Pain in the left hypochondrium from the back: causes, symptoms, possible diseases

Relevance of the issue

Pain in the left hypochondrium from the back may indicate some kind of internal organ disease; it is very difficult to immediately determine which one. From medical statistics it is known that most often people suffering from problems with blood vessels or heart complain about the syndrome. Problems in the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the spleen or pancreas may indicate similar manifestations. Failures of the nervous system and endocrine pathologies are possible. To understand the reason, you should analyze the nature of the phenomenon and determine exactly where the unpleasant sensations are localized.

When pain in the left hypochondrium spreads from the back upward, the cause may lie in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, spinal column, or pancreas. Often, unpleasant sensations in these parts of the body bother pregnant women.

A downward shift in sensation may indicate intestinal diseases, as well as diseases affecting the reproductive or urinary system. Appendicitis can manifest itself in the same way. It should be taken into account that the appendix is not located on the right side for everyone (an abnormal structure of the body is also found), in addition, pain can be reflected in the left half of the body.

Why does my left side hurt under my ribs?

Pain in the left side is characteristic of diseases of the abdominal organs. Sometimes there are cases when the cause of pain can be pathologies of the lungs, heart and neuralgia. To identify the exact cause, instrumental diagnostics are used using ultrasound, x-rays and radio wave studies. Depending on the cause of the pain in the left side, appropriate treatment is prescribed. Below, we will talk in detail about the most common pathologies that cause pain. But you should understand that self-diagnosis and self-medication will most likely only worsen the condition, so you should contact a qualified specialist for help as soon as possible.

Diseases of the spleen.
The spleen is a hematopoietic organ. Inflammation is characterized by a rapid increase in size of the spleen (splenomegaly), and with injuries there is a high risk of rupture of the organ capsule with heavy bleeding. Diseases of the organ are characterized by bursting, pressing pain in the left hypochondrium, which does not depend on physical activity and food intake.
Intestinal diseases.
Pathology of the small intestine leads to visceral or referred pain in the left side. A tumor of the left colon in the later stages of the disease causes aching pain that intensifies 2-3 hours after eating. The pain syndrome occurs against a background of weakness, weight loss, and aversion to food.
Stomach diseases.
Gastritis and gastric ulcer cause pain in the epigastric region and in the left hypochondrium. In the case of gastritis, the pain is stabbing, drilling, shooting, and intensifies after eating spicy and fatty foods. Characterized by a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, belching rotten or sour, heartburn, nausea.
Diseases of the pancreas.
Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis causes indigestion and periodic pain in the left side. Characterized by diarrhea, greasy stools with lumps of undigested food, and flatulence. Pain of a stabbing, bursting, shooting nature occurs 1-1.5 hours after eating. Often the pain syndrome becomes girdling - spasmodic pain compresses the left and right hypochondrium in a “ring”.
Muscle disease.
Muscle inflammation - myositis can be accompanied by pain in the left side. The pain syndrome is shooting and cramping, intensifies when muscle fibers are stretched while bending in the opposite direction. Dull or burning pain develops when food passes through the esophagus and bends the body after eating.
Intercostal neuralgia.
Inflammation of the intercostal nerves is commonly called intercostal neuralgia. In most clinical cases, the disease develops with herpes zoster. An acute burning pain occurs, which is localized in the left hypochondrium and can spread to the back in the area of the shoulder blades and spine. Discomfort increases when bending towards the affected side.
Disease of the left lung.
Pain in the left side may appear with left-sided lower lobe pneumonia involving the pleura in the pathological process. There is a cutting, stabbing, boring pain in the left hypochondrium, which intensifies at the height of inspiration. Pneumonia is characterized by an increase in temperature up to 40 degrees, shortness of breath, weakness, dry or productive cough, wheezing when listening to breathing.
Heart diseases.
During myocardial infarction, pain occurs in the left half of the chest, between the shoulder blades, and radiates to the arm on the affected side. The atypical course of the disease leads to referred pain in the left hypochondrium. If pain occurs in the left hypochondrium, you should consult a doctor for examination and treatment. Timely consultation with a specialist reduces the risk of disease progression and complications.

