Kidney pain
definition
Kidney pain is understood to be pain sensations that are projected onto the kidney area. These are localized in the flank region, which extends from the rib arch to the groin on the side of the abdominal wall. For this reason, kidney pain is also known as flank pain.
Read more on this topic: How can I relieve kidney pain?
Kidney pain: left, right, both sides?
Kidney pain can occur either on the left, on the right or on both sides, depending on which kidney is affected.
However, since both kidneys, as a paired organ, perform the same tasks, the causes and nature of left and right kidney pain hardly differ at all.
More information is more important, especially about accompanying symptoms and the nature of the pain. This is discussed in more detail in the following sections.
Please also read: Kidney pain on the left side and kidney pain on the right side
Kidney pain on the left
Unilateral pain in the kidneys, whether right or left, can occur in the case of pelvic kidney inflammation Pyelonephritis, occur.
It usually arises from a colonization with bacteria, often it develops from a complicated urinary tract infection. Accompanying symptoms of an inflammation of the kidney pelvis, besides pain, are often fever and chills. Cystitis can also occasionally cause pain in the kidney area, but in this case both kidneys are usually affected.
Another cause of unilateral, for example left-sided kidney pain is one renal colic. This is caused by kidney stones. The stones can either be in the kidney area or have already entered the urinary tract. That means the pain can wander.
It can first lie in the kidney area, but later it can radiate into the groin and flanks. However, kidney pain is not always the result of a kidney disease; it can have other causes as well.
For example, left-sided kidney pain that occurs mainly when moving is rarely caused by an actual kidney disease. Muscle strains or diseases of the spine are more likely to be the causes. Even if kidney pain occurs when coughing, for example as part of a cold, this is more likely to indicate tension in the muscles.
If one-sided kidney pain occurs during pregnancy, this can be an indication of urinary congestion. This means that on the one hand, the urine can no longer adequately flow out of the kidney via the ureters. This can occur, for example, when the significantly enlarged uterus presses on the ureters. Often, however, kidney pain during pregnancy is a symptom that only lasts for a short time and poses no danger.
If kidney pain persists during pregnancy, a doctor should be consulted. The following rule of thumb can also apply to non-pregnant women with kidney pain: If there is pounding pain in the kidneys, it is likely that the disease originates from the kidney. To check for kidney pounding pain, tap the edge of the hand lightly on the area where the left / right kidney is located. If the cause of the kidney pain is tension or a problem with the spine, the kidneys are usually not pounding.
Read more on the topic: Kidney pain in the left side
Nocturnal kidney pain during pregnancy
Especially with women in advanced pregnancy, the size of the growing child leads to completely different space conditions in the stomach.
The uterus with the child embedded in it displaces the surrounding organs to a not inconsiderable degree. The ureters are often constricted by the child. Both kidneys can no longer pass the urine produced by the mother into the urinary bladder unhindered, which can result in the urine being backed up in the kidneys.
This results in the renal pelvis and kidneys appearing deep black on ultrasound.
Read more on this topic at: nocturnal kidney pain
The back pressure often leads to severe pain in the kidneys (often on both sides). When sleeping at night it can happen that when the woman lies on her back, the pressure on the child becomes so great that the ureters are severely constricted and sudden kidney congestion occurs. A lateral position leads to an early improvement.
Read more on this topic at: Kidney Pain During Pregnancy
Kidney pain after alcohol
Occasionally people have been reported to experience kidney pain after consuming alcohol or while consuming it. So far this cannot be explained scientifically.It is also true that pain that occurs in both kidneys at the same time is usually not caused by kidney disease.
The exception to this is cystitis. However, kidney stones or an inflammation of the renal pelvis are associated with unilateral pain in most cases. If kidney pain occurs repeatedly when consuming alcohol, which would otherwise not be apparent, then attempting alcohol abstinence would be a possibility to alleviate the symptoms.
If the pain occurs again and again regardless of alcohol consumption, kidney stones, for example, can be responsible. The pain usually occurs in waves and is very strong, which is called renal colic.
If you have renal colic, you should see a doctor, as the kidney stones may need treatment.
Read more on the topic: Kidney pain after alcohol
Kidney pain after alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal is not known to cause kidney pain.
