What does pain in upper left back indicate?

Upper left back pain is sometimes caused by the spine or back muscles. In other cases, the pain may be unrelated to your back. Organs, including kidneys and the pancreas, can cause pain that spreads to your upper back.


When should I worry about upper left back pain?

If upper back left pain is ever accompanied by numbness, weakness, severe headache, nausea, trouble walking, bowel/bladder incontinence, or other troubling symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

What organ is in the upper left back?

The spleen sits under your rib cage in the upper left part of your abdomen toward your back. It is an organ that is part of the lymph system and works as a drainage network that defends your body against infection.


Can upper left back pain be heart related?

Upper back pain can be a sign of a heart attack, especially in women.

What organ is on the left side of your back?

As well, organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, colon, and uterus are located near your lower back. All of these can be responsible for pain in the left side of your lower back, so there are many potential causes.


Referred Pain Around The Shoulder - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim



What causes upper back pain in females?

Many things can cause upper and middle back pain. These include poor posture; overuse or injury of the muscles, ligaments, or discs that support the spine; a vertebra fracture; pressure on the spinal nerves from problems such as a herniated disc; and osteoarthritis.

How can you tell if back pain is muscular or something else?

A dull ache when you move

A pulled muscle would not feel hot, tingling, or electric like an irritated nerve root would. The pain would only subside while you are relaxed and resting, as the tension and spasms are alleviated. However, the pain would most likely flare up when you get up to move again.

How do I know if my back pain is lung related?

What's causing lung pain in your back?
  1. a nagging cough that keeps getting worse.
  2. constant chest pain.
  3. coughing up blood.
  4. shortness of breath.
  5. wheezing.
  6. hoarseness.
  7. fatigue.
  8. headache.


What does cardiac back pain feel like?

The connection between back pain and heart attack

In many people, this causes a sensation of pressure, cramping, or squeezing in the chest. The pain can also radiate to the back; that's why many people feel both chest and back pain before a heart attack. Sometimes, the pain is only present in the upper back.

Why does my upper left back hurt near my shoulder blade?

Poor posture, injury, or problems with the spine can all lead to upper back pain. A common cause of pain between the shoulder blades is muscle strain. Treatments for mild upper back pain include stretching exercises and pain relievers. Some cases of pain between the shoulder blades are preventable.

Does pancreatitis cause upper left back pain?

The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain in your upper abdomen that may spread to your back.


Can upper left back pain be lung related?

Yes, sometimes chest pain from lung conditions can radiate to the shoulders, neck, and back. Where is the lung pain felt in the back? Due to the location of the lungs, most lung conditions cause pain in the upper-to-middle regions of the back.

What symptoms associated with back pain should prompt you to see a doctor?

8 Signs It's Time to Call a Doctor for Your Back Pain
  • You've Been in Pain for Over a Week. ...
  • Your Pain Extends to Other Body Parts. ...
  • You Have Numbness, Tingling or Weakness. ...
  • You Have Pain After an Accident. ...
  • Your Pain is Worse at Certain Times or in Certain Positions. ...
  • You're Having Problems with Your Bowels or Urination.


What organ makes your upper back hurt?

Organs that can cause upper back pain include the gallbladder, kidneys, and pancreas. The gallbladder can cause upper back pain between shoulder blades if gallstones, an accumulation of hard pieces of digestive fluids, have formed. Kidney problems such as kidney stones can also cause upper back pain.


Which cancers cause back pain?

A number of cancers can metastasize to the spine, including breast cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. In fact, approximately 25% of people with lung cancer report back pain as a symptom.

Where do you feel left lung pain?

Some signs that left lung pain could be a medical emergency include: chest pain, particularly chest pain that radiates down the left arm. coughing up blood. lips or fingernails that are bluish in tint, which can indicate that a person is not getting enough oxygen.

What is pleurisy back pain?

The main symptom of pleurisy is a sharp or stabbing pain in your chest that gets worse when you breathe in deeply or cough or sneeze. The pain may stay in one place or it may spread to your shoulder or back. Sometimes it becomes a fairly constant dull ache.


What are the red flags for back pain?

“Red flags” include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly ...

What can back pain be confused with?

Don't assume pain in the lower back, cramping in the legs and that “pins and needles” feeling are the result of a problem with your spine. Symptoms of artery disease, arthritis and neuropathy often masquerade as spinal pain.

How do I know if my back pain is mechanical or inflammatory?

Inflammatory pain would more likely be of insidious onset and of longer duration (i.e. more than three months) whereas mechanical pain tends to be more acute and can often be linked to an injury.


How can I tell if my back pain is kidney related?

What are common kidney pain symptoms?
  • A constant, dull ache in your back.
  • Pain in your sides, under your rib cage or in your abdomen.
  • Severe or sharp pain that comes in waves.
  • Pain that spreads to your groin area.
  • Kidney pain is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, especially if the pain is due to kidney stones.


How do I know if my back pain is serious?

Contact your health care provider for back pain that: Lasts longer than a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.

Can gallbladder cause upper left back pain?

Attacks of gallstones usually occur after a fatty meal and at night. Symptoms may include: Steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and may last from 30 minutes to several hours. Pain in the back between the shoulder blades.


What are the early warning signs of pancreatitis?

Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include:
  • Upper abdominal pain.
  • Abdominal pain that radiates to your back.
  • Tenderness when touching the abdomen.
  • Fever.
  • Rapid pulse.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.