Peculiarities

When trying to determine what caused the pain in the left hypochondrium from the back, the doctor will definitely ask you to describe the nature of the sensation, since this gives a fairly accurate idea of the factors that provoked the pain. If the pain is acute, described by the patient as cutting, stabbing, urgent qualified help is probably needed, and possibly surgery. This syndrome accompanies severe pathological conditions in the human body. You may suspect a splenic rupture or ulcerative perforation. If a person is injured, acute pain may indicate a bone fragment that has injured the internal structure. Another possible explanation is a sudden disruption of blood flow, heart attack, or tissue torsion.

Sometimes a person has pain in the back left, the pain is dull, as if diffused. Doctors believe that this often indicates slow-onset inflammatory processes. In most cases, the syndrome is explained by gastritis, cholecystitis, and there is a possibility of pancreatitis. If the pain is shifted to the lower part of the body, an inflammatory process in the renal or reproductive systems can be assumed.

Respiratory problems

If a person has back pain on the left under the ribs, it is possible that he has pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy, bronchitis, or even a malignant tumor. Problems with the respiratory system will additionally be indicated by any of the following symptoms:

A sharp deterioration in general health in general.
Fever.
Wet or dry cough.
Severe shortness of breath.
Feeling of tightness in the chest.
Rapid fatigue during exercise.
General apathy.
Poor appetite.
Muscle weakness.
Headache.
Constipation and bowel dysfunction.
Feeling cold and chills.
Burning sensation behind the sternum.
Feeling cold, severe chills.
Runny nose.

Diseases are always caused by some pathogen. These include streptococci, mycoplasma, chlamydia, legionella, Haemophilus influenzae, staphylococci, enterobacteria, etc.

Diagnosis involves the patient undergoing an examination, taking an anamnesis, and conducting laboratory tests. This is necessary in order to identify the causative agent of the disease, since treatment will be aimed at its destruction. After all, a drug that can cause the death of one virus in a matter of days will be completely powerless against another.

Character: concluding review

Sometimes a person notices that there is pain in the back left, and the pain is aching in nature. This phenomenon, especially if it is constant, may indicate angina pectoris. This pathology is indicated by a shift of pain to the upper body. Ischemic disease has similar manifestations. Other cardiac disorders or malfunctions of the vascular system are also possible. If the pain shifts to the lower half of the body, the development of duodenitis or colitis can be assumed. Pain may indicate problems with the health of the spinal column.

Other reasons

If the ribs on the back on the left hurt, then there may well be other prerequisites. For example, the body “warns” many women about the onset of menstruation. Sometimes this signals pregnancy. In the last trimester, such pain may not go away because the uterus increases to enormous sizes and puts pressure on nearby organs. Of course, there will be discomfort.

Also, many often have back pain between the ribs on the left due to overeating. If a person has consumed something that his body has difficulty digesting, such a consequence is quite expected.

Sometimes people who play sports professionally or do hard work feel stabbing pain. If there are no problems with the cardiovascular system, then this sign does not pose a threat to health. It’s just that the body’s systems are not always ready for high loads.

If the pain suddenly arises at some point, you need to stop doing what provoked this sensation. You need to relax, take a deep breath, and then exhale, bend over, and press the sore spot with your palm.

Gastrointestinal tract

If the left side hurts from the lower back, at the appointment the doctor will probably first of all check the patient’s condition for gastrointestinal pathologies. Such diseases occur very often. The most typical cases: ulcer, gastritis, inflammatory processes in the pancreas, cholecystitis. All these pathologies can indicate themselves with a dull aching pain. It can be localized in the upper part of the body, or maybe in the lower part. Much depends not only on the diagnosis, but also on the characteristics of a particular case and the irradiation of pain. If a chronic disease becomes acute, a relapse or attack occurs, the pain transforms: it becomes acute, as if it were cutting inside, and the sensations are quite intense. The person's condition deteriorates sharply. To improve the prognosis, you need to see a doctor as quickly as possible, otherwise complications cannot be avoided.

If the syndrome is caused by a chronic course, the pain is quite mild. More often, a dull pain in the left hypochondrium worries after eating food that is excessive in volume. There is a higher chance of pain if a person does not follow a diet. For many, discomfort is accompanied by dyspepsia. The person feels nauseous and vomits, is bothered by belching and heartburn, heaviness is felt in the stomach, it seems to be bursting, and stool is disturbed.

Aperture problems

Their presence is often indicated by pain in the back on the left side under the ribs. This discomfort may be caused by pathological processes in the diaphragm. It normally maintains the distinction between the chest and abdominal space. When the muscles weaken, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus, thereby irritating its mucous membrane.

This is called a diaphragmatic hernia. Factors that provoke it include:

Tendency to reflux.
Genetic failure of connective tissue.
Tendency to hiccups.
Increased intra-abdominal pressure.
Upward displacement of the esophagus.
Age-related changes.

If we talk about symptoms, then pain in the ribs on the left side of the back, which is the main manifestation, has its own characteristics:

She feels dumb.
The intensity is tolerable, moderate.
May spread to the esophagus, along it.
It gets worse when you try to bend over.
It gets worse after eating, during or after exercise, coughing, and also when lying down.

The patient experiences not only pain, but also belching, vomiting, hiccups, heartburn, and a burning sensation on the tongue.

To diagnose this condition, esophagomanometry, fiberoscopy, and contrast radiography are performed.

Mild forms are treated with nutritional adjustments and physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery is indicated.

Gastrointestinal tract: nuances

The long-term chronic course of gastrointestinal pathologies is accompanied by a deterioration of digestive processes, indicated by fatigue and low immune status. The person becomes pale, begins to suffer from anemia, and complains of headaches.

If the pain is associated with intestinal pathologies, it is localized in the lower half of the body. The syndrome is often aching, the pain is described by patients as dull. There are problems with the digestive process. Most people suffering from intestinal diseases have abnormal stools.

Burning sensation under the left shoulder blade

Usually people do not consider the burning sensation in the shoulder blades to be something serious and resort to self-medication. But it is important to understand that pain under the shoulder blade is just a sign that may indicate some serious health problem.

Causes of burning associated with back diseases

Most often, a burning sensation under the left shoulder blade indicates problems with the muscles located along the length of the spinal column, spinal disease

or the back in general, namely:

osteochondrosis;
arthrosis;
scoliosis of the thoracic region;
hernias between the vertebrae;
blood stagnation in the muscles;
scapular-costal syndrome;
intercostal neuralgia;
kyphosis of the thoracic region of the back.

These pathologies are a consequence of regular back overload. Reasons: incorrectly selected shoes, sedentary lifestyle, excess body weight, overexertion due to physical activity, drafts.

Most often, the burning sensation appears periodically and disappears over time.

Patients feel discomfort because they themselves incorrectly distribute the load from the damaged part of the back to the healthy part. Therefore, the root of the burning sensation does not go away, and overstrain begins to be felt in all muscles, including healthy ones. The nerve endings in the muscles become excited, and chronic pain appears.

Causes of burning associated with other pathologies

Pain and burning sensations in the scapular area can be the result of a variety of problems with internal organs. For example:

heart diseases;
lung pathologies;
failure of the liver;
deformation of ligaments and joints;
infectious diseases of the skin and nerve endings;
pathology or inflammation in the kidneys;
stomach ulcer.

Pain may appear and vary due to changes in body position, muscle tension or other factors, for example, after eating. Also, a burning sensation in the back may appear after an incorrectly performed massage.

Diagnostics

From the above, it becomes clear that it is almost impossible to accurately indicate the cause of a burning sensation under the shoulder blade at home. To obtain an accurate diagnosis or to exclude diseases of internal organs from the list of possible pathologies, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. You will not have to visit a single specialist. To be sure of the diagnosis, it is better not to save time and contact a cardiologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, or traumatologist. Each of these doctors, after conducting examinations, will tell you whether there is cause for concern.

You can try to find out the possible cause of the burning sensation by the type of pain:

If the pain is dull and nagging, then you may be developing osteochondrosis.
With pathologies of the lungs, there is a pressing sensation.
In case of kidney diseases - pulling.
If the cause of the burning sensation is heart disease, then, in addition to the burning sensation, a pressing sensation is felt in the back of the sternum. Such pain is usually localized on the right and occurs in attacks.
If the burning sensation is accompanied by numbness in the arms and hands, then most likely the cause is a pinched nerve.

To determine the exact causes of discomfort, it may be necessary to undergo the following examinations:

UAC and OAM;
blood test for platelet count;
multi-angle x-ray of the upper dorsal region;
Ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract;
MRI;
heart cardiogram;
fluorography.

Having all the necessary information, specialists will be able to accurately determine the causes of discomfort, prescribe effective treatment and recommend preventive measures.

Treatment

It is important to understand that by getting rid of the discomfort under the shoulder blade, you will put an end to the symptom, but the problem itself will remain and, as it progresses, can lead to more serious consequences.

To get rid of discomfort in the scapular region, physiotherapy and medication are most often used. However, the best option is therapeutic exercises.

Medicines used for burning under the shoulder blade are in most cases non-steroidal drugs that fight inflammation and are painkillers.

The physiotherapeutic method is characterized by speed of action, the effect of it will appear more quickly if it is combined with doing exercises and taking medications. The doctor may prescribe the following procedures:

ultrasound treatment;
novocaine electrophoresis;
treatment using a magnetic field;
shock waves;
acupuncture;
professional massage;
manual therapy.

The best remedy for pain under the shoulder blade is arm swings. If your type of activity involves sedentary work, then it is better to repeat this exercise more often. Since it is stagnation of blood in the muscles that is the most common cause of burning sensations in the dorsal region.

Prevention

To avoid discomfort under the shoulder blade, as well as other pain in the back, following these rules will help:

You should not overuse salty foods and coffee, as they interfere with the process of moisture exchange.
Drink more fluids and eat more fresh vegetables.
Stay positive and try to avoid stress.
Don't neglect exercise;
Alternate mental activity and active rest.
Sleep on a comfortable, not too soft mattress.
Lift weights correctly (do not bend, but squat).
Maintain a straight posture and keep your back straight.
Do not make sudden bends, movements or turns.
Wear comfortable shoes with low heels.
Visit doctors in a timely manner and undergo medical examinations.

If you change your lifestyle, taking into account the advice of specialists, you can reduce the risk of pain in the back and behind the sternum.
Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Heart and blood vessels

If your left back side hurts, perhaps the cause lies in diseases of the cardiovascular system. The described symptom may indicate: ischemic disease, cardiomyopathy, angina pectoris. The pain comes suddenly, it is quite acute, and many patients describe the sensation as aching. They leave behind heaviness and breathing is impaired. The pain first occurs in the upper torso but may spread to other parts of the body.

In the case of heart or vascular diseases, unpleasant sensations come after physical activity or strong experiences, overexertion, and may appear in the evening and at night. In addition to pain, a person is bothered by shortness of breath; he feels as if he does not have enough air. Fear arises, the nature of which is very difficult to describe. The heart beats faster than normal. The pain is reflected in the limb on the left, felt in the back and in the scapula area. As the load decreases, the phenomenon becomes weaker. To alleviate the condition, take “Validol”, “Nitroglycerin”, “Corvalol” helps a lot.

