Kidney diseases
Pain on the left side often indicates kidney disease. Of course, the kidneys are located below the lower back, but the pain can radiate to the groin, perineum, and waist. Therefore, making an accurate diagnosis can sometimes be difficult.
The most common kidney disease is pyelonephritis. It can be double-sided or one-sided. Therefore, pain may only occur in the side, but this is not the only symptom. Other manifestations include symptoms of intoxication, high body temperature, lack of appetite, weakness, and swelling. Urination is difficult, urine is released in small portions and the patient constantly wants to urinate.
Another common cause is urolithiasis. The pain will depend on the level of the stone. If the stone is too large and blocks the ureter, renal colic develops. The pain most often occurs in the lower back, but can radiate to the groin, lower abdomen or perineum. Another important symptom is the appearance of blood in the urine.
Diseases of the urinary system
When pain in the left side radiates to the back, and the discomfort does not disappear for a long time, the following diseases of the urinary system may be the cause:
- renal colic;
- renal artery thrombosis;
- nephritis;
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis, etc.
In this case, the pain is nagging or sharp, disappearing for a while. Such manifestations are characteristic of urolithiasis. At the same time, sometimes the left side from the back hurts, blood is found in the urine, and the patient experiences discomfort when urinating.
In addition to the listed symptoms, the patient may complain of headache, loss of appetite, swelling in the morning, and increased blood pressure.
When the renal pelvis is affected by the inflammatory process, the pain is often dull aching, there are signs of intoxication (fever, nausea and vomiting). In the chronic form, relapses are observed in the cold season.
Intestinal diseases
Pain in the waist area on the right side may appear as a result of intestinal colic. The main reason is errors in food. The pain can be concentrated in one point, but often spreads throughout the abdomen.
This condition can be caused by intestinal infections and helminth infections. Another disease that can cause these symptoms is ulcerative colitis. It can hurt on any side. Other symptoms include blood in the stool, frequent diarrhea, tenesmus, and severe weight loss.
Flank pain in the waist area may occur if you have Crohn's disease. In addition, the disease causes other manifestations - frequent diarrhea, blood during bowel movements, and problems with nutrition.
Pain in the waist area towards the back
Most often we are talking about renal pathology, but diseases of the musculoskeletal system and other painful conditions should be in the field of view.
Impaired kidney function and dull pain at the waist level from the back
Urinary system dysfunction is a serious problem when the normal functioning of the kidneys is disrupted due to certain reasons. Let's name common diseases:
1 Urolithiasis can cause very sharp and severe dull pain from the back in the kidney area. Salt crystals deposited in the kidney tissue form stones that interfere with the normal flow of urine. Therefore, it often hurts near the waist in the right side and radiates to the back. If the formed kidney stones are still small, it is possible to use conservative techniques to help remove the stones naturally. Renal colic (very severe back pain) in terms of intensity occupies one of the first places in the assessment of pain syndrome. Surgery is required when the stones reach a significant size.
2 Nephroptosis and pain near the lower back from the back to the abdomen. This is the name for a condition when the kidney descends abnormally relative to its normal anatomical position. It occurs due to weakening of the ligamentous apparatus that holds the kidney, due to injury or due to sudden weight loss. Patients with nephroptosis complain that they have pain behind the ribs in the right side near the waist, the pain increases with heavy lifting and active sudden movements. In such cases, drug treatment, physical therapy, special exercises, and the use of a bandage are recommended to help the kidney return to its normal position.
3 Hydronephrosis and back pain radiating to the right side of the abdomen. As a result of infection or for other reasons, a pathological increase in the size of the renal pelvis along with the calyces occurs. This process, as it progresses, leads to atrophic changes in the parenchymal tissue, when healthy tissue is replaced by connective structures that are unable to drain urine normally, sometimes there is a stabbing pain in the right side near the waist, closer to the back, the temperature rises, and signs of intoxication increase. Uncomplicated forms of the disease require drug treatment; in advanced situations, when urination is almost impossible, surgical methods are used.
4 Glomerulonephritis and severe pain on the right side. Characterized by damage to the glomeruli of the kidneys (glomeruli). It develops as a result of infection and when the body’s defenses are weakened. The ability of the kidneys to drain urine normally is affected. The patient is bothered by aching pain and swelling. The urine contains bloody impurities. Therapy is based on the use of medications that can relieve inflammation, and diet must be followed.
Other reasons
If the patient complains of a slight feeling of heaviness in the side, then this may be an accumulation of toxins in the intestines. To get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to carry out cleansing procedures using special teas or medications.
If it is a dull pain that is constantly present, one can assume chronic diseases of the abdominal cavity. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to undergo such an accessible and simple test as an ultrasound.
Pain in the right side in the waist area is due to overeating or lactose deficiency. The most unpleasant sensations are usually short-lived. Additional symptoms include flatulence and stool upset.
If the symptoms are in the area of the right hypochondrium, then you should think about gallbladder disease. However, exactly the same manifestations can occur with myocardial infarction. You can distinguish one from the other using an ECG.
The main symptom is a sharp, acute, squeezing pain syndrome. Additional complaints include nausea, bitterness in the mouth, and vomiting, which does not bring relief.
But back pain is not only a problem with internal organs. Often this symptom appears with osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia. This is especially dangerous in advanced disease, when the syndrome is so severe that the patient is unable to lead a normal lifestyle.
Where is the pain felt on the right side of the abdomen?
