Pain on the left side of the body
definition
Pain in the left side of the body can have several causes. The body is anatomically divided into two halves in the midline on the spine or on the sternum. Pain that occurs to the left of this midline affects the left half of the body. Since there are many possible causes for the symptoms, many people are familiar with this problem and develop pain on the left side of the body at least once in their lives. Persistent and / or severe symptoms should give reason to consult a doctor in order to clarify serious illnesses as the cause.
You can find an overview of pain on the right side at: Pain on the right side of the body
Concomitant symptoms
Pain in the left side of the body is very unspecific and occurs with many different diseases and complaints.
In the case of pain on the left side of the body caused by incorrect posture, muscular tension or the like, there are hardly any other complaints besides the pain. If necessary, there may be movement restrictions.
In the case of herniated discs or nerve entrapment, there may be other symptoms in addition to pain. Irritated nerves can lead to sensory disorders such as numbness or tingling sensations. In the worst case, it can also lead to paralysis.
With an ectopic pregnancy, bleeding occurs in addition to the pain. It can also cause nausea and dizziness. Similar complaints can also occur with pronounced menstrual cramps.
In the case of an inguinal hernia, a bulge becomes noticeable on the affected groin. In addition, nausea and fever can occur.
If the pain is from digestive organs, such as stomach or intestines, digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting or changes in bowel movements may occur. In addition, a general feeling of fatigue can occur.
In the event of a heart attack, action must be taken immediately. In addition to pain, which mainly occurs in the chest area, but can also radiate into different regions such as the arm, neck or upper abdomen, there may be difficulty breathing, vomiting, sweat and a feeling of tightness.
Duration
It is not possible to make a general statement about the duration of pain in the left half of the body, as the duration is strongly dependent on the cause.
Pain due to incorrect posture, herniated discs or spinal column misalignments can on the one hand recede quickly, but in the worst case also become chronic.
In addition, the duration generally depends on when a treatment is started and how well it works.
Pain medication can often relieve pain quickly, but it should not be a long-term solution. In the event of long-lasting pain, it is always advisable to consult a doctor for clarification and treatment.
Pain on the left side under the ribs / costal arch
Pain on the left side of the body under the ribs or under the costal arch can occur, for example, during sports activities. The best known is the phenomenon of the so-called side stitches, in which there is stabbing and pulling pain in the rib area when endurance sports are carried out - especially when running. Muscular irritation in the rib area can also occur, for example after sporting activities. Between the ribs, the intercostal nerves run, which can also be pinched or irritated. So-called intercostal neuralgia then occurs, which causes stabbing pain along such a nerve course. The spleen is also located in the left upper abdomen behind the ribs. If the spleen is enlarged as part of a disease, it can press on surrounding structures and cause pain on the left side of the body. Last but not least, complaints there can also be triggered by diseases of the stomach and intestines.
Also read our topic: Pain in the left costal arch
Pain in the left side like a stitch in the side
Pain on the left side that feels like a stitch in the side, but does not occur in a typical situation - such as during exercise, for example - can be attributed to different causes. The most obvious are musculoskeletal causes, i.e. disorders in the musculoskeletal system. Stitches in the side are typically felt in the area of the costal arch at the level of the lowest rib. Since nerves run between the individual ribs, pinching or irritation of such a nerve can lead to stabbing pain that can feel similar to a stitch in the side. A muscular injury or sore muscles in the chest area can cause similar symptoms.
You might also be interested in the following topic: Stitch
Pain in the left side of the back
Pain on the left side of the body can be caused by problems in the back area. Back problems are a common clinical picture in the western world, as many people have insufficiently developed back muscles due to a lack of exercise and predominantly sedentary activities. Muscular imbalances lead to unfavorable postures and thus to pain in the back or sides. Slipped discs can also trigger pain that radiates to the left side of the body. When a disc bulges out of its original position, it can press on nerves emerging from the spinal cord at this point. Along the course of the nerves, pain can vary in severity, including sensory disorders and motor failures. Bony additions or alterations to the spine can also occur, which constrict the spinal canal and thus press on nerves. This can also explain pain on the left side of the body.
