Kidney pain and back pain

Where is the kidney pain?

In many cases, it is not easy to distinguish kidney pain from back pain, especially if it is the first time and someone is not yet able to properly assess the pain.

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In addition, kidney pain sometimes also leads to back pain, so that both types of pain are present in parallel. It is therefore important that a doctor always conducts a detailed questioning (anamnesis) and physical examination of a patient if they suspect kidney or back pain in order to distinguish the two from one another, so as not to overlook dangerous diseases and to be able to follow up on adequate therapy.

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With various diseases of the kidneys, kidney pain is particularly noticeable in the flank area. This term refers to the area to the left and right of the spine between the 11th to 12th thoracic vertebrae and the 3rd to 4th lumbar vertebrae. There the kidneys lie in the deep. However, the pain that arises there can also radiate into the surrounding body regions, particularly often into the surrounding back.

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Classically, symptoms emanating from the kidneys are dull. In contrast to back pain, they do not occur permanently, but only in phases and are not dependent on movement. Concomitant symptoms such as fatigue, poor performance, headache, fever or vomiting speak just as much as a changed elimination behavior (for example, unusually rare or frequent urination, foamy or bloody urine). In some cases, however, pain emanating from the kidneys can also be acute and colic.

It is also important that chronic kidney disease leads to reflex syndromes, among other things, which affect the back. In this way, existing functional restrictions of the spine can be increased or even new complaints can arise. This most likely includes tension in the lower spine, but also disorders of the rib joints or blockages of the lower thoracic spine and the entire lumbar spine.

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How can I tell the difference between kidney and back pain?

In contrast to abdominal pain, for example, kidney pain is quite specific. This means that pain in the flank or kidney area mostly indicates a disease of the kidneys. The affected area is found on the lateral trunk between the palpable structures of the costal arch and the iliac crest. Back pain can also radiate there and sometimes it is not easy to differentiate. Kidney pain can often be triggered by a light blow with the edge of the hand in the flank. Back pain often interferes with movement and can lead to a hunched posture. This is rather unusual for kidney pain. The causes of back pain are mostly harmless. Muscle tension and signs of wear and tear (also known as degenerative changes) are the most common. The doctor can usually reliably differentiate between kidney pain and back pain through a specific physical examination and take appropriate further steps.

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Other accompanying symptoms

Kidney pain and back pain are often not the only complaints. Often there are other accompanying symptoms that can indicate the possible cause of the pain. For example, nausea and possibly vomiting are typical of pain caused by stones in the urinary tract. Fever usually indicates inflammation and can be a warning sign that there is a risk of blood poisoning, especially in the case of kidney pain. It is then usually an inflammation of the renal pelvis (Pyelonephritis) which is also noticeable through a pronounced feeling of illness.

New water retention, especially in the eyelids, as well as rising blood pressure can be accompanying symptoms of inflammation of the kidney tissue Glomerulunephritis called. However, the pain is often less pronounced here. Inflammation of the vertebral bodies or the intervertebral discs, for example, can also occur on the back, which also cause fever. The pain is mostly felt in the back. But this can also be felt more strongly on the side and then be misinterpreted as kidney pain. If the urine is bloody as an accompanying symptom or even earlier, cancer should also be considered in the case of kidney pain. Even if the urine is bloody only once, cancer of the urinary tract should be ruled out as soon as possible.

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Kidney and back pain with abdominal pain

With a severe urinary tract infection, in addition to burning and pain when urinating, pain in the bladder area often occurs, which is also perceived as non-specific abdominal pain. The bladder is behind the pubic bone. If the infection continues to rise, kidney pain occurs. However, the pain can also be felt in the back. In addition to this cause of the combination, stomach, kidney and back pain, a simple flu-like infection can also trigger the symptoms. There is no isolated disease of one organ, rather the whole body is weakened for a few days. Pain in the limbs and a slight fever are also possible. It is also conceivable that the various symptoms are not related at all, but rather go back to different causes.

Kidney and back pain with nausea

Kidney and back pain in connection with nausea can occur especially with so-called renal colic. They are caused by kidney or ureter stones in the urinary tract and have a wave-like onset of pain. Nausea or even vomiting are often triggered as a reflex reaction. Even if the symptoms can spontaneously disappear again if the stone responsible for them loosens, the symptoms can reappear at any time. Therefore, an examination and advice should be provided by a urologist.

Kidney and back pain with fever

If back or kidney pain occurs together with a fever, a doctor should be consulted. The combination of symptoms is typical of inflammation of the renal pelvis. It occurs when a cystitis rises within the urinary tract and spreads to the kidney. If there is no therapy with antibiotics, there is a risk of life-threatening blood poisoning, which is also known as urosepsis. Furthermore, the kidneys can be seriously damaged, including loss of function of the organ. Other possible symptoms are nausea and vomiting. In some cases, a more harmless urinary tract infection that is confined to the bladder can lead to a fever. However, due to the risk of serious kidney disease, an examination is essential.

