Lower Back Pain After Running on Left Side only

Lower Back Pain After Running on Left Side only

The woman is sitting on a bed with her hand on the left side of her waist

Most of us have dealt with lower back pain at some point in our lives. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that approximately 85 percent of people in the United States will deal with back pain at some point. A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that back pain is the third most common reason for doctor's visits in the United States, behind skin conditions and osteoarthritis. The 2019 National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that back pain was the most common type of pain in the United States, with 39 percent of respondents reporting back pain. I reported an episode of pain. Three months before conducting the survey.

Pain is often felt in the lower back on both sides of the body. However, some people experience back pain that affects only one side of the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Lower back pain that is felt only on the left side of the body can be caused by several different ailments, ranging in severity from normal aches and pains to emergencies. Here are some common reasons why your back pain may be localized to the left side only.

Lower left back pain with muscle strain or sprain man with left lower back pain

According to Dr. Anthony Romero, an orthopedic surgeon at Cottage Health, most lower back pain is caused by damage to the back muscles, ligaments, and tendons. While damage can be caused by a specific injury, it can also be caused by the stresses of everyday life. Improper bending or twisting, persistent poor posture, and repetitive motions can damage the tissues of the back, causing back pain. Dr. Lawrence Alexander, orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Alexander Bone and Spine Institute, writes in Spine Health that lower back pain can be caused by prolonged standing or sitting, or simply sleeping in an awkward position.

Because the back supports the entire body, it is prone to sprains, leading to injury to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Fortunately, lower back pain from a strain or sprain will resolve on its own within a few weeks. You can take some over-the-counter pain relievers and apply ice and heat to the injured area to get some relief (per Cottage Health). Staying active is also important. Although it may seem counterintuitive given the amount of pain you're likely to experience, keeping your body moving is essential to healing lower back injuries.

SciaticaMan telling a doctor about his left-sided sciatica pain Man telling a doctor about his left-sided sciatica pain

The sciatic nerve, which starts in the lower back and continues down the back of each leg, from leg to foot, is responsible for the sensation of movement of the muscles of the back of the leg and knee. . According to Penn Medicine, when the sciatic nerve is injured or compressed by surrounding tissues, it can cause sciatica. Symptoms of sciatica include pain, numbness, and tingling in the hips, lower back, legs, and feet. Usually, these symptoms are only on one side of the body because the sciatic nerve on that side is injured or compressed.

Sciatica is a symptom of another medical condition, so it's not the cause of back pain. Whatever is causing the injury or compression of the sciatic nerve is the main culprit. Spinal cord injuries or conditions such as stenosis or a slipped or herniated disc can either directly put pressure on the sciatic nerve or cause inflammation that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Fractures, tumors, or muscle injuries in the pelvis, especially the piriformis in the hips, can also cause sciatica.

To treat sciatica, the underlying condition needs to be properly diagnosed and addressed. Sometimes it's as simple as controlling inflammation with over-the-counter medications, heat, and ice. If the cause is related to the spine, more intensive treatment may be needed.

Piriformis Syndrome Woman with pain from piriformis syndrome Woman with pain from piriformis syndrome

According to Harvard Health Publishing, the piriformis muscle is located in the hips and connects the upper leg to the lower spine. To connect these structures, the piriformis muscle passes through the pelvic bone, right next to the sciatic nerve. When the piriformis muscle is damaged, the swelling can push on the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. It causes severe pain in the lower back that radiates to the buttocks and back of the leg. In fact, according to a review published in Orthopedic Clinics of North America, piriformis syndrome is the underlying cause in about 5% of cases of foot and hip pain.

Piriformis syndrome has some classic symptoms that distinguish it from other types of back pain. Pain that gets worse when you sit, especially from side to side, is a hallmark of piriformis syndrome (via Harvard Health Publishing). Pain in the buttocks or buttocks that radiates to the lower back and down the legs, as well as muscle spasms along the length of the piriformis muscle, distinguish piriformis syndrome from other types of back pain.

