Left Side Back Pain Causes

Left side back pain may or may not be a symptom of a serious health threat. But whether it's minor or major, it's still uncomfortable, distracting, and possibly, scary.

The goal of this article that will help you narrow down the causes for the left side back pain you're experiencing.

The following list covers the causes and symptoms of the most common types of back pain.

Non-specific Back Pain Most back pain is called non-specific back pain simply because the origin is unknown and a diagnosis hasn't yet been made. Statistically, this covers about 19 of every 20 back pain cases. It usually results from lifting something too heavy, lifting something improperly, over exertion during exercise, etc. Sometimes you get this type of back pain by sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress, or sleeping in an unusual position.

Muscle strains are the predominant cause of this kind of pain, which usually goes away in a few days.

Of course, pain from muscle strains can happen on either the right side or the left side.

Back Spasms This is a painful and involuntary muscle contraction in the back. When it occurs in the in the vicinity of the spinal cord or the nerve roots, it can be very painful. Back spasms sometimes result from mental, physical, emotional, or chemical stress.

Facet Joint Pain Facet joints connect each vertebra with the vertebra directly above and below. Thanks to facet joints, the spine is flexible. Occasionally, a facet joint will be injured or become inflamed, resulting in back pain. Facet joint problems have also been known to trigger back spasms.

Low back pain from the facet joints often radiates down into the buttocks and down the back of the upper leg. Pain can also radiate into the upper back and shoulders.

Symptoms of facet joint pain resemble symptoms of a herniated or ruptured disc, but there's usually no actual nerve involvement.

Referred Pain  This means that the pain you feel doesn't actually originate in the place that hurts. For example, a heart attack can cause pain in your left arm. Gallbladder problems often cause pain a shoulder blade.

Damage to the Spine and Nerves This can happen in a number of ways, but the most common is a disc problems.

Damaged nerves in the spine can cause pain to radiate to the left side or the right side of your back or even down your legs. The common example of this type of pain is a slipped, herniated or ruptured disc (all three names mean the same thing).

Discs are the "cushions" between the vertebra in your back. When they're working normally, they act like shock absorbers. But when a disc is injured or damaged in some fashion, it may bulge out of place or even or break open. This is called a herniated disc. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc.

A pinched nerve, which occurs as a result of an injury, overuse, or some other form of damage, can cause back pain on either side.

Sciatica is another relatively common condition caused by nerve damage. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in the body, with pathways crisscrossing the lower part of the body and even down into the legs. When the sciatic nerve is damaged, pinched or compressed, pain could radiate to almost anywhere below the waist.

Scoliosis, or curvature of the back, This occurs when the spine grows in a misaligned or "crooked fashion." This may drive the discs and vertebra out of position, causing them to compress nerves in the back. The result, of course, is pain.

Inflammatory Conditions Arthritis, bursitis and tendinitis are all conditions in which components of the joints are injured or worn down due to advancing age, misuse, or overuse. Inflammation causes pain.

Other Causes of Left Side Back Pain

Certain disorders of the colon and intestines can trigger left side back pain. Among these are Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), constipation, diarrhea, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and colitis, among others.

A kidney stone that forms in the left kidney can cause left side back pain.

Finally, left side back pain may simply be caused by bad posture. Slouching or hunching in front of a computer screen for long periods of time can cause pain in anywhere in your back.

Related articles: Left back pain causes, right back pain causes, right side back pain causes.