Kidney stone, herniated disc, etc., are some of the common causes of back pain. This article will give you information on the causes of pain on the left side of the back.

Back pain can cause a lot of discomfort and can even prevent the person from doing his daily activities. It can be a dull and mild ache that lasts for a long period, or a severe, excruciating pain that comes suddenly and may last for several minutes or hours. In minor cases, sitting or sleeping in improper posture for a long time is the common cause of backache.

► Causes

Injury
Injury to the back or the vertebrae is one of the most common causes. It can be caused due to strain in the muscles caused due to muscle pull or twist. Secondly, sprain caused due to sudden twisting or wrenching of the ligaments also leads to sudden lower back pain.

Kidney Stones
Among all the causes, kidney stone is one of the most prominent and painful ones. Kidney stones is a condition caused when the excess calcium and uric acid in the body gets converted into stones. If the stone is formed in the left kidney, one experiences pain in the left side of the back. Symptoms of kidney stones include back pain, pain in lower abdomen, difficulties in urination, and other problems of the urinary tract.

Herniated Disc
Herniated disc is caused when the disc present between two consecutive vertebrae get inflamed or ruptured. This condition can be caused due to injury, aging or as a result of obesity. Back pain on the left side, sciatica, etc., are the symptoms of this condition.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The sacroiliac joint is located in the pelvic girdle in the lower back. Trauma, inflammatory joint disease, hormonal problems, etc., can lead to the sacroiliac joint pain. Back pain above waist, stiffness, aching, etc., are the symptoms of this condition.

Spondylitis
Spondylitis occurs when the vertebrae or the spinal joint gets inflamed. It can be of different types like ankylosing, rheumatoid, traumatic, spondylitis deformans, Kümmel, and Marie-Strümpell, etc. Stiffness, particularly after getting up in the morning, back pain, etc., are the symptoms of this condition.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome, although a digestive disorder, is one of the causes of back pain. The exact cause of this condition is not known, but stress, diet, dietary habits, etc., are said to trigger this condition. It is characterized by alternating phases of constipation and diarrhea, left side back pain under ribs, abdominal pain after eating, bloating, etc.

Pregnancy
Lower back pain in early pregnancy can be caused due to the pressure on the back put by the increasing size of the uterus and increasing weight or due to hormonal changes.

If a person observes any of the above mentioned symptoms, he/she should consult the doctor immediately. There are several treatment methods like medications, physical therapy, surgical procedures, etc., that help in pain relief. It is advised to take complete rest to ease the pain. Secondly, the doctor may also advise back exercises to alleviate the pain as early as possible.

Lastly, you should remember that most of the above mentioned causes can be effectively treated if timely treatment is undertaken. Therefore, you should not ignore any type of pain and symptoms. Take care!

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, seek to replace the advice of an expert.