Pain on the left side of the abdomen
Pain on the left side of the body in the lower abdomen suggests various causes. In women, the pain often comes from the internal genital organs. They can be caused during ovulation, your period or, for example, by ovarian cysts. Very severe pain occurs with a twisted ovarian cyst and with an ectopic pregnancy. Since these are emergencies, medical intervention must be taken immediately. Pathological changes in the uterus are also a possible cause of the pain. In addition, an inguinal hernia should be considered if there is pain in the left lower abdomen. This creates a gap in the abdominal wall through which tissue or - in the case of large fractures - loops of intestine push through. Particularly when the pressure in the abdomen increases, such as when coughing or pressing, pain and bulging of the hernial sac occur. For anatomical reasons, this clinical picture occurs more frequently in men than in women, but an inguinal hernia should always be considered in these as well.
In men, pain in the left abdomen can also be caused by testicular torsion. A testicle rotates around itself and thereby constricts its vascular supply. This is an emergency and must be surgically corrected as soon as possible, otherwise it will lead to death with loss of the testicle.
Also read our topic: Pain in the left lower abdomen
Left Side Pain During Pregnancy
Pain on the left side of the body during pregnancy is often caused by the growing child taking up more space in the mother's abdominal cavity and thereby displacing surrounding structures and organs. In addition, the child's movements in advanced pregnancy often cause pain when the child struggles hard and the mother's organs are compressed as a result. In addition, the mother's body has to give the child more and more space, which means that the ligament structures and muscles have to stretch. This repeatedly leads to pulling or dull pains, which can manifest themselves in different parts of the body. Since pain on the left side of the body during pregnancy can also have other causes, pregnant women should consult a doctor early if the symptoms persist or are very severe.
Read more on the topic: Abdominal pain in pregnancy
Pain in the left side from the heart / heart attack
Pain in the left side of the body can be caused by a heart attack. Typically, a heart attack results in pain in the middle to left chest that can radiate into the left arm and jaw. The pain cannot be aggravated by pressure on the chest and does not depend on breathing. In the case of breath-dependent pain, diseases of the lungs or the musculoskeletal system should be considered. In women, however, a heart attack can also manifest itself through non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain or nausea. Chest pain on the left side should be a reason to see a doctor.
Read more on the topic: Symptoms of a heart attack
Pain in the left side of the hip
Pain on the left side of the hip can occur after incorrect or excessive strain. Irritated muscle attachments can cause unpleasant pain over time, especially when moving. Particularly in older people with a history of falls, fractures in the hip or thigh neck area should always be considered. In children and young adults, there are also various diseases of the femoral head in which tissue death occurs. Persistent complaints should therefore be clarified by a doctor.
Read more on the topic: Hip pain
Pain in the left side of the neck
For example, pain on the left side of the body in the neck can come from the cervical spine. A herniated disc in this area can cause severe pain. Dislocated vertebrae or pinched nerves can also be considered for the symptoms. If there is pain in the neck, however, the heart must always be considered. Pain caused by a heart attack can radiate into the neck and jaw area and should therefore not be ignored.
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Pain in the left upper abdomen
Pain on the left side of the body in the upper abdomen can be explained by various causes. This is where the stomach lies. Inflammation of the gastric mucosa, stomach ulcers, stomach tumors and other pathologies of the organ are often manifested by complaints in the left upper abdomen. The pancreas can also cause pain in this area in the event of inflammation. Typically these then pull around the upper body in a belt shape. Of course, there is also a part of the intestine in the left upper abdomen from which the pain can originate. Often there is pain in the context of digestive complaints with increased gas formation. The excess gas can lead to intestinal cramps and severe pain.A pinched nerve or muscular problem are also possible. In addition, atypical symptoms of a heart attack should be considered, especially in older people with left-sided upper abdominal pain, especially if there are also shortness of breath and pressure on the chest or nausea.
Read more on the topic: Pain in the left upper abdomen
Pain in the left lower abdomen
Pain on the left side of the body that is concentrated in the left lower abdomen occurs, for example, in various diseases of the bowel. Older people often have what is known as sigmoid diverticulitis. This leads to protrusions of the intestinal mucosa in a certain section of the large intestine, in which stool accumulates. These balls of feces can lead to inflammation of the lining of the intestines in this area. The typical symptom is severe pain in the lower abdomen on the left side. In younger people, inflammatory bowel disease is an option, especially if the pain is accompanied by diarrhea, mucus and blood drainage. Last but not least, an inguinal hernia should be considered. Tissue or intestine bulges outwards through a gap in the abdominal wall and can be pinched. The ureters, which carry urine from the kidneys into the bladder, also run through the lower abdomen on both sides. Various circumstances can lead to the formation of kidney stones, which can then get stuck in the ureter. The result is severe, sudden pain, which usually appears cramped in the lower abdomen or groin area. Another possibility for left-sided lower abdominal pain is that the symptoms originate from the internal genital organs. In women, the cause often lies in the ovaries.
You might also be interested in the following topic: Pain in the left lower abdomen
Left leg pain
Pain on the left side of the body in the leg often originates in the back area. Herniated discs occur particularly often in the lower back and can then press off nerve roots running there.
The result is radiating pain from the back area, which can affect the buttocks and legs.
Read more about this at: Herniated disc: symptoms on the leg
There may also be a narrowing of the spinal canal in the area of the lower spine. The narrowness also causes compression of the nerve cords and sometimes very severe pain in the back, buttocks and legs.
However, the symptoms can also arise in the leg itself, for example after sports injuries. In addition, there may be a circulatory disorder in the leg, as in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD).
The leg then typically hurts initially under load, so that the person affected has to stand still after a while until the pain subsides.
In the case of a reddened, swollen leg, thrombosis of the deep leg veins should also be considered, which often occurs after immobilization (even after long trips, for example), bone fractures or coagulation disorders.
Pain in the left side of the chest
Pain in the left chest is a serious symptom of the disease as it occurs with different clinical pictures. Often they are merely an expression of a problem in the musculoskeletal system, such as pinched nerves, dislocated vertebrae or muscular tension. However, they can persist even with more serious illnesses. The most prominent example is the heart attack. The typical symptoms of a heart attack are left chest pain, which can radiate to the left arm and neck area, pressure on the chest, shortness of breath and sweating. Nausea and restlessness are also common. Pain in the left chest can also occur with pulmonary embolism or pneumonia.
Also read our topic: Left chest pain
Pain in the left side at the waist
Left waist pain can be caused by a variety of causes. From an anatomical point of view, the spleen, the left kidney including ureter, part of the intestine and part of the stomach are located in this area. Inflammation of the pancreas can also be painfully projected into this area. Last but not least, pinched nerves or muscular damage can also be a problem with pain in the left waist. In the area of the waist or flank, the kidney is the most typical organ that can cause symptoms there. Kidney inflammation is accompanied by severe pain and can be caused, for example, by an ascending urinary bladder infection. Stones in the kidney and stones in the ureter are also associated with pain in this area, which is typically described as cramp-like or colic-like. Infections or other diseases can also lead to an enlargement of the spleen. This is located in the left upper abdomen and, when enlarged, can cause dull pain due to compression of the neighboring structures. These can then also be perceived in the left waist area.
Jaw pain
Left side jaw pain is common to many people.
They are particularly widespread among teeth grinding people. If the teeth are unconsciously pressed and rubbed against each other during sleep, this puts a lot of strain on the teeth, the jawbones and the masticatory muscles.
In the long run, the chewing muscles become hardened and cramped and, in advanced stages, osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joints may occur. In the morning after waking up, those affected often feel a headache and a stiffness in the jaw when the mouth is opened.
Special occlusal splints from the dentist can help to better distribute the pressure when grinding. However, jaw pain on the left side can also come from radiating pain in the ear or parotid gland. Last but not least, they sometimes appear as a side effect of a heart attack, but then there is usually additional pain in the chest and shortness of breath.
Read more about this at: Jaw pain
Pain when coughing
Pain on the left side of the body when coughing can occur, for example, as part of an infection.
If there is strong urge to cough for a long time, the core muscles are strained and develop a kind of sore muscles. This can be painful when coughing.
Inflammatory processes or fractures in the trunk or abdominal area can also be painful when coughing, as the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases and the structures are compressed.
For example, coughing can cause pain in the case of umbilical or inguinal hernias, gastric mucosal inflammation, intestinal inflammation or pathological processes in the ovaries.
Read more about this at: Pain when coughing
Pain after drinking alcohol
Pain on the left side of the body after consuming alcohol is not a specific symptom of a specific illness that can be traced back to acute alcohol consumption.
However, regular alcohol consumption can cause some clinical pictures that can trigger left-sided pain, for example pancreatitis (Pancreatitis) and gastric mucosal inflammation (gastritis). In pancreatitis, belt-shaped pain typically occurs that pulls around the upper abdomen towards the back.