Intercostal neuralgia

This is the name of reflex pain syndrome that occurs due to compression, inflammation or irritation of the intercostal nerves. The cause is usually some kind of inflammatory-degenerative change in the spine. Pathology rarely occurs on its own; more often it develops against the background of another illness.

Predisposing factors include:

Hypothermia.
Scoliosis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, hernias.
Chest and back injuries.
Intoxication.
Allergy.
Malignant neoplasms.
Weak immunity.
Diseases of the nervous system.

The main symptom is pain in the left back and ribs. It can have any character, be shooting, sharp, sharp, strongly or moderately expressed, but gradually becomes constant. As a rule, the pain increases with breathing, sneezing, coughing and movement.

Very often this disease imitates heart damage. But with cardiovascular diseases, changes in blood pressure and pulse are also observed. This is not the case with neuralgia.

It is important to diagnose this condition in time and begin treatment. Therapy is aimed at relieving discomfort and pain, eliminating inflammation or pinching, as well as excluding the root cause of the disease.

Symptoms of respiratory system diseases

If the left side hurts from the back below, perhaps the cause is a disease of some organ of the respiratory system, and the pain radiates to the lower half of the body. Asymmetrical bronchitis may form on the left side. Sometimes the syndrome indicates pulmonary inflammation, and there is a possibility of pleurisy. With such pathologies, the pain is usually dull. The patient coughs, during this act the pain becomes stronger. In some pathologies, it is activated even during breathing or when changing posture.

Diagnosis involves assessing the general condition of a person. Usually there is an elevated temperature, a person coughs and feels a sore throat. Many people develop a runny nose, and there may be manifestations of general poisoning of the body with waste products of pathological bacteria.

Shingles

This disease, the occurrence of which is provoked by the herpes virus, also manifests itself as pain in the back on the left under the ribs.

A pathological organism can be found in almost every person. All people who have had chickenpox once are at risk. The virus doesn't go away, it just becomes inactive. Under the influence of certain provoking factors, it can be reactivated. Only one condition is important - severely weakened immunity. And it can be caused by severe or frequent stress, the use of drugs that reduce the body’s defenses, poor climate, poor nutrition, and so on.

Within 2-4 days after the virus awakens, the following symptoms are observed:

Back pain on the left under the ribs.
Low-grade fever. A little less often – fever.
Headache.
Weakness and chills.
Burning, itching and pain in the area where rashes then form.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Urinary retention and other disorders of certain organs and systems.

Then swollen pink spots appear, which within a few days form erythematous papules, rapidly turning into blisters.

Around 6-8 days they dry out and become crusty. The disease may disappear on its own, but therapy is necessary, because there is always a risk of complications. Neuralgia can torment the patient for weeks and sometimes months after actual recovery.

Treatment includes antiviral and pain medications, as well as corticosteroids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.

Diaphragm and disease

If pain occurs in the left side, closer to the side, this may be due to pathological processes affecting the diaphragm. They can be triggered by lifting very heavy objects, working and increased stress. Sometimes the reason lies in changes caused by age, excess weight, or bearing a child. All these factors can provoke a hernia of the diaphragm, which causes severe pain. The process is observed if the muscular system of this part of the body, separating the peritoneum from the sternum, weakens. The hole in the diaphragm becomes larger. The pain accompanying this change is described by patients as aching. The sensation becomes stronger if you swallow food. Severe, sharp pain caused by excessive muscle contraction is possible. They lead to the fact that a small element of the gastric walls enters the opening of the esophagus, after which the sphincter contracts and the tissues are fixed in an unnatural position.

