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Back pain on the left side
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
Left back pain is an extremely common symptom. It occurs with a wide variety of diseases, and therefore the key to successful treatment is the most accurate diagnosis possible. A thorough examination of the body, as a rule, makes it possible to clearly determine the cause of the pain.
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Diseases that cause pain in the left back
Back pain on the left can accompany various diseases of internal organs.
1. Cardiovascular diseases:
- angina pectoris, small-focal myocardial infarction (especially of the posterior wall), which often cause painful sensations between the shoulder blades on the left side at the level of TIII-TIV paravertebrally;
- aneurysm of the aorta, which is characterized by pain of a constant, moderate or intense nature. Painful sensations can sometimes be caused by compression of the thoracic spinal nerves;
- pericarditis, which is characterized by pain of varying intensity. They can gradually increase, sometimes radiating to the shoulder, back, neck, back. It is often noted that the patient is forced to take a certain body position (sitting with a slight forward tilt).
2. Diseases of the respiratory system:
- dry pleurisy, which is accompanied by cutting pain in the right or left half of the chest, directly related to respiratory movements;
- sudden pneumothorax with spontaneously occurring acute chest pain radiating to the scapula. This disease is characterized by a decrease in chest excursion on the affected side and a complete absence of any noise during auscultation;
- pneumonia, one of the symptoms of which is intense or moderate pain in the right or left half of the chest or in the shoulder blade. The pain can increase with coughing and deep breathing. In addition, fever, cough, and wheezing in the lungs during auscultation are noted in parallel;
- cancer of the bronchi or lungs. The intensity, nature and pattern of pain depend on the location of the disease and its spread. If the apex of the lung is affected, then Pencoast syndrome develops (this disease is also called brachial plexopathy), in which pain is noted in the shoulder, scapula, medial surface of the arm. If pleural proliferation occurs, pain appears in the chest on the affected side, which significantly increases with body movements, coughing and breathing. If the intercostal nerve is involved, the pain may be of a girdle nature.
3. Diseases of the digestive system:
- acute pancreatitis with spontaneously occurring pain of high intensity in the epigastric region, which is of a girdle nature and radiates to the shoulder girdle, scapula, lower left part of the chest, heart area. There may also be pronounced spasm of the abdominal muscles;
4. Diseases of the urinary system:
- renal artery thrombosis and renal colic;
- Retroperitoneal hematoma. Spontaneous pain of unknown origin in the lumbar region in a patient receiving anticoagulant therapy.
5. Disorders of the peripheral nervous system and spinal cord. The pain in this case is often shooting and has a projection character, that is, its pattern is limited to the skin representation of the affected root or nerve. Often, such pain is characterized by distal spread.
If you have back pain on the left, first of all, you need to immediately consult a specialist. It is not recommended to delay going to the doctor, since, at first glance, a minor symptom may turn out to be a signal of a very serious illness that can be successfully treated with timely treatment and the correct course of treatment. So, you need to contact a gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, traumatologist, orthopedist, chiropractor, therapist, family doctor, cardiologist, pulmonologist, urologist, nephrologist, gynecologist (for women), proctologist, surgeon. If the back pain on the left is acute, of course, it is advisable to call an ambulance, whose doctors will either immediately eliminate the problem with which you contacted them, or send you for a full examination, which, undoubtedly, will only help to clarify the cause of the back pain on the left and your speedy full recovery.