Attacks of pain without the exact location is always frightening. Especially if you are poured into the left side of the body, covers the arm, or even leg. In most cases, can not do without the help of a doctor.
It is difficult to explain to family or colleagues, it hurts the whole left side, and not to be considered a malingerer. Even doctors sometimes spend more than one examination to identify the reasons. But, these symptoms cannot be ignored. After all, at the same time pain in the upper left quadrant, arm, or even leg can be a harbinger of stroke, heart attack and other critical pathologies.
Problems with the spine
The left side of the body can be damaged in trauma. This source of discomfort is obvious. In other cases, first survey carried out in two directions: to analyze the condition of the heart and the spine. Because of the pathologies of the musculoskeletal system often manifests the other pain, left with a vague localization.
Osteochondrosis
When the circulation of the blood in the tissues of the spine, intervertebral discs become less resilient, fibrous ring is gradually destroyed, compromising the nerve roots. This leads to a number of factors:
- sedentary way of life;
- heavy physical work;
- age-related changes of the body;
- endocrine diseases.
The result of the right or the left side of the back, neck, arms start to hurt. Changes the sensitivity of other parts of the body. The localization of unpleasant sensations associated with the location of destructive-dystrophic process. So, with cervical osteochondrosis often occurs pain in my left shoulder, arm, numbness of the fingers and out from the edge of the palm. Occur when lumbar backache, dragging pain, paresthesia in the corresponding part of the back, hips and leg.
Sciatica
Due to the narrowing of the distance between the clamped vertebrae and inflamed nerve fibers extending from the spinal cord. This complication of degenerative disc disease is named sciatica. As an independent pathology that occurs in response to a failed sudden movement, hypothermia, back injury back muscles.
Cervical-brachial form sends the pain through the upper quarter of the body: the shoulder blades, neck, hand. Radiculopathy lumbar-sacral – sciatica affects the sciatic nerve. There is pain in the left hip, butt cheek, spread down the leg to the heel. In the initial stage of possible objections to the "tracking" of the lower leg, feeling the shivers.
You can not run these diseases. It destroyed the disks cannot be recovered. After the removal of pain syndrome and acute inflammation, the only sure way to keep the disease remains prevention. It includes mandatory physiotherapy, posture control, a healthy way of life. Help to periodic therapy, body massage to improve circulation in the area affected vertebrae.
Intercostal neuralgia
In the pain, burning or sharp pain on the left side – not necessarily a heart problem. It could be intercostal neuralgia. But the symptoms are quite similar:
- the pain comes suddenly upon slight movement of the body;
- the entire left side of the chest may turn pale or blush;
- the sensations radiating under the shoulder blade and lower back;
- increased sweating;
- noticed burning, loss of feeling in some parts of the body;
- a deep breath, sneezing, coughing, an increase in the intensity of the symptoms.
All this happens due to the damage of the nerve fibers in the intercostal region. Causes irritation of the associated with hypothermia, stagnation of blood, injuries, intoxication, complications from infectious diseases, or degenerative disc disease. Usually under the influence of a number of factors, including fatigue and reduced immunity.
The main symptoms that help to distinguish neuralgia from the pain of the heart.
- Irritation of the intercostal receptors sensations do not subside by taking nitroglycerin, but is weakening under the influence of sedatives (validol, Corvalol).
- The angina attacks are usually short, and pain in the left side and under the shoulder – squeezing, aggravated by effort. In neuralgia, around the upper part of the body can hurt more than one day, the answer for every movement.
- When palpation of the chest or the back stand out a painful point between the ribs, near the spine.
The main method of treatment of neuralgia – the elimination of the causes that cause irritation to the nerves. Identify it can only be a neurologist after a series of tests. Because the disease is to be distinguished from renal colic, angina, sciatica.
Cardiac pathology
Complaints of heart pain in the left hypochondrium, which gives the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, not always associated with coronary heart disease and angina. Similar symptoms are observed in cardialgia due to inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the destruction of the heart membrane (pericarditis). These pathologies occur as complications of the common cold, flu, pneumonia, and other infectious diseases.
If the disease does not manifest itself in the initial stages, it can develop a virtually asymptomatic. When myocarditis see:
- fatigue;
- heart palpitations;
- shortness of breath and mild pain after a small load;
- later joined the dizziness;
- swelling of the lower limbs.
Pericarditis rarely occurs as an independent disease. About it warn
- pain when the body is tilted forward, lying on left side;
- another force feeling in the chest which are transferred to the back, arm, lower back;
- rapid, irregular weak pulse;
- cough without sputum;
- blanching of the skin;
- some lividity of the body (especially hands and feet).
Early detection and timely treatment of heart disease reduces the risk of heart attack. Recurring pain in the left hypochondrium and the region of the heart should result in the doctor's office. For the diagnosis of the ECG and EchoCG. With their help diagnose heart rhythm abnormalities, reveal the size of the heart chambers, the presence of fluid in the bag. X-rays show possible tumors, diseases of the ribs and lungs.
Stroke
Before the stroke, pains in body and limbs occur often. On the contrary, one side of the body may lose sensitivity. But, when the lesion of the brain in the region of the optic thalamus develops post-stroke pain left or right along the length of the body – the thalamic syndrome. Its additional features:
- the pain from the light, movement, emotions;
- the perception of temperature;
- one tactile stimuli seem to be more;
- often accompanied by tingling and decreased sensitivity of the skin.
The thalamus is the largest center of the pain and sensitivity. Causes of the symptoms are the result of the lack of oxygen in the tissues due to impairment of blood flow. Pain in left side extremities and occurs when the lesion in the opposite side of the brain. But, after stroke can harm on one side of the body, even if affected natallichka structure. In addition to the Central neuropathic pain can occur pain and muscle spasm.
To combat the painful effects of stroke prescribe the concomitant use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. The relief of pain in muscles, muscle relaxants, massage, special exercises, physical therapy.
Whatever it was caused by unilateral pain in the left hypochondrium, thigh, arm, and others, the self-test will not be able to identify their exact cause. 3 hours before the visit to the clinic recommended to refrain from taking pain medication, sedatives. And in the case of acute deterioration requiring immediate medical care.