Piriformis syndrome can be caused by direct injury to the piriformis, spinal misalignment, prolonged sitting, extreme exercise, and irregular gait. Anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, and stretching are recommended treatments for piriformis syndrome.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain Helps Physical Therapist Stretches Physical Therapist Stretches Help

The sacroiliac joints (SI joints) are joints on either side of the pelvis, right next to the spine, per Sacroiliac joint pain. WebMD explains that both SI joints are responsible for transferring weight from the upper body to the lower body when performing movements such as moving from standing to sitting to walking. The SI joints aren't meant to move that much to do their job. Joints are supported by ligaments and muscles to ensure they stay in place.

When there is a direct or overuse injury to the SI joint or the surrounding muscles and ligaments, the structures become inflamed. This inflammation can cause significant pain in the lower back, usually only on the side that is injured. Damage to the SI joint or surrounding tissues can occur in several ways, including falls, sports injuries, and high-impact physical activities such as running, uneven walking, or arthritis. People with leg length differences are particularly prone to SI joint dysfunction as this discrepancy commonly affects gait.

SI joint pain can often be resolved with physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and anti-inflammatory medications. When your medical professional determines that your lower back pain is due to SI joint pain, they will discuss which treatments are best for your specific situation.

A herniated disc in the lumbar spine MRI of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine

The spinal column is made up of small bones called vertebrae, and between each set of vertebrae are fluid-filled sacs called discs. Dr. David Wu, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, explains on his blog that discs protect the spine by absorbing the impact of body movements. Then, these discs are under a lot of pressure, literally and figuratively. As we age, discs begin to wear down, and this degeneration can cause them to slip out of place or rupture. When they do, part of the disc protrudes between the vertebrae. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition is called a herniated disc, or sometimes a slipped disc. Herniated discs are most common in the lower back, known as the spine.

Herniated discs don't always cause pain, but when a bulging disc pinches a spinal nerve, it can cause a lot of pain. Usually, the pain is unilateral. The location and type of pain depend on where the disc is in the spine and whether it is compressing the nerve. If you are experiencing pain from a herniated disc on the lower left side of your back, you may also experience pain in your hips. Some people also experience pain in their thighs and calf from a herniated disc. Because the pain is often nerve pain, some people also experience numbness and tingling in their back, hips, and legs.

Facet Joint Disorders The doctor is pointing at the facet joints on a model of the spinal column

Each vertebra in the spine is attached to small joints called facet joints. According to a paper published in the medical journal Insights into Imaging, a combination of conditions can occur when facet joints are injured or when they begin to degenerate. Facet joint osteoarthritis, which occurs when the joint wears down, is the most common disorder of the facet joints. Research shows that 10-15% of low back pain in young people and up to 40% of low back pain in older people is due to facet joint syndrome.

Spine Health notes that facet joints can be damaged anywhere in the spine, and sometimes more than one damaged facet joint contributes to back pain. When the facet joints in the lower spine are affected, symptoms include persistent lower back pain, stiffness, and referred pain in the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and thighs. Facet joint disorders can also cause problems with posture and limit physical activity. Symptoms of sciatica can also develop if the damaged facet joint protrudes or shifts and compresses a nerve. Although it is possible for both sides of the joint to be damaged, causing pain on both sides, if the damage is on one side, the pain will also be unilateral.

Kidney stones Woman having an ultrasound of her left kidney Woman having an ultrasound of her left kidney

When urine contains too many chemicals and not enough water, the chemicals can begin to form hard crystals. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the kidneys normally remove chemicals before they form solid crystals. When they don't, other substances in the body attach themselves to these hard crystals, and enlarge them, until they become kidney stones. Kidney stones are more likely to form if someone is chronically dehydrated, exercises excessively, or eats a diet that contains chemicals that can accumulate in the urine, especially oxalate.

