Kidney stones can cause a person to experience excruciating pain that feels like spasms. This pain may also spread to the groin. However, if kidney pain worsens when a person bends over or lifts something, it may be the result of back muscle or bone problems rather than an issue affecting the kidney.
Time. The timeline is another way to distinguish back pain from kidney pain. Back pain can come and go and can be triggered by certain movements like bending over or sitting up. Pain associated with the kidneys on the other hand generally remains dull and stable and is usually not changed with movement.
In comparison, kidney pain is typically located higher on your back and it often feels deeper. Most of the time, kidney pain symptoms occur under your ribs, to the right or left of your spine. Kidney pain may also radiate to other areas, such as your abdomen or groin.
The most prominent symptoms of kidney stones are severe abdominal or lower back pain. When patients visit the emergency room or their primary care doctor to discuss these symptoms, they can be mistaken as either appendicitis or general lower back pain.
Kidney pain is often felt on one side, under the rib cage, in the middle part of the back. Some people refer to this area as the “flank.” Type of pain: Kidney pain comes from a deeper place than the muscles. This means it usually doesn't get worse with lifting, twisting, or bending like muscle pain does.
Kidney pain is usually felt in your back, under the ribs, to either side of your spine. It may be caused by kidney stones, kidney infection or other kidney problems. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding urinary infections can help prevent kidney pain.
Kidney pain in the back may be a constant ache, or it may be sharp and sudden. Some people may describe it as a “stabbing” pain. The most common causes of kidney pain that radiates to the back are infections and kidney stones. A kidney infection may have started with a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Call your health care provider right away if you feel constant, dull, one-sided pain in your back or side. Ask for a same-day appointment if you also: Have fever, body aches and fatigue. Had a recent urinary tract infection.
The most common cause of kidney pain is from kidney stones, and this will not improve when you lie down and rest. Similarly, any symptoms of kidney inflammation or kidney failure will not let up with rest.
Dehydration (which is when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to work properly) Kidney cysts (fluid-filled pouches that form on or in the kidneys) Kidney stones (hard objects that form due to chemicals in urine) Kidney trauma, which could be caused by an accident, a fall or contact sports.
Kidney stones are sometimes considered "the great mimicker" because their signs and symptoms are very similar to appendicitis, ovarian or testicular conditions, gastritis, and urinary tract infections.
Changes in urine color, transparency, and smell
A pinkish or reddish hue may indicate the presence of blood in the urine, while a greenish tone could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Cloudy non-transparent urine may be another sign of infection, but it may also suggest an abnormal level of salts in the liquid.
Signs and symptoms of Stage 1 CKD include: High blood pressure. Swelling in your hands or feet. Urinary tract infections.
Urine Tests
One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is when protein leaks into your urine (called proteinuria). To check for protein in your urine, a doctor will order a urine test.
The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. You may feel kidney pain on only one side or both sides of your back. Having pain in these areas does not always mean there is something wrong with your kidneys.
Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it's felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage. It's often constant.
The length of time a stone can hang around is the primary reason that a person may feel like kidney stone symptoms come and go. Once you start feeling the pain of a kidney stone, it can take anywhere between one to four weeks for the stone to actually pass. In the meantime, the pain can seem sporadic.
A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired, weak and can make it hard to concentrate. Another complication of kidney disease is anemia, which can cause weakness and fatigue. You're having trouble sleeping.
Place your left hand behind the patient between the rib cage and iliac crest and place your right hand below the right costal margin. While pressing your hands firmly together, ask the patient to take a deep breath. Attempt to feel the lower pole of the right kidney. Repeat the same maneuver for the left kidney.