
Having back pain doesn’t necessarily mean the you have a problem with your spine or even with a back muscle.
The trouble may, in fact, be a kidney problem. A kidney infection or a kidney stone can trigger back pain that some people say is as intense childbirth or a gunshot wound. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. I’ve been there and done that”(several times in fact).
So how do you tell the difference between back pain comes from a muscle or nerve injury versus kidney trouble?
Location is your first clue. Kidney pain usually happens in the “flanks,” the area just below the bottom of your rib cage. You’ll feel the pain in your back, but it won’t be near your spine – it will be more toward your side.
Pain caused by kidney problems often comes on quickly – as the saying goes, you “don’t know what hit you.”
Kidney stones sometimes hurt when they move from the kidneys down to the bladder. But they can also create an obstruction in the ureters, which are the thin tubes between the bladder and kidneys.
Besides back pain, symptoms of a kidney problem include blood in your urine . You may also feel a burning sensation. and you’re likely feel an urgency to urinate more often than usual. Pain sometimes radiates around the side, into the abdomen, and in men, all the way down to the testicles.
Kidney stones sometimes pass through your urinary system and out of your body through urination, especially if you drink a lot of water. As painful as they can be, they’re generally not life threatening.
But a kidney infection, left untreated, can be extremely serious. It can result in kidney failure. There are two categories of kidney infections. There’s glomerulonephritis, which can be acute or chronic, and pyelonephritis, which is an inflammation of one or both kidneys that can be acute, relapsing or chronic.
Therefore, anytime you can’t identify the reason for your back pain, you should call your doctor.
Getting Relief from Kidney Back Pain
As I mentioned above, I’ve experienced kidney stones several times. Several times, I didn’t even know I had one, and the stone passed peacefully. But I’ve been hospitalized to have stones removed twice. It’s not fun, although new techniques, like shock wave therapy, have been developed that make you much less uncomfortable than the old ways.
Back pain from kidney problems can be especially difficult to relieve. Your doctor can give you pain killers, but honestly, hardly anything has worked very well for me except percodan, which is pretty powerful stuff (and may even be addictive).
A hot shower may help. I’ve also gotten some relief by lying on my back in a bathtub full of warm water. No doctor has ever suggested doing this, but it seems to work. I think it might relieve some of the gravitation pressure pushing down on a stone when it’s lodged in the ureter.
Conclusion
Kidney back pain shouldn’t be taken lightly. Nevertheless, at the first sign of a kidney problem, don’t anticipate that it will go away on its own. And don’t hesitate to get in touch with a doctor. Do it as soon as possible.
About the Author
George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.