Attacks of pain without any exact location is always scary. Especially if it is poured on the left side of the body, covering the hand and even foot. In most cases, can not do without the help of a doctor.
It's hard to explain, family or colleagues, it hurts the whole left side, and can not be considered a malingerer. Even doctors sometimes spend more than one study to identify the cause. But these symptoms can not be ignored. After all, simultaneous pain in the left upper quadrant, hand and even legs may be a harbinger of stroke, heart attack, and other critical diseases.
Problems with the spine
On the left side of the body can be damaged by trauma. This source of discomfort is obvious. In other cases, the first research is carried out in two directions: analyze the condition of the heart and the spine. Because diseases of the musculoskeletal system often occurs in other pain, vague localization.
Osteochondrosis
When the blood circulation in the tissues of the spine, the intervertebral discs become less flexible, fiber-ring is gradually destroyed, without compromising the nerve roots. This leads to a number of factors:
- lack of exercise;
- heavy physical work;
- age-related changes in the body;
- hormonal diseases.
The result to the right or left side of the back, neck, lower back starts to hurt. Changes in sensitivity to other parts of the body. The localization of unpleasant sensations associated with the location of destructive-dystrophic process. So, cervical osteochondrosis often occurs pain in my left shoulder, arm, numbness of the fingers and the outside edge of the palm. Occurs when the lumbar back pain, pulling pain, paraesthesia of the corresponding part of the back, hips and legs.
Sciatica
Due to the narrowing of the distance between the attached vertebrae and inflamed nerve fibers extending from the spinal cord. This complication of degenerative disc disease is named sciatica. An independent pathology, it was born in response to the failure, sudden movement, hypothermia, back injury back muscles.
Cervical-brachial form to send the pain of the entire upper quarter of the body: shoulders, neck, hand. Radiculopathy lumbar-sacral – sciatica affects the sciatic nerve. There is pain in the hips, buttocks, spreading down the leg to the heel. The initial stage of possible complaints about "tracking" of the lower leg, feeling the shudder.
You can perform these diseases. It destroyed the discs can not be returned. After removal of pain syndrome and acute inflammation, the only reliable way to keep the disease remains prevention. It includes mandatory physiotherapy, postural control, healthy lifestyle. To help regular treatment, massage improves blood 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 body movements;
- the entire left side of the chest may turn pale or blush;
- the sensations radiating to the shoulder blade and lower back;
- increased sweating;
- detected burning, numbness in some parts of the body;
- deep breathing, sneezing, coughing aggravate the symptoms.
All this happens because of the damage to the nerve fibers in the ribs area. Cause irritation is associated with hypothermia, stagnation of blood, injuries, poisoning, complications of infectious diseases, or degenerative disc disease. Usually affected by a number of factors, such as fatigue and reduced immunity.
The main symptoms that help to distinguish neuralgia pain in the heart.
- Irritation between the receptors of sensations did not subside take nitroglycerin, but deteriorates under the influence of sedative drugs (validol, Corvalol).
- Angina attacks are usually short, and pain in the left side and under the shoulder-squeezing, aggravated by exertion. 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 back of the resignation of a painful point between the ribs, near the spine.
The main method for the treatment of neuralgia – eliminate the causes that provoked the irritation of the nerves. Identify it can only be a neurologist after a series of tests. Because the disease is distinguished from renal colic, angina pectoris, sciatica.
Heart pathology
Complaints of heart pain in the left hypochondrium, which gives to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw not always associated with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. Similar symptoms observed cardialgia, because inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the destruction of the heart membrane (pericarditis). These diseases arise, such as complications of colds, flu, pneumonia, and other infectious diseases.
If the disease does not manifest itself in the early stages, it can develop almost asymptomatic. When the heart muscle inflammation seen:
- fatigue;
- heart palpitations;
- shortness of breath and mild pain after a small load;
- later joined the dizziness;
- swelling of the lower extremities.
Pericarditis rarely occurs as an independent disease. It warns
- the pain, when the body is tilted forward, lying on left side;
- a different force sensation in the chest, which is sent to the back, arms, lower back;
- rapid, irregular weak pulse;
- cough without sputum;
- blanching of the skin;
- some of the bruises on the body (especially hands and feet).
Early detection and timely treatment of heart disease, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recurrent pain in the left hypochondrium and the region of the heart should lead to the doctor's office. Diagnosis ECG and EchoCG. With their help, to diagnose heart rhythm disturbances, to reveal the size of the heart chambers, the presence of fluid in the bag. X-ray images show possible tumors, diseases of the ribs and lungs.
Stroke
Before the stroke, pain in the body and limbs occur rarely. On the contrary, one side of the body can lose sensitivity. But when damage to the brain region thalamus develops post-stroke pain left or right along the body – talaamisen syndrome. Its other features:
- pain bright light, movement, emotions;
- the perception of temperature;
- single tactile stimuli would seem to be several;
- often accompanied by tingling and decreased skin sensitivity.
The thalamus is the highest center of pain sensitivity. Causes symptoms due to lack of oxygen in the tissues due to impaired blood circulation. Pain in the left side of the limbs and occurs when damage to the opposite side of the brain. But after a stroke can hurt one side of the body, although affected by the natallichka structure. In addition, the Central neuropathic pain can occur pain and muscle spasm.
To combat the painful effects of the stroke amount of the concomitant use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Muscle pain relieve muscle relaxants, massage, special exercises, physical therapy.
What it was caused by one sided pain in the left hypochondrium, thigh, arm and other, the self-test is unable to identify its exact cause. 3 hours before the visit to the clinic recommended to refrain from pain medications, sedatives. And when the case of acute deterioration required emergency medical care.