According to the Iowa Clinic, large kidney stones can cause severe pain along with some other unpleasant symptoms. Most people only notice symptoms of a kidney stone when it is large enough to block part of the urinary tract. Since all of the urinary tract organs are in the middle and lower back, an obstruction anywhere along the urethra can cause lower back pain. Often this pain is limited to the affected side.

Back pain is often not the only symptom of kidney stones, and some people do not have back pain but have other symptoms. Some people have stomach or back pain. Nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills are common, as are urinary symptoms such as difficulty urinating, cloudy urine, or blood in the urine.

Kidney infection woman with lower back pain

The kidneys, which are primarily responsible for removing waste from the body, are located toward the back of the body, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine, according to WebMD. Because of their location, the kidneys are sometimes only felt on one side of the cause of back pain. Kidney infections, which often occur when an infection from the ureter or bladder reaches the kidney, are the most common source of kidney pain, notes K Health.

Often only one kidney is fighting the infection, which is why the pain is often felt only on one side -- although pain from a kidney infection can also often be felt in the middle or upper back (via WebMD). Although lower back pain on the left side is more likely to be a muscle strain than a kidney infection, pain from a kidney infection can be felt in the lower back in rare circumstances.

Kidney pain often feels like a dull ache that won't go away no matter how you move your body, with intermittent stabbing pains. Back pain will rarely be the only symptom of a kidney infection. Pain is usually accompanied by fever, difficulty urinating, and/or cloudy or bloody urine. Sometimes nausea and vomiting also occur.

Urinary tract infection Woman with UTI Woman with UTI

The urinary system consists of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and urethra. According to Cleo Land Clinic A urinary tract infection, commonly called a UTI, refers to an infection that occurs anywhere in the urinary system. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary system, usually through the urethra. Often the infection stays in the urethra or urethra, but it can travel to the bladder or kidney.

UTIs usually don't cause back pain, according to PlushCare. More common symptoms include pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, the urgency to urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, and pelvic pressure. However, severe UTIs can cause lower back pain that is on one side or the entire lower back because most of the urinary system is located in the mid to lower back.

Lower back pain along with the more common UTI symptoms can indicate a serious infection. You should see a doctor as soon as possible because the infection will not resolve without antibiotics. Similarly, your back pain will persist until the infection begins to clear up, usually a few days after starting antibiotics.

Endometriosis Woman Lays On Bed In Severe Pain Woman Rolls On Bed In Severe Pain

For people with female anatomy, endometriosis can be the culprit behind chronic lower back pain, especially if the pain occurs during menstruation (via The Femedik). Endometriosis is a chronic reproductive disease in which the lining of the uterus -- the endometrium -- grows outside the uterus. Cancerous tissue can grow anywhere in the body, but most often grows on organs and tissues around the uterus.

When endometrium grows on the bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, or nerves in the lower back, it can cause pain before and during menstruation. If the endometrium grows on the bladder, kidneys, or bowels, the lower back can also be painful. Endometriosis can cause lower back pain on both sides or just one side, depending on where the endometrium is growing. If the endometrium grows on or around the sciatic nerve, endometriosis can also cause endometriosis sciatica, per Seckin MD Endometriosis Center. In rare cases, as described in a case study published in World Neurosurgery, endometriosis can grow directly onto the spinal column and nerves surrounding the spinal cord, causing neuropathic pain. happens.

Although lower back pain due to endometriosis often begins as cyclical pain -- pain that starts a week before your period and lasts until your period -- it often becomes daily. Chronic pain when the condition worsens. Back pain due to endometriosis is almost always accompanied by pelvic pain, abdominal pain, and heavy, irregular periods.

FibroidsDoctor holds a scalpel over a cross-section model of a uterus with fibroidsDoctor holds a scalpel over a cross-section model of a uterus with fibroids

Because the uterus is located close to the tissues that make up the back, problems with the uterus are often an unexpected cause of lower back pain for people with female anatomy. According to PainTheory, sometimes uterine fibroids grow large enough to cause lower back pain, which can be on one or both sides, depending on the location and size of the fibroid. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in and on the uterus. They can develop in the lining of the uterus, inside the uterine cavity, or even outside the uterus. Fibroids can be very small, but some can grow up to 20 cm. In some cases, fibroid growth can cause the uterus to expand up to ten times its normal size.

