Pain in the abdominal area or in the back is rather difficult to diagnose as it can be a manifestation of a number of ailments. It is not surprising that a number of patients complain about pain in the left side more frequently than they do of pain in the right side. Most inflammatory conditions inside the abdominal cavity occur on the left side due to the fact that most of the organs are left aligned. Interestingly though, the liver and appendix are right aligned.

Chronic and recurrent pain in the left side is often referred to as hypochondriac pain. Patients feel the doctor is brushing them off by using the very term ‘hypochondriac pain’ as it is connotative of imaginary and non existent conditions. However, in medical terminology, it only means that there is no real identifiable cause for the pain and the patient just has to utilize pain management techniques to bear with the left side pain. In other words, left side pain can exist for no really serious reason, yet the patient’s discomfort is very distressing.

Left side abdominal pain is classified into either upper left side abdominal pain or lower left side abdominal pain for ease of diagnosis. Upper left side is the area above the belly button and lower is that area that is under the belly button.

The upper left side houses organs like the spleen, the tail end of the pancreas, part of the digestive tract, the left kidney and so on. The heart is just above this area. Ailments to the digestive tract, the spleen, the left kidney and so on, will manifest as pain in the upper left side of the abdomen. Diagnostic testing will be required to make an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes the pain is only due to gas and wind or due to gastroenteritis. Therefore, despite the patient’s discomfort, the doctor will only start the treatment with simple remedies like digestive medicine or pain killers.
The lower left side of the abdomen houses structures like parts of the digestive tract, the left part of the reproductive system in women, some part of the kidney system and such. Pain in this area could be as simple as menstrual craps, or as serious as ectopic pregnancies in women. Aside from these conditions, pain in this region could be due to chronic constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Bowel obstruction and even a condition as serious as bowel cancer. In addition, kidney related conditions could also cause pain in this area.

A major cause of back pain, especially of the lower back, is weak muscles. Weak back muscles will often result in back aches and back related problems. In order to prevent lower back pain, it is advisable to embark on a routine of exercises that strengthen the core. The core includes the lower back, the buttocks and the abdomen. The core supports the spinal column and therefore it is important to do core strengthening exercises. Strengthening this set of muscles will often cure back disorders too.

Strong thigh muscles or quadriceps, strong deep abdominal muscles and strong legs will allow you to use these in routine activities rather than straining the back. For example, when lifting heavy objects off the ground, it is more appropriate to use the quadriceps rather than using the back. Most people use the back for lifting, thus injure and strain the muscles surrounding the spine. This in turn leads to back related problems and back pain lower.

Strong back muscles help in maintaining good posture and good posture will ensure spinal alignment. Bad posture also results in shortening of the back muscles. Shortened back muscles also cause misalignment of the spine and back pain. Therefore it is important not only to strengthen the muscles, but also to do back stretching exercises.

Flexibility of the back can also be maintained if the joints in the back have mobility and are flexible. This too can be attained with stretching and back exercises. Doctors often recommend an exercise program or a lower body workout for sufferers of back pain. These exercises will work on the back, the abdomen, the quadriceps, the buttocks and the hamstrings.

In order to ensure an effective workout routine, back stretching exercises should be done everyday. Back strengthening exercises should be followed 3-4 times a week. Balancing exercises and low impact aerobics will ensure overall well-being and physical fitness. Always start with warm ups. Complete your exercise routine, including low impact aerobics, make sure to cool down. Keep the muscles well hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water and see the results in 6-8 weeks.

Abdominal pain is pain in the area generally referred to as the stomach. It is anatomically the area from the chest to the groin. The abdominal area houses a number of organs such as the intestines, liver, gall bladder, kidneys, spleen and others. These organs make up a number of systems in the human body, and disorder in any of them could cause abdominal pain.

One cause of severe abdominal pain is the very common condition of gastroenteritis resulting from a viral condition. Pain in this case will generally be of spasms and cramping and the patient may also suffer from diarrhea and vomiting at the same time. In addition, the patient may run a fever and suffer chills. The condition is alleviated with fluid intake and rest. In some cases the patient may require medication to control the vomiting and the diarrhea.

It has been found that certain life threatening conditions of the abdominal cavity will only cause mild pain. Such conditions include cancer of the colon or early appendicitis. The first line of treatment for abdominal care is to use simple home remedies and wait. If the pain persists, worsens or more symptoms begin to develop, it is time to see the doctor.