Kidney pain with nausea
The combination of kidney pain and nausea occurs especially when kidney stones are present. If a kidney stone obstructs the renal pelvis or ureter and is slow to progress, recurrent colic-like pain occurs. These are very strong and are therefore not infrequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting. #
Painkillers and anticonvulsants are the main help in the case of renal colic. If the nausea occurs as part of renal colic, it is usually over after the colic has ended. Of course, kidney pain and nausea can also occur independently.
You might also be interested in: Kidney pain with nausea
Kidney Pain During Pregnancy
Kidney pain during pregnancy can be a harmless symptom that only lasts for a short time. However, they can also return. A possible symptom of kidney pain during pregnancy can be a disruption of the urine flow, for example. This can come about when the uterus, which has been significantly enlarged by pregnancy, presses on one or both ureters.
This can lead to a more or less pronounced stasis of urine. If it is only a slight variant, the mother-to-be can be symptom-free. However, the urinary congestion increases the risk of developing a urinary tract infection. If the congestion is severe, there may be pain in the area of the flank, usually on one side, but sometimes on both sides.
In the case of recurring kidney pain during pregnancy, a doctor should be consulted, who can use an ultrasound examination to determine whether there is an obstruction of the urine and whether treatment is necessary. In general, the following applies to expectant mothers with kidney pain: Drinking plenty of water and using heat help.
Kidney pain after cystitis
A bladder infection often manifests itself as a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when urinating. Occasionally, such a urinary tract infection can lead to kidney pain. This can be harmless, but should also be seen as a warning sign. Because an untreated cystitis can develop into a kidney inflammation.
This happens because the bacteria “rise” from the urinary tract to the kidneys and cause inflammation there. This so-called Pyelonephritis is then associated with kidney pain and often fever and chills and must be treated with antibiotics.
Because of this risk, kidney pain that occurs after a bladder infection or already during it should be taken seriously. Renal pelvic inflammation is usually a disease of only one of the two kidneys, so the pain is usually one-sided.
Read more on the topic: Pelvic inflammation
Kidney pain with a cold
Kidney pain that occurs as part of a cold is often not real kidney pain. It is more likely to be back pain or muscular pain in the sense of a slight sore muscles, for example after a long cough.
If it is actually kidney pain, it probably has a cause other than the common cold, for example a cystitis.
Read more on the topic: Kidney pain with a cold
Kidney pain at night
Nocturnal kidney pain is not a specific symptom. Often, pain in the spinal column can be misunderstood as kidney pain. If severe nocturnal pain in the kidney area occurs repeatedly, a doctor should be consulted for further diagnosis.
Read more on the topic: Kidney pain at night
Kidney pain in the morning
Kidney pain in the morning is just as little as night kidney pain, a symptom that is indicative of a specific illness. Often it is actually not kidney pain but back pain caused by lying down incorrectly at night.
Read more on the topic: morning kidney pain
Kidney pain from pain medication
There are pain relievers that are harmful to the kidney. These include drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples of this group are ibuprofen and diclofenac. Taken occasionally, these drugs are harmful to people with healthy kidneys.
However, if they are taken permanently in high doses or if they are used regularly for someone whose kidneys are already diseased, this can lead to progression of kidney damage. Such kidney damage does not usually cause pain.
Can kidney pain be a sign of pregnancy?
Some women describe kidney pain that they would have experienced in early pregnancy. However, why this symptom occurs is unclear.
Causes of Kidney Pain
Regardless of whether the pain is in the left or right kidney, it can be an indication of various diseases.
Kidney pain is a relatively specific symptom; This means that pain in the kidney area can often indicate a process in the kidney or in the urinary tract.
Read more on this topic at: Cause of kidney pain
Figure causes of kidney pain
Kidney pain
(Flank pain in the
lateral abdominal region)
- Left kidney - Ren sinister
- Spine -
Columna vertebralis - Right kidney - Ren dexter
- Ureter - Ureter
Causes:
A1 - Acute primary
(uncomplicated)
Pelvic inflammation -
Pyelonephritis
(triggered by bacteria in the urinary tract)
A2 - Acute secondary
(complicated)
Pelvic inflammation
(due to drainage disturbances, congestion
in urinary tract, enlarged prostate)
B - kidney stones - nephrolites
Urolithiasis -
(Urinary stone formation in the kidney)
C - kidney cancer (malignant kidney tumor) -
Renal cell carcinoma
Therapy:
D - Antibiotic Treatment -
Broad spectrum antibiotics, paracetamol,
Novalgin
E - Sufficient drinking amount (2-3 liters),
regular exercise
F - home remedies and nettles
Cranberry supplements, kidney and
Bubble tea, juniper, dandelion leaves
G - heat application, hot water bottle,
Use of heat lamps,
warming baths, kytta ointment,
Horse balm
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Back pain and kidney pain
Back pain can also cause pain in the kidney area, which could then be misinterpreted as "real" kidney pain.
The cause here could be, for example, slight osseous misalignments of the spine, degenerative changes or muscle tension.
Therefore, it is important to keep back pain in mind when looking for a cause for existing kidney pain.
There are some clues that can help with this question:
- For example, there is back pain if the pain increases with movement,
- For kidney pain, on the other hand, speaks a so-called "kidney bearing knock pain":
This means that tapping the kidney bed (to the left and right of the spine about two to three fingers wide above the palpable iliac crest) intensifies or triggers the pain.
Read more about this at: Differentiation of kidney pain and back pain
If the suspicion of kidney disease cannot be dispelled, kidney-related causes must be considered.
Kidney stones
The most common cause of kidney pain is kidney stones.
These occur in around 4% of the population in Germany, especially between the ages of 35 and 65. They are more common in men than in women.
Kidney stones are small accumulations of substances from the urine that become noticeable either in the area of the kidneys or only in the area of the ureters because they are too large to be excreted unhindered with the urine. The most common type of kidney stones are those Calcium oxalate stones.
Read more about this at: Cause of kidney stones
Kidney or ureter stones typically cause so-called colic-like pain. The pain floods in in waves, gets stronger and stronger and then floods away again, it is then usually followed by a pause in pain.
Depending on the location of the stone, the pain is more likely to radiate into the kidney area or into the flanks, into the groin or, in the case of very deep-seated stones, into the genital region. Pain in the crotch can also be accompanied by painful urination.
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms associated with ureteral stones.
During colic, pain relievers are administered which, if possible, also reduce the wall tension of the ureter and thus also reduce pain. Novalgin® is ideally suited here.
Depending on the size and location, kidney stones can be treated conservatively, so here we wait until the stone comes off by itself, that is, is eliminated. This is possible with stones up to about 5 mm in size. The patient should exercise a lot and drink to stimulate the discharge.
If this does not succeed or if the stone is larger, various methods can be used which aim to crush the stone and then remove it.
Read more about this at: Therapy of kidney stones
Pelvic inflammation
Another important cause of (unilateral or bilateral) kidney pain is pelvic inflammation (Pyelonephritis) which usually result from a cystitis (Cystitis) arises.
Bladder and kidney infections are particularly common in women, as the female urethra is much shorter than the male.
The cause of the inflammation is usually a colonization of the urinary tract with bacteria. The pain here is not colic-like as with kidney stones, but rather permanent and increasing.
Common accompanying symptoms are:
- high fever,
- chills
- and feeling very sick.
If you have recently had a cystitis with typical symptoms such as:
- Pain when urinating,
- frequent need to urinate
- and possibly dark-colored, strongly smelling urine,
it is very likely that kidney inflammation is the cause of the kidney pain.
Read more on this topic: Kidney pain after a bladder infection
Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer can also be painful, but more likely at an advanced stage. In the early stages, blood in the urine and physical fatigue are more common indicators. Weight loss is also common.
If there is only kidney pain without the other symptoms described, kidney cancer is rather unlikely.
Read more about this at: Kidney cancer
In summary, it can be said that pain in the kidney area can be an indication of various clinical pictures. It is therefore important to look at other symptoms such as fever or blood in the urine and perform a diagnostic examination.
If the kidney pain occurs with other symptoms or if it lasts for several days, a doctor is recommended.
The family doctor can assess the clinical picture and initiate therapy or, if necessary, refer directly to a urologist.
Diagnosis and clarification of kidney pain
As with all diagnoses, the anamnesis also starts with kidney pain:
The main thing is to find out
- how long the complaints have existed,
- what other symptoms they are associated with
- and what the character of the pain is.