More information can be found here: Renal Pelvic Inflammation

Kidney and back pain with pelvic pain

Many women experience abdominal pain during their menstrual period. For many, this can also be perceived as kidney or back pain. If the pain occurs regularly around the time of your period, or disappears soon afterwards, this is the most likely cause. The pain is caused by a natural body process.

However, it can also be a sign of what is known as endometriosis. This leads to the growth of uterine lining outside the uterus. This can attach itself to all possible organs in the abdominal cavity such as ureters or kidneys. During menstruation, the level of estrogen (female sex hormone) drops and uterine lining tissue is shed. If, as in endometriosis, it is in the wrong place, it causes pain in the corresponding organs or unspecifically. The gynecologist should be consulted if severe abdominal pain and other symptoms such as kidney or back pain persist. In general, diseases of the uterus can also radiate into the back and be perceived as back pain. It is also possible that the kidney pain and the abdominal pain have different causes.

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Kidney and back pain on the right

Kidney pain on the right side can occur when there is inflammation of the right kidney. A stone in the urinary tract on the corresponding side is often the trigger for a one-sided pain localization. Kidney pain is often misinterpreted as back pain. Especially with atrial fibrillation of the heart as a concomitant disease, a sudden onset of severe kidney pain on only one side can also indicate a kidney infarction. A blood clot is released from the heart, which then clogs a supplying kidney vessel. Especially for the right side, pain in the back or the kidney area caused by gallstones can also be perceived.

You can find more information on the subject here: Kidney pain on the right

Kidney and back pain on the left

Kidney pain on the left side can be caused by a stone in the urinary tract. Inflammation of the left kidney is also a possible explanation. Kidney pain is often misinterpreted as back pain. However, if the pain is clearly on the left, then left kidney disease is the more likely cause than the back. Especially with atrial fibrillation of the heart as a concomitant disease, a sudden onset of severe kidney pain on only one side can also indicate a kidney infarction. A blood clot is released from the heart, which then clogs a supplying kidney vessel.

More information can be found here: Kidney Pain on the Left

Kidney and back pain on both sides

Bilateral kidney pain can occur if both kidneys are inflamed. This can occur, for example, due to a build-up of urine or a prolonged cystitis. Furthermore, the presence of so-called cyst kidneys increases the risk of kidney pelvic inflammation, which in such a case can also occur on both sides. One speaks of cyst kidneys when there are at least three water-filled cysts per kidney. Much more often, bilateral kidney pain is based on a misinterpreted back pain that radiates into the kidney regions. The family doctor should first be consulted for clarification.

Kidney and back pain during pregnancy

During pregnancy it can happen that the growing child squeezes the ureters and urine builds up in the renal pelvis. A doctor should be consulted quickly with this so-called urinary congestion. A sideways posture can also lead to a rapid improvement in symptoms. There is also the risk of a urinary tract infection, which can also lead to inflammation of the renal pelvis (Pyelonephritis) can result in increased pregnancy. This can be explained, among other things, by the fact that the kidneys of pregnant women increasingly release sugar in the urine. This serves as a nutrient for pathogenic bacteria in the urinary tract so that they can multiply better and cause an infection.

In any case, kidney pain should be examined by a doctor during pregnancy, as it can be a serious disease that requires treatment. It does not matter whether the pain occurs on the right, left or both sides. Back pain during pregnancy can also occur frequently. Although the woman's suffering can be very great, in contrast to kidney pain, the cause is usually harmless. This happens because the child's weight pulls the mother's back forward. This has to counteract with their back muscles, which leads to an extremely heavy load. Especially in the last few months, back pain can be caused by the weight of the growing child, but it can also be misinterpreted as kidney pain.

You can find additional information here: Kidney pain during pregnancy

Kidney and back pain at night

Kidney pain that only occurs at night or in the morning after getting up can be caused by a urinary outflow problem. In some cases, lying down obstructs the flow of urine. As a result, the urine backs up to the kidneys and causes pain. After getting up, the symptoms improve after urination at the latest. The urologist, as an expert in the urinary drainage system, can use various diagnostic methods to determine a possible disorder and, if necessary, give a therapy recommendation. Back pain that occurs particularly at night is not uncommon. In most cases, the cause of this pain is harmless, and relief can be achieved with relaxation exercises and stress avoidance. However, if the pain becomes so severe that it prevents you from sleeping, a doctor should be consulted.

You can find more information here: Kidney pain at night