase of the disease and is aimed at neutralizing the pain and inflammation symptoms. In acute or chronic low back pain, manual treatment is also practiced on the left.
Prevention of low back pain
Prevention of low back pain includes the following recommendations:
- Regularly perform simple gymnastic exercises to warm up and strengthen the muscles of the back.
- When bending the trunk, try to bend your knees.
- Avoid lifting weights, sudden and careless movements.
- Observe a comfortable position during sleep.
- When sitting for a long time behind a monitor or driving a car, keep your back straight, do not slouch.
- when walking.
- Try to avoid prolonged stay in the same position, when forced to stay in the sitting position, try to make small breaks and knead the loins.
- Do not overcool.
- Eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle.