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Muscle stress on the left side of the spine is the most common source of lower left pain. Tension in the muscles supporting and surrounding the spine may result from overuse or minor injuries such as uncomfortable sleeping positions or prolonged standing or sitting or also be a sign of knot in lower left back.

What Are Muscle Knots?

When your body develops muscle knots, it’s usually a sign that a specific muscle group has been stressed so much that it transforms into a trigger point. These hard yet sensitive knots can be painful and uncomfortable to the touch, even if you aren’t doing anything.

Signs And Symptoms

Muscle knots are characterized by tightness, tightness, and sometimes a painful group of muscles under the skin. Although they can form anywhere in the body, you usually find them near the lower left back, due to all the weight we place on that spot during the day.

Symptoms of low back muscle strain usually include:

• Left-back pain.

• Mildness to the touch

• Muscle stiffness

• Relieving pain at rest, such as sitting in a supported, stable position

Other symptoms of trigger points include the inability to move the limb or touch the area without pain, numbness, swelling, and visible or invisible bumps under the skin. The severity of these problems will vary from patient to patient. Some experience only severe back pain, with some shoulder pain or neck pain. Some patients may experience chronic pain in several areas around their back.

Probable Causes

Three problems usually appear in the knot muscles:

• Active injuries

• An idle lifestyle

• Negative posture

Muscle knots are caused when a muscle group strains more than its normal self-correcting mechanisms, so the body commands it to shorten and tighten to avoid any further injury. The knot usually lasts until the external force breaks the knotted tissue and reduces inflammation. These knots can also be caused by dehydration, malnutrition, or depression. These symptoms can worsen with any existing muscle knots, making them extremely difficult to treat.

Major Causes of Lower Back Pain

There are many causes that can cause low back pain on the left side. Some are direct in that area, while others can cause pain in any part of the back. Common causes include:

• Muscle Stiffness Or Sprain

Muscle strain or sprain is a common cause of low back pain. A strain is a tear or stretch in a tendon or muscle, while a sprain is a tear or stretch in a muscle. Sprains and strains often occur when you twist or lift something in the wrong way, lift something heavy, or stretch your back muscles. These injuries can cause swelling, difficulty moving, and spasms in the back.

• Sciatica

Sciatica is pain caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. This is a muscle that runs in the hips and goes down the back of your leg. Sciatica is usually caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis that compresses part of the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body. It causes electric or burning lower back pain that radiates from your leg. Pain can increase if you cough, sneeze or sit for a long time. Serious causes of sciatica can also cause weakness and numbness in your leg.

• Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when one or more discs between your vertebrae are compressed and ruptured outward in the spinal canal. These ruptured discs often push nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness. A herniated disc is also a common cause of sciatica. Herniated discs can be caused by injury. They also become more common as you grow older, because the discs naturally deteriorate. If you have a herniated disc, you have probably had recent low back pain.

• Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage between the vertebrae begins to break. Low back pain is a common cause of osteoarthritis, due to walking stress. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by normal aging, but previous injuries can make it more likely. Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis. Twisting or bending your back can be very painful.

• Dysfunction Of Sacroiliac Joints

Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is also called sacroiliitis. You have two sacroiliac joints, one on each side of your spine where it connects to the top of your pelvis. Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of the joint. It can affect one or both sides. Pain in your lower back and hips is a very common symptom. The pain is usually made worse:

• Climbing stairs

• Running

• Putting too much weight on the affected leg

• Taking big steps

• Kidney stones or infection

Your kidneys play a vital role in removing waste from your body. Kidney stones may form on these organs. These stones can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the accumulation of waste or a lack of adequate fluid in your kidneys. Small kidney stones will not cause any symptoms and may pass on their own. Large stones, which may need treatment, can cause the following symptoms:

• Pain when urinating

• Sharp pain on one side of your lower back

• Blood in your urine

• Nausea

• Fever

Kidney infection usually starts as a urinary tract infection (UTI). It causes most of the same symptoms as kidney stones. Left untreated, kidney disease can permanently damage your kidneys.

How Are Muscle Knots Treated?

Depending on the severity of the tendon, there are several treatments:

1. Bed Rest

In most cases, adequate bed rest is enough to make the muscle group relax and recover. This method also helps to reduce the amount of swelling and inflammation that has caused his knots. Depending on the severity of the reaction, doctors can usually prescribe anywhere from one day to a week of bed rest.

2. Stretching And Exercising

Alternatively, patients may also try to stretch and exercise regularly to prevent their body from becoming overweight. Stretching and circulating muscle groups is one of the best ways to prevent them from reaching and freezing.

3. Hot And Cold Treatments

Applying heat or cold can help loosen the muscles where you can push the knots to loosen them. This technique is especially effective for knots that are made for professional sports, heavy lifting, and other strenuous activities.

4. Massages And Rolls

Chiropractic massage, foam rollers, and trigger point balls are all excellent treatments for pain management in Dallas associated with muscle knots. Aside from being an effective, low-cost option, these treatments are suitable for everyday knots that may not require a visit from a doctor to resolve.

5. Physical Therapy

In severe cases, pain doctors in Dallas may prescribe several doses of physical therapy to treat dense muscle spasms. These treatment options do not always revolve around removing knots: you can also get tips and procedures to follow to prevent them from forming in the future.

If you suspect that your muscles are too tight to deal with on your own, consult your doctor immediately. Any attempts at home medicine or treatment without the consent of a medical professional can exacerbate your condition and may cause other problems.

Ways of Diagnosing Lower Back Pain

To diagnose lower back pain, a doctor will first do a physical exam. They’ll look at how well you move and if your back has any visible issues. Then they’ll take a medical history. This will cover your symptoms, any recent injuries, previous back issues, and the severity of your pain.

A physical exam and medical history are often enough for a doctor to determine the cause of your pain. However, they may also need to do an imaging test. Potential tests include:

• X-ray, which can find broken or misaligned bones.

• CT scan, which shows soft tissues such as the discs between vertebrae and potential tumors

• myelogram, which uses dye to enhance the contrast in a CT scan or X-ray to help a doctor identify nerve or spinal cord compression

• Nerve conduction test if the doctor suspects nerve issues

• Bone scan to see if you have any bone issues (not used as commonly as X-ray)

• Ultrasound to look more closely at soft tissues (not used as commonly as CT scans)

• Blood tests if the doctor suspects an infection

• MRI scan if there are signs of a serious problem