The attacks of pain without exact location is always frightening. Especially if it is poured into the left side of the body, covers the hand and even foot. In most cases, can not do without the help of a doctor.
It's hard to explain to family and colleagues, that hurts the whole left side, and not to be considered a malingerer. Even doctors sometimes spend more than one examination to identify the causes. But these symptoms cannot be ignored. After all, simultaneous pain in the left upper quadrant, hand and even leg can be a harbinger of stroke, heart attack and other critical pathologies.
Problems with the spine
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: analyze the condition of the heart and spine. Because of the pathologies of the musculoskeletal system often manifests itself the pain left with a vague localization.
Osteochondrosis
When blood circulation in the tissues of the spine, the intervertebral discs become less elastic, fibrous ring is gradually destroyed, compromising the nerve roots. This leads to a number of factors:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- heavy physical work;
- age-related changes of the body;
- endocrine diseases.
The result of the right or left side of the back, neck, lower back start to hurt. Changes the sensitivity of other parts of the body. The localization of unpleasant sensations associated with the place of location of destructive-dystrophic process. So, with cervical osteochondrosis often occurs pain in my left shoulder, arm, numbness of fingers and outer edge of palm. Arise when lumbar backache, dragging pain, paresthesia in the corresponding part of the back, hips, legs.
Sciatica
Through the narrowing of the distance between the vertebrae zaselyalsya and inflamed nerve fibers extending from the spinal cord. This complication of degenerative disc disease is called sciatica. As an independent pathology occurs in response to a failed sudden movement, hypothermia of the back, injury to the spinal muscles.
Cervical-brachial form sends pain across the upper quarter of the body to the shoulder blades, neck, hand. Radiculopathy lumbar-sacral – sciatica affects the sciatic nerve. There is a pain in the left hip, butt cheek, spreading down the leg to the heel. In the initial stage of possible complaints about "tracking" of the lower leg, the sensation of tingling.
You cannot run these diseases. It destroyed the disks cannot be recovered. After the removal of pain syndrome and acute inflammation, the only reliable way to keep the disease remains prevention. It includes mandatory physiotherapy, posture control, a healthy lifestyle. Help periodic therapy, body massage to improve circulation in the area affected vertebrae.
Intercostal neuralgia
Aching, burning or sharp pain in the left side – not necessarily a heart problem. It could be intercostal neuralgia. But the symptoms are quite similar:
- the pain comes suddenly after a 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;
- observed burning, loss of sensation in some parts of the body;
- a deep breath, sneezing, coughing increase the severity of the symptom.
All this happens because of damage to nerve fibers in the intercostal region. Causes of irritation associated with hypothermia, stagnation of blood, injuries, intoxications, complications of infectious diseases or degenerative disc disease. Usually influenced by a range of factors, including fatigue and reduced immunity.
The main characteristics that help to distinguish neuralgia from the pain of heart.
- The irritation of the intercostal receptors sensations do not cease from taking nitroglycerin, but weaken under sedation (validol, Corvalol).
- The angina attacks are usually short, and pain in the left side and under the shoulder – squeezing, aggravated by exertion. In neuralgia, the entire upper part of the body can hurt more than one day, the answer to any 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 caused the nerve irritation. To detect only the neurologist after a series of tests. Because the disease should be differentiated from renal colic, angina, sciatica.
Cardiac pathology
Complaints of heart pain in the left upper quadrant, radiates to shoulder, arm, neck, jaw are not always associated with coronary heart disease and angina. Similar symptoms are observed in cardialgia due to inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or lesion of the heart membrane (pericarditis). These pathologies arise as complications of colds, flu, pneumonia, and other infectious diseases.
If the disease do not manifest themselves in the initial stages, it can develop virtually asymptomatic. When myocarditis see:
- fatigue;
- heart palpitations;
- shortness of breath and mild pain after a small load;
- later joined by dizziness;
- swelling of the lower extremities.
Pericarditis rarely occurs as an independent disease. About it warn
- pain when the body is tilted forward, lying on left side;
- a different force sensation in the chest that are transmitted in the back, arm, lower back;
- fast, weak pulse irregular;
- cough without sputum;
- blanching of the skin;
- some lividity of the body (especially hands and feet).
Early detection and timely treatment of cardiac diseases reduces the risk of heart attacks. Recurring pain in the left hypochondrium in the region of the heart should result in the doctor's office. For the diagnosis of the ECG and EchoCG. With their help diagnose abnormal heart rhythm, identify 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, pain in body and limbs occur infrequently. 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 body – thalamic syndrome. Its additional characteristics:
- pain from bright light, movement, emotions;
- the perception of temperature;
- single tactile stimuli seem to be multiple;
- often accompanied by tingling and decreased sensitivity of the skin.
The thalamus is the highest center of pain sensitivity. Causes of symptoms are due to lack of oxygen in the tissues due to impaired blood flow. Pain in left side extremities and occurs when the lesion in the opposite side of the brain. But after a stroke can hurt one side of the body, even if broken natallichka structure. In addition to the Central neuropathic pain can occur pain and muscle spasm.
To combat the painful effects of stroke prescribe concomitant use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Muscle pain relieve muscle relaxants, massage, special exercises, physical therapy.
What would not have been caused by unilateral pain in the left hypochondrium, thigh, arm and other, the self-test will not be able to identify the 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 of needed emergency medical care.