Read more on the subject at: Abdominal pain from alcohol
In inflammation of the gastric mucosa, the pain is more concentrated in the middle to left upper abdomen. In the case of acute pain on the left side after drinking alcohol once, this is not necessarily due to alcohol consumption. Therefore, in the event of severe symptoms, a doctor should be examined in order to rule out serious causes for the pain.
Read more on the subject at: Stomach pain after alcohol
Pain from stomach discomfort
From an anatomical point of view, the stomach is located in the middle to left upper abdomen.
Various diseases of the stomach can cause pain on the left side of the body.
The most common disease of the stomach is inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis), for example by:
- Smoke,
- Alcohol consumption,
- frequent coffee consumption,
- various drugs
- or bacteria can be triggered.
Autoimmune diseases can also cause gastric mucosal inflammation. In general, there is more gastric acid in the stomach than protective mucus, which leads to irritation of the mucous membrane. This leads to inflammation.
This can be very painful and can be accompanied by loss of appetite and a feeling of illness. In the context of an inflammation of the stomach lining, a stomach ulcer (Ulcer) arise. This is a deep tissue injury to the gastric mucosa with a scarred area.
The stomach ulcer can cause pain after eating, for example. In some cases, however, food intake improves the symptoms.
Another gastric disease that can cause pain on the left side is stomach cancer. However, gastric cancer typically does not cause symptoms until its late stages. Characteristic are a feeling of fullness, aversion to meat and general fatigue. If a gastric disease is suspected, a gastroscopy (Gastroscopy) respectively.
Tailbone pain
Tailbone pain on the left side can occur after a fall. A contusion of the tailbone is very painful and can make sitting almost unbearable for a while.
However, pain in the tailbone can also occur after an incorrect load or a one-sided posture over a longer period of time. Examples of this are a sitting position for a few hours (long car journeys, office work), lying down for a long time (illness, hospitalization) or tension in the lumbar and buttocks area, which can project into the rump area. Persistent pain can be further clarified by an orthopedic surgeon, for example.
Read more about this at: Tailbone pain
Left arm pain
Pain in the left arm occurs in various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Examples of this are slipped discs in the cervical spine, tension in the shoulder and neck area and diseases of the shoulder joint. All of these clinical pictures can trigger radiating pain in the arm and should definitely be examined by a doctor if there is any indication. Pain in the left arm after trauma can also indicate injuries to bones, ligaments or muscles in this area.
In addition, pain in the left arm can occur as a symptom of a heart attack, but is then often accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath. In particular, athletes who use their arms a lot often have pain in the arm area, which is caused by wear and tear on the joints and muscles. Sports that are particularly stressful on the arm are handball, baseball, tennis, golf, handball and volleyball.
Read more about this at: Left Arm Pain - What Do I Have?
Diaphragmatic pain
Diaphragmatic pain on the left side is most likely associated with a stitch in the side during physical activity.
However, it is still not clear whether the pain actually originates from the diaphragm.
Diaphragmatic pain can otherwise occur in the context of infectious diseases that are accompanied by strong coughing and are then to be interpreted in the sense of overstressing the diaphragm.
Because the diaphragm is a large muscle, a lot of coughing can overwork it.
However, as the symptoms of the cold subside, so should the pain. The diaphragm can also have hernia gaps through which abdominal organs can bulge into the chest. These breakthroughs are medically referred to as diaphragmatic hernias and in the vast majority of cases are symptom-free, but are fundamentally possible for complaints in the diaphragmatic area.
Read more about this at: Pain in the diaphragm
Spleen pain
Pain on the left side of the body can be triggered by abnormal changes in the spleen.
These are typically due to the fact that the organ enlarges in the context of various diseases.
For example with Pfeiffer's glandular fever. The enlarged organ hurts because the organ capsule is stretched. In addition, with greater enlargement, the spleen can press on neighboring organs and structures, which can then also be painful. Violence can also lead to a rupture of the spleen, which is acutely life-threatening as the spleen is very well supplied with blood.
Internal bleeding threatens within a short time. A quick operation is therefore essential. Last but not least, spleen pain can occur with tumors or infarcts of the spleen. Persistent complaints on the left side of the body should give rise to a medical evaluation in order to rule out serious illnesses.
Read more about this at: Pain in the spleen