Pain in the right hypochondrium near the waist should be paid attention to, taking into account all the characteristics of the pain syndrome in combination with concomitant symptoms. This will make it possible to preliminarily determine in which direction to look for the source of the problem.
Individual diseases have different levels of pain intensity and duration. It can be periodically disturbing or constantly tormenting, have clear local boundaries or be characterized by blurriness, occur suddenly or grow slowly. The patient should be especially alert to attacks of acute, sharp pain, as this may be a symptom of an emergency condition.
Localization of pain on the right side of the abdomen is an important factor in diagnosis, helping to identify which of the systems has started to malfunction:
1 if there is acute pain near the waist on the right side of the abdomen, the digestive organs need to be diagnosed;
2 when the right side hurts at waist level and radiates to the back, it is necessary to analyze the condition of the urinary organs (kidneys, ureters);
3 dull pain on the right side of the abdomen may be associated with disruptions in the functions of the genital area.
When assessing the nature of the pain syndrome, you need to take into account the entire range of unpleasant sensations that bother a person.
How to treat
Treatment for pain in the waist area on the right will depend entirely on the cause of the disease. And an accurate diagnosis can only be made after diagnostic procedures with a doctor.
So, for example, if it is appendicitis, then urgent hospitalization and surgery are required. If this is not done, a complication such as diffuse peritonitis will begin, which is very life-threatening.
If this is intestinal colic, then you should take medications that contain simethicone or enzymes. You can buy them at any pharmacy. They will relieve the increased content of gases in the intestines and the general condition will immediately return to normal.
If it is pancreatitis, then immediate hospitalization is required. For a long time, the patient must follow a special diet and also take all medications prescribed by the doctor.
Ways to determine the causes of pain
In modern conditions , it is possible to determine the cause of pain using several basic diagnostic methods:
- CT scan;
- Ultrasound of internal organs;
- magnetic resonance therapy;
- biochemical and general analysis of urine and blood.
Pain can be different and its manifestations can also determine the underlying cause. If there is a problem with the kidneys, then long-term pain will radiate under the ribs and in the back. They are accompanied by frequent urination, elevated body temperature and swelling in the lower extremities in the morning.
When the lung tissue is damaged, the pain becomes pulsating in the left hypochondrium and intensifies when walking.
If there are problems with the spine, an obvious symptom will be acute pain in the back , it manifests itself when exhaling. If there is pain in the ribs of the thoracic region, then it is associated with intercostal neuralgia.
During the inflammatory process in the kidneys and spleen, prolonged and dull attacks occur. Very severe girdle pain can occur with acute pancreatitis. It appears in the epigastric region with irradiation to the lower chest and heart.
The problem of lumbodynia almost always combines all of the listed symptoms. If the described signs are present, then you should immediately consult a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.
Pain in left side at waist level
It is necessary to consider in more detail the possible causes of pain in the left side. An organ such as the spleen is located near the surface of the body. It performs the function of destroying obsolete red blood cells; the spleen destroys blood cells after 120 days of their life. If there are any diseases in the spleen, then the capsule increases in size. This causes severe attacks in the left side. Various ailments and injuries can provoke spleen disease. As a result, the spleen becomes soft and may rupture. With a spleen problem, there is always a sharp pain when pressed as it becomes very sensitive and vulnerable.
Another reason for severe pain may be a sore stomach. Gastritis causes aching pain in the left side with attacks of nausea and vomiting. Painful sensations also appear when there are more serious diseases - stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, stomach cancer.
With the appearance of a diaphragmatic hernia, the size of the opening between the chest and abdominal cavities becomes larger. The stomach moves from the abdominal to the chest cavity. Gastric juice causes severe pain in the left side.
Problems with the pancreas lead to pain , hence the pain in the left side of the abdominal cavity. When the gland becomes inflamed, it begins to press, and the pain radiates to the back. The organ passes through the entire section of the left side of the stomach. If you have problems with the pancreas or gallbladder, you should immediately pay attention to this. This also applies to those who like alcoholic drinks and smoke a lot.
Pain in the left side in women
Women often complain of pain on the left side . This is mainly associated with the female organs. They can be triggered by inflammation of the appendages and uterus. There are cases when pain appears during pregnancy. This sign occurs in the event of a threatened miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Pain syndrome causes several reasons:
- due to progesterone deficiency, intense contraction of the uterus occurs;
- increased growth of the uterine body;
- the fetus puts pressure on the intestines and this causes constipation and pain, since there is no free access of food to the intestines.
Diagnostics
If there is pain in the left side from the back, who should I contact? This is the question everyone who experiences the symptoms described asks themselves. There are several specialists who can help you professionally understand the problem and find out the cause of the disease:
- gastroenterologist;
- infectious disease specialist;
- gynecologist;
- surgeon;
- traumatologist;
- general doctor;
- Family doctor.
Specialists will be able to determine the cause of pain and choose the right treatment tactics. If the symptoms are caused by an infectious disease, it is very important to select the appropriate antibacterial therapy. For urolithiasis, the best treatment method is lithotripsy. The stones are crushed after which they come out and the problems are solved.
To fully verify the true cause, you need to undergo a full examination and visit several specialists. All internal organs are interconnected.
In this case, self-medication will not help , but will only harm. If pain occurs constantly, you cannot postpone a visit to the doctor. This suggests that processes that destroy health have begun to occur inside the body. Often, due to lack of time, people do not attach importance to this, procrastinate and do not go to the hospital. You always need to be attentive to your body, listen to unpleasant and painful sensations, otherwise there will be a risk of serious consequences.