The pain in the kidney bed can then be tested in the physical examination.
This is supplemented by a blood and urine test as well as imaging procedures.
In the case of kidney pain, the inflammation parameters (white blood cells, CRP) are determined in the blood to see whether there is inflammation in the body.
In addition, the kidney-specific values (urea, uric acid and creatinine) are important because the doctor can see whether there has been an impairment of kidney performance.
The urine is examined for blood, bacteria, white blood cells (Leukocytes) and the pH (acidity of the urine). A urine culture can also be created (if a urinary tract infection is suspected). If bacteria are the cause of the complaints, then this would be determinable.
The most important imaging procedure performed for kidney pain is ultrasound of the kidneys including the urinary tract. An experienced examiner can recognize the most important clinical pictures completely without radiation.
In the event that the ultrasound examination cannot make a precise statement, X-rays of the abdomen, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) are optionally made.
In the case of special questions, an excretory urography (to determine the residual urine volume and display of the urinary tract) or a reflection of the ureter (Ureterorenoscopy) and the bladder (Cystoscopy) be performed.
The following are some examples of the most common diseases that can cause kidney pain and the respective way of diagnosis:
- Renal pelvic inflammation is diagnosed on the basis of the inflammation values in the blood, the urine test (bacteria and leukocyte detection) and the ultrasound, sometimes in combination with a computer tomography.
- Stones can be found using ultrasound, x-ray of the abdomen, or excretory urography.
- The best way to diagnose kidney trauma is by ultrasound, x-ray, CT, and excretory urography.
- Kidney cancer is diagnosed mainly with ultrasound, X-rays / CT and laboratory changes.
- Ultrasound can detect stenoses due to urinary tract dilated in the context of urinary congestion. In addition, kidney scintigraphy is carried out in the case of kidney pain, whereby the elimination capacity of the kidneys is measured in a side-by-side comparison. In the event of side differences, a narrowing can be concluded in combination with other diagnostic procedures.
- The diagnosis of urinary reflux is particularly useful with ultrasound, a cystoscopy and micturition cystourethrourography, whereby contrast agent is injected into the bladder and, above all, the opening of the ureter and micturition are assessed.
- For the detection of a kidney infarction, computed tomography and angiography (Vascular representation) used.
Concomitant symptoms
The location of the kidneys is often not correctly interpreted by those affected, so it happens that kidney pain is described, but the pain is deeper, namely in the area of the spine.
The kidneys spread out about the same side in adults 25-30 cm above the pelvis.
When it comes to kidney disease, usually only one kidney is initially affected, so that a symmetrically indicated pain would be unusual, but not impossible.
On the other hand, unilateral pains down the spine can very well speak for a disease of the kidneys and the urinary system.
Especially if the pain pulls itself forward around the flank and ends at the level of the urinary bladder, the urinary drainage system should be shortlisted as the cause.
If the kidneys or the urinary system are affected, the pain can also radiate and initially point to another organ that is sick. Kidney problems can therefore be associated with pain in a different location.
Kidney pain and abdominal pain
The kidneys are connected to the urinary bladder on both sides via the ureters (Ureter) connected.
This ensures that the urine filtered in the kidney safely reaches the storage reservoir - the urinary bladder. The ureters pull from the renal pelvis of the kidney on both sides of the trunk, turning obliquely forward.
On the back wall of the bladder the ureters enter the urinary bladder from the left and right.
On their way from the renal pelvis of both kidneys, the ureters cross the lateral edge of the abdomen.
Common diseases, especially in women, are urinary tract infections that originate in the urethra and then rise. On the ascending path, the infection gets into the urinary bladder - cystitis develops.
If no treatment is given, the ureters are usually affected on one or both sides. When a urinary tract infection begins, patients usually only complain of a burning sensation when urinating and a so-called sensation Pollakiuria - a frequent need to urinate without a sufficient amount of urine.
If the infection reaches the urinary bladder, there is painful urination as well as pressure pain at the level of the urinary bladder. This discomfort can easily be dismissed as abdominal pain.
During the examination, the abdomen just above the bladder is often tender on pressure. This is due to the projection of the pain from the bladder upwards. If the urinary tract infection continues to rise and reaches the ureters, it travels a not inconsiderable distance through parts of the abdomen. At all stations in the course of the ureter, an ascending urinary tract infection can cause pressing or pulling pains, which are described as abdominal pain and sometimes are due to the corresponding projection of the nerves.
Ureteral stones are also relatively common. Mostly they originate in one of the kidneys. Classic, mostly unilateral pain in the kidneys occurs here.
Kidney stones can peel off and then enter the ureter through the renal pelvis. They migrate down the ureter towards the urinary bladder and can lead to discomfort in the form of pain all the way down. This pain results from irritation of the ureters when the kidney stone sticks to the wall.
The pain is therefore often described as stabbing back or flank pain.
If the stone gets into the urinary bladder, it usually doesn't cause such great discomfort.
However, a feeling of pressure in the stomach is often described. On its way down there can always be severe colic in the area of the flank and stomach. This colic results from the stone getting caught in the thin ureters.
Nausea and fever
Especially in the case of colicky pains that arise in the ureter and are caused by small kidney stones, the patient may report accompanying symptoms in addition to the severe abdominal pain.
With severe colic, the patient is usually in extremely bad shape. Due to the strong pain, which occurs in waves, usually nausea or even vomiting occurs reflexively. In the case of colic pain, a pain intensity that has never been experienced is often given.
Fever usually does not occur with renal colic. If there is kidney or stomach pain in connection with a fever, an infectious cause should always be considered. As a rule, the urinary tract infection is shortlisted.
If a fever is present, it is either a severe urinary tract infection that has not been treated for a long time or a high-altitude urinary tract infection that has reached the renal pelvis. One also speaks of an inflammation of the kidney pelvis (Pyelonephritis). This is a serious complication of urinary tract infection. It is not uncommon for the patients to have a high fever, severe nausea and vomiting. The general condition is usually extremely poor, and rapid therapeutic action is urgently required.
In the differential diagnosis, nausea and fever associated with abdominal pain should always be thought of as having a cause in the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, gallbladder inflammation, pancreatitis or biliary colic would be considered.
Biliary colic is similar to renal colic. A gallstone has grown in the gallbladder and is now pushing its way through the narrow bile duct system. Whenever it gets stuck on a wall of the bile duct, it causes extremely severe pain in the abdominal area. These biliary colic can also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
High fever, on the other hand, often only occurs with inflammation of the gallbladder or bile ducts. The final diagnosis and differentiation should be clarified by ultrasound examination of the kidneys and gastrointestinal system. Laboratory tests of the blood also provide information on the cause of the symptoms.
diarrhea
It is true that patients sometimes report diarrhea in addition to nausea, fever and vomiting, even in the case of urological diseases or diseases of the kidneys.
However, this occurs more frequently with infections of the gastrointestinal tract. If the bile ducts are obstructed by a stone or a severe inflammation of the bile ducts or gall bladder, it can happen that the bile acids necessary for digestion no longer reach the intestine in the usual quantities. Under certain circumstances, this can lead to incomplete digestion, which the patient feels through mushy stools or watery diarrhea
If all symptoms occur (kidney pain, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and fever), a general flu-like infection should also be considered. No single organ is affected, but rather the weakening of the organism by the virus is to blame for the symptoms.
Read more on this topic at: Accompanying Symptoms of Kidney Pain
Therapy / what to do
The therapy of kidney pain is initially aimed at reducing the pain.
The respective basic disease is then treated in a cause-oriented manner.
Homeopathy for kidney pain
Numerous homeopathic remedies are touted for treating kidney pain. These include goldenrod (Solidago), Buckthorn (Berberis vulgaris), Windlass (Sarsaparilla), Siambenzoic acid (Acidum benzoicum) and cactus scale insect (Coccus cacti).
They are said to relieve pain, have anti-inflammatory effects, and be effective against kidney stones.
Pain relief
Kidney pain in general can be alleviated or completely eliminated with numerous pain relievers. Preparations such as Paracetamol or Novalgin® are used. In the case of severe pain, a dosage of 500 mg paracetamol 3 times a day or Novalgin® 500 mg 3 times a day can be selected. It is important to note that the cause must be investigated if the pain returns after stopping the pain reliever.
Drinking plenty of fluids is essential to relieve kidney pain. This “flushes” the kidneys sufficiently. The application of heat is also often helpful for kidney pain. To do this, place a cherry stone pillow that is not too hot or a hot water bottle on the painful area.
Read more about this at: How can I relieve kidney pain?
Cause-based treatment
If the cause is a kidney stone that has grown in one of the kidneys and causing pain there, you should ensure that you drink enough water and, if necessary, increase it to 2-3 liters. In addition, regular exercise should be ensured.
As a rule, the kidney pain goes away as soon as the kidney stone has detached and is excreted in the urine. Fluid intake and exercise are therefore one of the most important treatments for kidney pain associated with kidney stones.
If the stone does not come off like this, you can consider breaking it up.
Read more about this at: Therapy of kidney stones
If the cause of the kidney pain is a urinary tract infection or an inflammation of the renal pelvis, prompt antibiotic treatment must be ensured in order to prevent complications in the kidney area. Mostly so-called broad spectrum antibiotics are used, which should be taken regularly for up to 10 days. As soon as the effect has set in, the symptoms in the kidney area usually also go away.
Urinary congestion can also lead to moderate to very severe discomfort in the kidney area. It is caused by an obstruction to drainage at one or more points in the urinary system. It should be mentioned here that it was blocked by a ureteral stone or a tumor. Kidney congestion can also occur during pregnancy, which is due to the fact that the child has grown so large in the uterus that it presses on one of the mother's ureters and the urine can no longer pass from the kidney into the bladder . The prompt promotion of drainage is absolutely necessary so that the kidney pain will soon subside.
Read more on this topic at: What to do with kidney pain
Home remedies for kidney pain
In addition to the conventional non-herbal medicines that can be used for kidney pain, there are also numerous alternative methodsto treat kidney pain in general. Here too is that Investigating the cause is important.
Urinary tract infections that lead to kidney pain can be very good with Stinging nettle and Cranberry supplements be treated. Also Kidney and bladder tea can quickly relieve the symptoms. Dem juniper it is also said to have a protective and healing effect on the kidneys. It is also repeatedly described that Dandelion leaves lead to a beneficial effect on pain in the kidney area. This is also important here Adjust the amount of drink accordingly. It should between 2 and 3 liters for an acute urinary tract infection to be drunk. To prevent another urinary tract infection, the aim should be to drink the same amount.
Pain in the kidneys and back are often very good means Heat application to treat. So either a Hot water bottlethat has been wrapped in a towel, can be placed on the painful area or a before towel warmed in the oven can take on this task. Also the Use of heat lampssuch as those used for colds and sinus infections can quickly lead to relief if the radiation is carried out regularly. Also warm bathswhich should not be too hot, however, can quickly lead to pain relief in the back area.
It is important that the Back relieves and no additional heavy loads are carried. When lying down you can try your back through the so-called Step storage to relieve. You put your lower legs on several pillows and thus achieve the appearance of a staircase.
In addition to the warming measures, you can also numerous ointments and gels be applied to the painful area of the kidney. So come Kytta ointment, Horse balm and the like in addition or exclusively for use. Can also skin over the sore kidneys drizzled with warm massage oil become. The warming factor is one of the most important treatment approaches in pain management for kidney pain. It is important to note that the Heat supply stopped immediately should be when this causes pain in the kidney area aggravated. In this case, conventional medical treatment and a precise search for the cause of the complaints must be initiated.
Home remedies for pregnancy
If kidney pain occurs on the right or left side of the Spine during pregnancy on, should searched even more intensely for the cause than would be done with non-pregnant women. In the majority of cases, the symptoms indicated during pregnancy are not kidney pain but Back paincaused by the unusual orthopedic loads on the body. So the child pulls the back of the standing mother forward. The Back muscles is therefore extremely stressed because the mother always has to counter the weight.
Nevertheless it becomes clear that the pain the triggering cause is the kidneys of the pregnant woman should definitely be checked to see if it is a Kidney congestion has come. This drainage congestion is relatively common in pregnant women as the growing child is in the uterus is so large that it can obstruct parts of the ureter and endanger the outflow of urine. The result is a Congestion in one or both kidneys. The most important treatment is to relieve the ureters to allow drainage again. As a home remedy for kidney pain in pregnant women, warming measures, such as Heat pad or hot water bottle can be applied, or it can be applied to the back area with one red light be irradiated. Can also be warming and cooling Ointments or gels applied to the skin over the kidney region. Often rubbing alcohol comes Kytta ointment or horse balm is used. Massage oil that has been warmed up beforehand can also be applied to the skin area. For general pain treatment you can also use Arnica ointment applied to the kidney area. In addition, arnica in globule form can also be administered. Since this is homeopathic medicines they are also safe to use during pregnancy.