Neurology as a cause

If your left side hurts in the back above your lower back, it may be due to a neurological disorder. Most often, intercostal neuralgia occurs. There is a danger of pinching the end of the nervous system. The pain that occurs varies from case to case, and the severity of the phenomenon varies greatly among different patients. For some, the syndrome is mild and feels dull, while others describe it as a “dagger strike.” There are many cases of misdiagnosis of a heart attack - in fact, the syndrome was provoked by neuralgia.

A distinctive feature of this cause is pain in the left hypochondrium, which becomes stronger when a person coughs, sneezes, or moves in space. Pain is initiated by the act of breathing. External observation allows us to notice a person’s tendency to maintain a stable, unnatural position, especially carefully avoiding bending. The work of the sweat-secreting glands is activated, the skin turns pale or red, and numbness is felt in the chest area. If the cause is nerve pinching, the pain can be easily localized. The sensations become stronger if you press on this part of the body.

Kidney diseases

This paired organ is located in the lumbar region, directly on the inner surface of the abdominal wall. With hydronephrosis, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, pain almost always occurs on the back under the ribs on the left or right (this depends on which kidney is affected). The sensations are dull, aching in nature. Sometimes the pain is long-term and is not related to the position in which the person is.

The cause of the sensation is the stretching capsule of the kidney. Stones located in the urinary tract irritate the mucous membranes with their edges. Other manifestations include the following symptoms:

Fast fatiguability.
Puffiness of the face.
Dry mouth.
Worsened appetite.
Periodic weakness.
Temperature.
Paleness of the skin.
Pain in joints and muscles.
Profuse sweating.

The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that at the initial stage some symptoms are mistaken for signs of influenza, appendicitis or cholecystitis.

If back pain in the region of the ribs on the left or right does not go away, you should urgently make an appointment with a nephrologist. Take, for example, glomerulonephritis. This is a disease that can be asymptomatic for up to three weeks, but in the future can lead to acute renal or heart failure, eclampsia or preeclampsia, and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Hydronerphosis also does not make itself felt for a long time. Patients ignore mild pain, and then notice that their fatigue does not go away, hematuria, and arterial hypertension appear.

Typically, kidney disease is diagnosed based on examination, history, and palpation. Ultrasound, ultrasound of renal vessels, retrograde ureteropyelography, excretory urography, angiography, chromocystoscopy, CT, MRI, nephroscintigraphy, nephroscopy, cytoscopy, urethroscopy are also performed.

Rapid elimination of kidney disease helps restore organ function. Conservative therapy is not always effective. Surgery is often required.

Spleen: what can provoke a pain reaction

If the side on the left behind above the lower back hurts, this may be due to a violation of the health of the spleen; the capsule of the organ may enlarge. This condition provokes dull painful sensations that bother the person constantly. Enlargement of the organ capsule is often observed due to infection or blood disease. There is a complex of general symptoms that accompany the pathological condition. A person usually experiences elevated body temperature and weakness. The skin turns pale, the head hurts and feels dizzy, and the patient may faint. Many patients complain of pain in muscle tissue and joints. Lymph nodes increase significantly in size, the liver enlarges, the immunological status worsens, and the work of the sweat glands is activated.

Trauma as a cause of pain

If the left side hurts in the back, and the person has hurt himself, the pain is probably due to the injury. This type of damage is often caused by a fall, car accident, or other accident. Trauma with a high degree of probability provokes the occurrence of rib cracks and fractures. Internal tissues may be damaged due to bone fragments and splinters. There is a possibility of splenic rupture.

Rib cracks and fractures usually lead to disruption of the integrity of the skin. The patient records strong unpleasant sensations in this place, especially pronounced when trying to breathe or move. If the spleen has ruptured or an internal bleeding site has formed, urgent qualified help is needed. Symptoms of this condition are a person’s weakness and tendency to faint. You feel dizzy, your blood pressure drops sharply, and your pulse weakens. The victim's skin turns pale.

