It is difficult for most people to determine what the source of back pain is - the kidneys or the spine. Therefore, at the household level, renal colic is often confused with symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. Meanwhile, the paired organ has its own peculiarities and characteristic symptoms that appear during the disease.
It is possible to understand what hurts - the lower back or the kidneys - if you pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms. Usually, diseases of kidney origin occur in the background of deterioration of well-being, accompanied by temperature. Attack of nausea and frequent urination may occur.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized at the site of the paired organ. It may appear on the left or right, but it rarely shoots all over the back. If the pain is expressed in the lower back, it is likely in the spine or back muscles.
In urological practice, pain in the lumbar region may be of varying intensity, frequency, and frequency, and may or may not resolve after taking anticonvulsant drugs.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it cannot be ruled out that if your back hurts, your kidneys will cause the problem. Various degrees of discomfort or painful feelings occur in such cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- formation of stones;
- other diseases of the urogenital system.
The lower back pain of the kidney is dull or sharp, weak or sharp. In many cases, they are indistinguishable from the painful feelings experienced during sciatica or osteochondrosis. The pain can spread to other areas: loins, thighs, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort is muted and vice versa - for example, in patients with nephroptosis or with increases in pressure associated with stone displacement.
How do you tell if your kidneys are hurting?
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, accompanying symptoms often appear. They can be identified even on their own, at home. However, you need to contact professionals to diagnose the disease more accurately. Only comprehensive diagnostic measures can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.
Another sign is that when the kidneys ache, the pain in the lower back does not go away, or it does not get worse when the position of the body is changed - this is typical of spinal disease. The pain is felt continuously and is usually only removed by cramping painkillers.
Characteristics of kidney pain
There are two main types of back pain due to kidney:
- It is accompanied by a dull and painful difficulty in the lower back - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- It is caused by a sharp, dagger colic that occurs in the stones due to nerve endings in the internal organs or obstruction of the urethra (in the case of urolithiasis).
When the reason is that the lower back hurts, the kidneys - the painful feelings are unchanged in nature. They are either boring or acute - according to the etiology of the disease. But the muscle pain in the spine is different: it often flows from the acute phase to the deaf, fades at rest, and continues at the moment the activity begins.
Localization of back pain
If you "listen" to yourself carefully, you can feel exactly where the back pain occurs in the kidney area. Because the paired organ is located at a certain distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, the painful feelings are concentrated there, in the deep. On the contrary, when a person experiences discomfort closer to the surface of the back, it is likely to be caused by the spine or back muscles.
Whenever the back hurts in the kidney area, the true cause can be judged with confidence. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI help to clarify the diagnosis. In addition, blood and urine tests are performed. All of these procedures are performed at the clinic under the supervision of the treating physician.
Irradiation of pain
Back pain in the area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
The pain affects the following parts of the body:
- the inner area of the thigh;
- abdominal;
- lumbar area.
Convulsions in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by kidney pathology.
There is no doubt that the back can hurt the kidneys - this is a common symptom of the inflammatory process within the organ. If the pain is felt in both the lower back and the lower back, kidney pathology can be accurately assumed.
Back pain and physical activity
In osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person has limited mobility, difficulty bending and squatting, and is often unable to straighten up - any change in body position is accompanied by pronounced feelings of pain.
Back pain with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may experience discomfort while standing or lying on their back, in other situations the pain is not felt. