Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesAnatomyDescribing SymptomsAt-Home ReliefPrescribed Treatment OptionsMobility
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Anatomy
Describing Symptoms
At-Home Relief
Prescribed Treatment Options
Mobility
BongkarnThanyakij / Getty Images
Causes of Lower Left Back Pain
Back painis common and affects almost everyone at some point.Like lower right back pain, lower left back pain can have many causes, ranging from muscle and spine issues to organ infections.
One way to help tell what’s causing your lower back pain is to determine whether you’re also experiencing sciatica.Sciaticais a sharp or burning pain that radiates down one side of the body. It happens whenthe sciatic nerve, the body’s longest nerve, gets compressed or irritated. Here’s what might be causing your lower back pain:
Pain Without Sciatica
If you’re not experiencing sciatica, these are the culprits that could be causing your lower left back pain:
Pain With Sciatica
Some causes of lower left back pain can also cause sciatica. In many cases, over-the-counter (OTC)anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help with sciatica, but if it persists, it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider to find the root cause.
The causes of lower left back pain with sciatica include:
After Surgery
It’s normal to have back pain for up to six weeks after back surgery. However, if you experience new or worsening lower left back pain after surgery, you should speak with your healthcare provider.
Quick Lower Left Back Anatomy Review
The lumbar spine, pelvis, and hips can all play a role in causing lower left back pain.The spine, discs, and vertebrae can contribute to lower left back pain if they’re out of alignment or putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. In addition, the lower left back is home to many organs, including the kidneys. Inflammation and infection in these organs can impact the surrounding muscle and tissue and contribute to pain.
Describing Left-Sided Back Pain Symptoms
If you see a healthcare provider for your back pain, it’s helpful to know how to describe your symptoms. Answering these questions can help describe symptoms:
When Do Symptoms Warrant Medical Attention?
You should see a healthcare provider if your lower back pain is interfering with your daily activities. It’s also important to see a healthcare provider if you have:
How to Relieve Lower Left Back Pain at Home
The best way totreat back painat home is with rest, ice, heat, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugscan help with pain. Sleeping on a firm mattress and maintaining good posture can also help manage pain.
Some people with lower left back pain can benefit from alternative treatments, such as massage, chiropractic care, and acupuncture.
In addition to prescription treatments, your healthcare provider might recommendphysical therapy for lower back pain. A physical therapist can help resolve your issue and teach you movements that will build strength and help you avoid back pain in the future.
Moving Around With Lower Left Back Pain
If you have lower left back pain, it’s important not to move too much. Rest is really important for healing, although you don’t want to stop moving entirely. These tips can also help:
Once you’ve healed, building your core strength may help you avoid lower back pain in the future.
Summary
Lower left back pain usually resolves on its own, but if it lasts more than a few weeks, you should see a healthcare provider. This is considered chronic back pain, which can have a severe impact on your quality of life. Talk with your healthcare provider and ask for a referral to a specialist who can help manage your pain long-term.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Back pain.Penn Medicine.4 reasons you may have back pain on only one side.Cedars Sinai.Back pain during pregnancy.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Penn Medicine.Back pain that won’t go away—even with surgery.See QY, Tan JNB, Kumar DS.Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management.Singapore Med J.2021;62(6):271–275. doi:10.11622/smedj.2021086
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Back pain.Penn Medicine.4 reasons you may have back pain on only one side.Cedars Sinai.Back pain during pregnancy.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Penn Medicine.Back pain that won’t go away—even with surgery.See QY, Tan JNB, Kumar DS.Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management.Singapore Med J.2021;62(6):271–275. doi:10.11622/smedj.2021086
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Back pain.Penn Medicine.4 reasons you may have back pain on only one side.Cedars Sinai.Back pain during pregnancy.Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21Penn Medicine.Back pain that won’t go away—even with surgery.See QY, Tan JNB, Kumar DS.Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management.Singapore Med J.2021;62(6):271–275. doi:10.11622/smedj.2021086
National Institutes of Health.Back pain.
Penn Medicine.4 reasons you may have back pain on only one side.
Cedars Sinai.Back pain during pregnancy.
Aguilar-Shea AL, Gallardo-Mayo C, Sanz-González R, Paredes I.Sciatica. Management for family physicians.J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(8):4174-4179. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21
Penn Medicine.Back pain that won’t go away—even with surgery.
See QY, Tan JNB, Kumar DS.Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management.Singapore Med J.2021;62(6):271–275. doi:10.11622/smedj.2021086
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