Spinal column

Pain in the left back can be explained by rheumatic diseases. Passing symptoms are sometimes provoked by osteochondrosis. Pain suggests a herniated disc that separates the vertebrae from each other. The sensations accompanying these diseases are quite strong and are often localized in the sternum, although displacement and spread are possible. The occurrence of unpleasant sensations is constant and becomes stronger when a person moves. The most severe pain occurs when bending over. If you remain at rest for a long time, the pain calms down and almost completely disappears.

Reproductive and urinary system

Pain in the left hypochondrium at the back allows one to suspect such causes if the syndrome is localized in the lower back. More often it indicates pyelonephritis, another common factor is the formation of stones in the bladder. This can also be indicated by adnexitis, pregnancy with implantation of the embryo outside the uterine cavity, and torsion of an ovarian cyst.

The listed pathological conditions have a number of common symptoms. The process of emptying the bladder becomes painful, the general condition of the patient is weakened, and malaise is felt. Possible increase in body temperature. In women, the cyclicity of menstrual flow is disrupted. There is also a feeling of pain in the external organs of the reproductive system, and bleeding may occur.

If the pain is acute, the patient feels nauseous and vomits, the general condition of the body is weak, the pressure drops sharply, it can be assumed that the urine duct is blocked by a stone. In women, these symptoms may indicate torsion of an ovarian cyst or rupture of this formation. The patient may lose consciousness; if the urine channel is blocked, it is impossible to empty the bladder. Both conditions require urgent surgical intervention.

When an emergency consultation with a doctor is necessary

Doctor for back pain

If the left side of your back hurts and the pain does not subside, then, after a few days, you should suspect a serious illness that requires immediate medical intervention.

Also, do not ignore the appearance of other clinical signs:

sudden sharp pain in the abdominal area;
unjustified loss of body weight;
improper functioning of the digestive tract and genitourinary system;
severe weakness, increased body temperature.

You should not try to get rid of the disease on your own. Ignorance of an accurate diagnosis and improper treatment can cause irreparable harm to the body.

What else is possible?

Pain in the left side behind the back may indicate pericarditis. This pathological condition leads to pain that occurs with varying severity from case to case. It gradually increases, discomfort spreads to the neck and shoulder. Pain also allows one to suspect a small-focal infarction affecting the posterior wall of the muscle tissue that forms the heart. Sometimes pain is a signal of an aortic aneurysm. Moreover, it can be moderate, but for some it is very strong. In addition to the pain syndrome, the patient complains that he feels as if he is being “shot through”, while the sensation pierces the sternum and radiates to the shoulder on the left.

There are known cases of osteomyelitis, which turned out to be a similar localization of pain. A pulling sensation indicates the presence of suppuration or an area of tissue death. If it hurts in the back on the left side, an area of degenerative processes in the spinal column may have formed in the back. You can also suspect an inflammatory focus in this part of the body. Sometimes pain indicates a new formation. This can be not only benign, but also formed by atypical cellular structures.

Sometimes pain is a signal of a muscle strain. This occurs if a person makes a too sudden movement, lifts a heavy object, falls unsuccessfully, or is overweight. Imperfect posture can cause muscle strain. The pain is accompanied by stiffness, the victim loses the ability to bend freely.

Spondylolisthesis

This term refers to the presence of a defective part of the spinal column, caused by the slipping of one of the blocks from the neighboring one. The isthmic form of this disease is one of the most common causes of pain on the left under the ribs in the back in minors. There are many cases where spondylolisthesis proceeded without symptoms at all. Pain caused by the problem may radiate to the lower extremities.

Spondylolisthesis can be degenerative or isthmic. In the first case, the facet joint elements weaken, causing the spinal column to bend beyond measure and the vertebrae to slip. More often, this cause of pain under the ribs from the back worries people over 65 years of age. The most typical area of localization is the 4th and 5th vertebrae, although coverage of the block above is possible. In other areas, spondylolisthesis is observed very rarely.

