Left side lower back pain in a teenager

Dear Ask The Doctor: Im having lower back pain in my left side mainly where my kiddney is.. is this a problem? i started having these pains this morning when i woke up.

Dear Danielle: Most likely you are having a mechanical lower back pain due to inappropriate postures maybe during sleep. Mechanical low back pain (LBP) is the second most common reason for seeing a physician in the United States. Of the US population, 85% will experience an episode of mechanical LBP at some point during their lifetime. Fortunately, the LBP resolves for the vast majority within 2-4 weeks. Sometimes it may complicate with a sciatic nerve inflammation. The suggested strategy would be: a physical therapy program aimed to: keep the weight under control, because the overweight suppose additional stress to the lumbar spine,  control the pain and the inflammatory process, relative rest, flexion and extension exercises of the spine to reduce the nerve tension, exercises that improve the muscular strength and endurance of lumbar muscles. You can follow these general recommendations: sleeping with a pillow between the knees while lying on one side may increase comfort, lying on your back with a pillow under the knees. If the pain persists for more than 2 months, it is strongly recommended to have an evaluation by a physician to rule out more serious conditions as spine problems or urinary tract issues.