That is also important Relief of the backbecause the heavy strain on the muscles around the spine can also lead to pain. For this reason, pregnant women should go to a lateral lying position in order to bring about appropriate relief. This is also very useful Laying on hay flower pillows. You can put hay flowers in a cloth bag or empty pillowcase and then warm them up. The heated pillow should then be placed on the painful areas. Through the When the hay flowers were heated, oils were createdwhich then spread through the bag to the skin of the person affected and can thus lead to the alleviation of the symptoms. Regular use should be aimed for at the start of treatment. It is important to note that all warming treatment measures canceled should be as soon as the Discomfort worsen. Medical advice should then be obtained here, as a comprehensive diagnosis should be carried out.
prophylaxis
In order to prevent the development of kidney pain as part of an inflammation of the renal pelvis, cold and drafts in the area of the bladder and kidneys should be avoided.
Kidney pain caused by stones can be prevented by drinking a lot and consuming little salt and protein.
After a kidney trauma without directly visible injuries - even if there is no kidney pain - the kidneys should be checked every 6 months for a period of at least 5 years.
Kidney cancer can possibly be positively influenced by avoiding the risk factors mentioned.
There is no prophylaxis for changes such as stenoses or urinary reflux.
A change in lifestyle to prevent hardening of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) can help prevent kidney infarction. These include abstinence from nicotine, a healthy diet (Mediterranean diet), little alcohol (also read Kidney pain after alcohol), weight normalization, and exercise.
forecast
The prognosis for the course of Kidney pain depends on the underlying disease.
Uncomplicated kidney pelvic inflammation heals under antibiotic therapy usually without damage.
Stones, which cause kidney pain, go away spontaneously in 75% of cases without medical intervention. However, relapse occurs in 50 to 100% of patients.
If kidney trauma is the cause of kidney pain, removal of the is required in 15% of cases kidney (Nephrectomy) needed.
The prognosis of kidney cancer depends on the stage of the tumor. There are no metastases yet (Daughter tumors), the 5-year survival rate is 65%. Is the tumor however, if it has already metastasized, the prognosis deteriorates.
Stenotic changes can usually be cured by surgery; the prognosis is good.
With congenital urine reflux, regression is possible up to the age of 10 without medical intervention.
After a kidney infarction, the 5-year functionality is included 70 to 85%, indicated by normal blood pressure as this is influenced by the kidneys. This means that in 70 to 85% of patients with a kidney infarction, the blood pressure normalizes after 5 years, which is a sign of adequate kidney function.
Summary
Kidney pain is flank pain, pain sensations localized in the lateral abdominal region. They are mostly caused by abnormal changes in the kidneys or the lower urinary tract. These include pelvic inflammation (Pyelonephritis), Kidneys or ureteral stones (Nephrolithiasis, ureterolithiasis), Kidney trauma, kidney cancer, narrowing of the drainage ducts (Stenosis) with subsequent congestion of urine, urine reflux (Reflux) or kidney infarction due to blockages in the kidney vessels. However, kidney pain can also occur independently of the kidneys and urinary tract, for example through muscular changes, Herniated discs of the thoracic spine or Shingles (Herpes zoster).
In addition to the medical history and physical examination, the determination of certain laboratory parameters (Kidney values, Inflammation values), the examination of the urine, Ultrasonic the kidneys and bladder (Sonography) as well as other imaging procedures (Computed Tomography, Excretory urography, cystoscopy, ureteroscopy).
Therapy is either conservative or surgical, depending on the underlying disease: renal pelvic infections are usually treated with antibiotics, stones are smashed if there is no spontaneous discharge, and trauma, cancer, stenoses and reflux are usually treated surgically. A kidney infarction is treated with vascular dilatation or operated on.
The prognosis for the further course of kidney pain depends on the causative illness.