Larger fibroids can begin to press on tissues or nerves in the back or pelvis, which can cause lower back pain as well as pelvic pain. According to the University of California San Francisco Health, fibroids that develop on the back outside of the uterus are more likely to cause back pain than fibroids that develop inside the uterus. However, fibroids inside the uterus can cause back pain if they grow large enough. Other symptoms that indicate your back pain may be caused by fibroids include abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, urinary problems, pressure in the pelvis or rectum, and pain during sex.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Doctor points to a visual representation of the bowel, highlighted in red to indicate inflammation Doctor points to a visual representation of the bowel, highlighted in red to indicate inflammation is done

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are similar conditions that cause inflammation in different parts of the intestine. According to a study published in the medical journal PLOS One, the umbrella term for these diseases is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). When people with IBD have a flare-up, 50-70% experience pain as one of their symptoms. Sometimes this pain is due to intestinal inflammation and stomach discomfort, but some people also experience pain due to systemic disorders.

ic symptoms that originate outside the intestines. Researchers and doctors don't know exactly what causes pain outside the intestines in people with IBD. Systemic inflammation that spreads throughout the body certainly plays a role in pain, however, it does not explain why some people with IBD have pain that is not caused by inflammation.

Research shows that about 38 percent of people with IBD experience back pain regularly. And according to another study published in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, back pain is a chronic problem for 13% of people with IBD. The majority of reported back pain was localized to the lower back. The exact location of the pain depends on which part of the digestive system was affected by the inflammatory bowel disease. In some cases, the pain in the lower back is limited to one side or more prominent, but in others, the pain is uniform throughout the lower back.

Pancreatitis Doctor Examining Pancreas and Gallbladder Model Doctor Examining Pancreas and Gallbladder Model

Inflammation of the pancreas, a small organ of the digestive system that sits behind the stomach, is called pancreatitis. According to the National Health Service (NHS), acute pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes inflamed for a short period. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is permanently damaged by long-term or repeated inflammation, usually due to multiple previous episodes of acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis does not usually cause back pain. Severe abdominal pain is the most common symptom of acute and chronic pancreatitis. However, in rare cases, pain from the abdomen radiates to the left side of the back. As the pancreas becomes more damaged by inflammation, episodes of pain can become frequent and severe. Sometimes people have a constant dull pain in the abdomen with intermittent episodes of sharp pain.

Acute or chronic pancreatitis is probably not the cause of lower left-side pain in people who have never had pancreatitis before. However, there are always exceptions. A case study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine presented the case of a 63-year-old woman whose only symptom of acute pancreatitis was a pain in the left side of her back. Still, there are many more causes of left lower back pain than pancreatitis.

When should you see your doctor about lower back pain? The doctor and nurse are talking to a man with left-sided back pain.

Although back pain can seriously affect your daily life and make you extremely uncomfortable, it is usually not an emergency. As GoodRx discusses, relatively minor injuries to the tissues in the back are the most common cause of back pain. For the most part, back pain does not require a trip to the emergency room.

However, if the pain on the left side of your back is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be time to seek urgent care. The most common sign that your back pain is due to an infection is a fever. So, if you suddenly develop a fever, get someone to a doctor as soon as possible. If your left lower back pain is severe and doesn't get any relief from standing, sitting, or lying in any position, it's time to get checked out. Go to the emergency room right away if both legs start to feel weak or numb, or if you lose control of your bowels or bladder. This is often a sign of a serious condition.

Most importantly, lower left back pain on its own, even if it's bad enough, is usually not a sign of an emergency. Often you will start to feel better with a little rest and treatments you can do at home.