Conditions such as strep throat in children also cause abdominal pain. Heart and coronary disease may also be responsible for pain in the abdominal area. Kidney back pain will also radiate into the stomach region.

An inflamed organ in the abdominal cavity, such as the appendix, can rupture or fluid from the inflamed organ may leak into the abdomen. In such cases, the lining of the abdominal cavity will become inflamed resulting in peritonitis. Peritonitis will result in excruciating pain, the abdomen will become still and the patient will also develop fever. This is a medical emergency and the patient must receive medical care.

Lower abdominal pain is generally associated with disorders of the reproductive system in women. It may manifest as the commonly occurring condition of menstrual discomfort, or more serious conditions as ovarian cysts or tumors.

Kidney pain, gall bladder infection and stones, chronic constipation and a host of other conditions can also manifest as lower abdominal pain.

Middle back pain is a condition that can result from the very simple to other rather complex factors. Mid back pain, as it is commonly known, may be caused by something as simple as using a badly designed chair at the work station, to something more complicated like undetected peptic ulcers.

Middle back pain causes are classified into the following factors:

Back injury: Pain in this category of causes includes strained muscles and ligaments that have been strained and overused. Lifting heavy objects will also cause muscles and ligament to become stressed and result in middle back pain.

Spinal conditions: Mid back pain results from arthritis, spinal arthritis and scoliosis. These are chronic conditions and sufferers experience excruciating distress under these conditions.

Internal conditions: Back pain in the mid back is also a common condition of pregnancies. In addition, gall bladder ailments can cause the patient to suffer from mid back pain. Other conditions of the organs in the thoriac region may also cause mid back pain. These include coronary disease and aneurysms; lung conditions like pneumonia. Pancreatitis, peptic ulcers and kidney pain will also cause mid back pain. Kidney pain can be differentiated from other back pains due to its sudden onset. In addition, it is unbearable and if the patient concentrates, he can usually detect the pain as emanating from the back in the region where the kidneys are located. The surface area of the back where the kidneys are housed will also be sore and tender to the touch, and a doctor can diagnose the pain as kidney related by applying pressure at the appropriate spot.

In order to make a correct diagnosis for middle back pain, doctors will often put the patient through a series of diagnostic procedures. These procedures include a general inspection and a physical examination. In case of need, the patient may be asked to undergo x-ray and MRI or other imaging diagnostic tests.

Upper back pain is less common than lower back pain. But the pain is so excruciating and distressing, that sufferers tend to seek medical attention sooner than they would in case of lower back pain. Upper back pain responds less readily to therapies, and is therefore the reason that medical attention is sought.

Upper back pain usually occurs anywhere in the area from the base of the neck to the area at the top of the lumbar region. The upper back is also called the thoriac back or that area of the back that contains the chest area. It contains the ribs that form the thoriac cage. The thoriac cage is a sturdy structure that encases the heart, lungs and liver.

The major cause of upper back pain is said to originate from irritation of the muscles and the ligaments. Muscles and ligament of the upper back generally become irritated due to stress and anxiety. In cases of stress, the neck will experience strain, radiating across the shoulder blades. Similarly, fatigue, tiredness and overexertion can cause distress in the upper back. Repetitive movements like using the computer, also irritate this region. Lack of exercise and movement is weakens the muscles in the upper back and this too can cause pain in the upper back.

Sports injuries and muscle strains also cause upper back pain. In some cases upper back pain, like lower back pain, may indicate spondylitis, herniated discs and bulging discs. However, these more serious conditions are always of a longer duration, do not respond to rest and simple therapies and are accompanied by other conditions such as pain in the neck, nausea, tingling and numbness and even weakness that radiates into the limbs. Sharp upper back pain with difficulty in breathing is sometimes due to aneurysms or also due to problems in the pleurae.

Aside from the fact that mid back pain is a classic condition of pregnancy, middle back pain will also occur due to stress and tiredness. One more reason for middle back pain is muscular exertion and fatigue. Middle back pain is most likely to result from bad habits that have become ingrained, such as poor posture, lack of exercise and strained ligaments. Accidents also injure the mid back region causing pain. Scoliosis and other spinal condition disorders will cause pain in the middle back region