Left back pain can be caused by various things, ranging from problems with the muscles and spine, pinched nerves, to disorders of internal organs. If it is felt quite heavy or often recurs, there are several ways to deal with left back pain that you can try.
Back pain is described as a symptom of pain or stiffness in the back which can sometimes be accompanied by other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness. The pain that appears can also spread to the buttocks, thighs, and legs.
Characteristics of pain that appears can also vary, some are persistent for some time some are strong but come and go. In certain cases, back pain can appear for weeks or even months to make it difficult for sufferers to move.
Various Causes of Left Back Pain
Left back pain can be caused by various things, including:
1. Muscle injury or muscle strain
A muscle injury or sprain can cause back pain in any area, be it the left, right, top, or bottom. This type of injury can cause pain that gets worse with movement, making it difficult for the sufferer to move.
Muscle injuries can be caused by accidents, overexertion, or lifting too heavy a load.
2. A pinched nerve
Each vertebra is covered by cushioning and fluid that serves to keep the spine flexible, making it easier for every movement of the body. These pads also play a role in protecting the spinal cord from injury.
But in certain cases, injury or excessive physical activity can make the vertebral pads protrude and pinch the spinal nerves. This condition is called a pinched nerve or hernia nucleus pulposus (HNP).
This condition affects the nerves in the spine and causes pain, including the left back. The pain that is felt can be felt radiating to the thigh, buttocks, and left or right leg (sciatica). In severe cases, HNP can cause paralysis and numbness.
3. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. This condition usually begins to develop in adolescence when bone growth is rapid, but it can occur in children or adults as well.
Scoliosis usually causes left or right back pain when the condition is severe enough.
4. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is joint inflammation that occurs as a result of the aging process or prolonged injury to joint cartilage. In addition to left back pain, people with osteoarthritis may also experience back stiffness and limited range of motion.
5. Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing that occurs due to excess bone growth or calcification in the gaps between the vertebrae. The excess bone has an impact on the emergence of pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, causing pain in the left or right back.
6. TB spine
Tuberculosis or TB can attack any organ of the body, including the spine. Spinal TB occurs when TB germs from other organs of the body spread to the spine and cause damage.
This disease is more at risk in people who have a history of TB disease and people who have a weak immune system, for example due to HIV infection.
When exposed to spinal TB, a person can feel symptoms in the form of left or right back pain, swelling in the back, fever, weight loss, and cold sweats at night.
7. Certain diseases
Back pain in the lower left can be a sign of a disease or disorder in the internal organs, such as kidney infection, kidney stones, pancreatitis, or disorders of the reproductive organs, such as endometriosis and myoma.
When an organ in the body is disturbed, it transmits pain stimuli to the surrounding nerves. This can be felt as left back pain.
In addition to the conditions above, kyphosis, spinal tumors, poor posture, obesity, and aging can also cause left back pain.
How to Overcome Left Back Pain
Effective treatment of left back pain needs to be adjusted to the cause. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor to find out what is causing your back pain, so that this complaint can be treated properly.
However, to treat left back pain caused by sprains or minor injuries, there are some simple treatment steps you can try, namely:
Give compress
Back pain can be alleviated by giving cold compresses interspersed with warm compresses. A cold pack of ice wrapped in a cloth can reduce swelling and relieve pain, while a warm compress can help relax the muscles in your back. Both types of compresses can help relieve back pain.
Increase rest
When experiencing annoying left back pain, try to get more rest, don't lift heavy objects, and avoid excessive stress. While resting, you can try massage therapy for back pain, but ask the therapist not to massage too vigorously or rub your back.
Stay active
While resting, does not mean it is good to lie in bed all day. Doing certain sports, such as leisurely walking, stretching, swimming, and yoga, are also good for back pain.
To determine a good yoga pose for back pain, you can consult further with a doctor or with a yoga instructor.
Taking pain relievers
If you have persistent left back pain that doesn't go away, try taking a pain reliever, such as paracetamol. You can also apply a balm, patch, capsaicin cream, or ointment that contains diclofenac sodium on back pain.
In addition to pain relievers, back pain can also be treated with physiotherapy.
If the left back pain does not go away even though you have tried the methods above, or if the back pain is accompanied by fever, numbness, tingling, and difficulty moving your legs, you should immediately consult a doctor so that he can be given proper treatment.