Pain is a mechanism developed by the body to signal that something is wrong. It arises when the nerve ending present in various organs of the body are stimulated by mechanical or chemical injury. If you have been experiencing pain in the left lower abdomen, it can be caused due to a number of reasons which include organ damage and other serious, life-threatening conditions. It is advisable to seek medical help immediately. In this article, we will walk you through some of the common causes of pain in the lower left abdomen and back along with the treatment and remedies that you can opt for.

The Cause and Remedy Options for It

1.Kidney stones

Long-standing dehydration, eating foods rich in oxalic acid, etc. are some of the reasons for developing kidney stones. These present as sharp pain in the flanks and the lower abdomen and back along with other symptoms like the altered color of the urine like pink, red or cloudy. The pain is often very severe and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Remedies: Small sized kidney stones usually find their way into the bladder and finally out of the body through the urethra. Liberal water intake is the key to prevent as well as eliminate kidney stones. For larger sized stones, surgical treatment may be required.

2. Diverticulosis

It is a condition of the intestine where there are several protrusions studded in the lining of the entire gut. Diverticulosis often presents as lower abdominal, and lower back pain left side along with disturbances in the stool like diarrhea, blood in stool, etc.

Remedies: A mild case of diverticulosis can be resolved by antibiotics; the more severe cases usually warrant surgical correction. The more important thing is to prevent it, and you can keep a high fiber diet to help.

3. Dysmenorrhoea

Dysmenorrhoea or period related cramps are fairly common among women. It starts a few hours before the menstrual flow begins and continues for about a day. Some amount of discomfort during the menses is normal. However, severe cramps which do not resolve on taking painkillers or which hamper your efficiency in work should be investigated by a medical practitioner.

Remedies: Painkillers and hot fomentation are the best ways to relieve cramps associated with menses. If you are suffering from incapacitating period cramps, consult a gynecologist as soon as possible to find the cause and get it treated accordingly.

4. Ovaries problems

Since the ovaries are located in the lower abdomen on either side, any disease of the ovary usually presents with pain on either the abdomen or lower left back pain, occasionally radiating to the back. Ovarian cysts and ovarian torsion (twisting of the ovary on its axis) can give rise to severe pain in the lower abdomen.

Remedies: If you suspect that the cause behind the lower abdominal and back pain is due to ovarian involvement, it is advisable to seek medical help as soon as possible. Any form of the ovarian disease, especially ovarian torsion is an emergency and necessitates immediate surgical intervention.

5. Bulge or a swelling along with the pain

If along with lower left sided pain, you can feel a bulge which increases on coughing and straining; it could indicate a hernia. Our abdominal wall holds all the contents in their place. However, due to the weakening of the muscles of the abdomen the folds of the intestine bulge out leading to the appearance of a swelling known as a hernia and can present with lower left abdominal pain.

Remedies: Just like large kidney stones and ovarian cysts, hernia also needs to be treated surgically. A mesh is placed in the abdominal wall to increase its strength and seal its defect. Along with this, the cause behind a hernia, i.e. a cough and constipation have to be resolved via medications to prevent worsening of the disease.

6. Food allergies creating the nuisance

Intolerance to lactose, a carbohydrate found in milk is one of the common causes of pain in lower left abdomen and back in susceptible individuals.

Among the most common food allergies is the celiac disease caused due to sensitivity to proteins found in foods like barley, rye, wheat, and oats. These food allergies present with symptoms such as flatulence, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, etc.

Gluten-containing foods like barley, rye, oats, durum, malt, semolina, farina, triticale and wheat should be kept at bay. They can be substituted by other food groups like fresh fruits and vegetables, corn, buckwheat, quinoa, rice, soy flour, arrowroot, wine, and cider.

Remedies: Prevention is the best form of cure when it comes to food allergies. Needless to say, the culprit foods should be avoided by the susceptible individuals at all cost. Go for dairy-free foods if you suffer from lactose intolerance. Some of the lactose-free foods could be soya glasses of milk, glasses of milk made from oats, coconut, rice, and potato. These alternatives have an enzyme known as "lactase" that helps in digesting lactose in the body.

7. Usual indigestion

A poorly functioning gut will give rise to a variety of problems like acidity, upper and lower abdomen pain, constipation, etc.

Remedies: Make sure you add easily digestible and healthy foods to your diet. Probiotics help in improving the gut flora and improve the digestion process. Drink plenty of water and exercise on a regular basis to keep your digestive system functioning smoothly.

Summary

Pain in lower left abdomen and back can be caused due to a variety of conditions like celiac disease, lactose intolerance, diverticulitis, ovarian torsion, kidney stones, and menstrual cramps. It is important to seek medical help as soon as possible when you encounter pain occasionally or to severe degrees. Each of these conditions can prevent as well as treated either by use of medications or surgery.