Osteochondrosis and other back problems

Myositis, intervertebral hernia, spondylosis - these and many other diseases very often result in pain in the back on the left and in the ribs. The reason is compression of nerve endings or spasms of muscle fibers. When the lumbar region is affected, a person feels several types of pain - shooting, aching, radiating to the lower extremities.

Often this discomfort does not allow the patient to even bend or turn, or make completely basic and familiar movements. In particularly difficult cases, it is difficult to even sit, walk and stand.

When a pathological process develops in the thoracic region, back pain in the left ribs worsens due to coughing, deep inhalations and exhalations, when laughing and sneezing. In addition, other symptoms may appear - decreased sensitivity, numbness of the back and arms, burning and tingling sensations in the extremities, changes in tendon reflexes, weakness and general malaise.

What are the reasons? The answer to this question depends on the disease diagnosed. The prerequisites, as a rule, are injuries, serious infectious diseases, metabolic disorders and posture, vertebral displacement, inflammation, as well as excessive physical exertion and a long stay in the same position.

What to do?

Spondylolisthesis requires complex treatment - physical therapy and pain-relieving medications. The patient needs to change his lifestyle; he should spend more time sitting and less time walking. In hospital settings, doctors administer steroid medications. Epidural injections are indicated to relieve pain and make a person more active. Injections are recommended to be done three times annually.

In case of severe, severe pain, surgery is recommended. Such intervention is indicated if reducing activity does not produce the desired effect. As part of the intervention, pressure on the nervous system is removed and the vertebrae are fixed for fusion. One operation will not give the desired effect, since it provokes instability; an integrated approach is indicated.

More severe pathologies

Pain in the left side behind above the lower back may indicate pneumonia. Severe pain appears if a person takes a deep breath and a coughing attack occurs. Additional manifestations: pulmonary rales, fever. In some cases, discomfort may indicate cancer in the respiratory system. The strength of pain is determined by the stage of the process, its prevalence, and localization.

Sometimes the left side hurts under the ribs at the back due to spinal pathology or poor health of the peripheral nervous system. In this case, the pain syndrome is projection. The sensations are described by patients as lumbago, spreading distally. The most common diagnosis is sciatica, a disease in which the sciatic nerve is pinched. In the case of such a pathology, the pain is severe and covers the lower extremities.

Nature and reasons

If the left side hurts under the ribs from the back, the sensations are similar to contractions, muscle contractions can be assumed. The probable cause lies in the pathology of one of the hollow organs. If the pain gets worse over time, inflammation may be suspected. With constant sensations, stretching of the parenchyma of the internal organ may occur.

Most often, shooting pain is a signal of disruption of the functioning and health of the central nervous system, PNS, and spinal cord. Acute pain accompanies a rupture of the internal structure, internal bleeding, or obstruction of a duct or vessel.

It is urgent to call an ambulance, especially if the pain comes suddenly, it is burning, and medications cannot neutralize it. Acute pain syndrome and a sharp attack of pain, in which the head is dizzy and the person loses consciousness, is a reason to consult a doctor. If the sensations are not too strong, but are constantly bothering you, you need to see a doctor as quickly as possible for a diagnosis. First you need to visit a therapist who will give you a referral to a highly specialized doctor.

Diagnosis of the condition

To determine the root cause of the pain, you need to consult a doctor and describe in detail the nature of the symptom, the features of its localization. The doctor will prescribe a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound - all three studies or some of them. The choice will depend on the primary diagnosis. Additionally, you will be advised to donate blood for laboratory testing to identify the characteristics of the concentration of formed elements. Most patients are also recommended to have a laboratory examination of their urine.

Diagnosis is largely determined by the specifics of the pain, so it is important to describe your sensations as accurately as possible. It is not recommended to take painkillers before visiting a doctor, since such drugs distort the syndrome. An inaccurate description of your feelings can provoke an incorrect formulation of the primary diagnosis, and this will significantly slow down the selection of appropriate treatment.