Eighty percent of the world�s adults will experience back pain at least once in their lifetimes. Back pain has a wide range of causes and can manifest itself in a few ways. What is often hard for people to understand is that just because they are experiencing pain in their back, does not mean that it is the back that is necessarily injured. Back pain can be a symptom of something wrong anywhere in the body. One of the most common forms of back pain is the back pain lower left side.
Back pain lower left side will usually send people running to the orthopaedist, even though the pain that manifests in the lower left side of the back is usually because of simple and common bodily conditions.
The lower left area of the back that is made up of many different body parts. The muscles in this part of the back are controlled by the lumbar portion of the spine. This part of the spine consists of five vertebrae and a cartilage disk. The spinal column is also home to a family of nerves. This area also has ligaments and muscles that support movement and help to stabilize the back.
Back pain lower left side can occur for a number of reasons. Strain on the muscles could be one reason, excessive heavy lifting and too much exercise could also account for pain felt in this region of the back. People who do not have proper posture or who are obese are also likely to experience back pain lower left side. Age can play a big part in the healthfulness of the entire back as can arthritis. It is certainly not uncommon to develop arthritis in a single area of the back. Arthritis happens because the joints located in that region become inflamed and worn. Pain in the lower left side of the back can also be caused by the vertebrae and discs of the spine growing thin and not providing enough cushion during movement. Pain can also occur because the muscles and spine lose their elasticity. Probably the most serious cause of pain in the lower left quadrant of the back is a herniated disc.
A herniated disc is a disc that will slide into the spinal column as it begins to bulge. A herniated disc is very painful and the pain comes not just from the disc itself but also because the nerves in the spinal column become pinched where the disc is intruding. These pinched nerves cause weakness and pain in the back and the legs.
Typically back pain lower left side is caused by a strain muscle. This kind of back pain is easily treated with rest, ice (or heat) and an over the counter anti-inflammatory medicine like Aleve or Advil.
Obviously the first place you will look for comfort when you experience back pain lower left side is your doctor�s office. Your doctor can run a few tests and establish the source of the pain and will put you on the right path to fixing that pain.
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #1
Back pain is one of the most common forms of bodily pain. It is estimated that eight in ten people will be affected by back pain. Amazingly, back pain is one of the easiest injuries to prevent. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #2
Believe it or not, cigarette smoking can increase a person�s risk of developing lower back pain and sciatica. What�s more, smoking can prolong the healing process which means that back injuries, surgery and bones will cause pain for a longer period of time. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #3
The best thing a person can do to keep his or her back healthy is to get regular exercise. In addition to a few muscle specific exercises that can be found by way of a simple web search, it has been proven that exercises geared toward balance and strength (like yoga) can help a person decrease his or her risk of falling and causing injury to the back muscles. |
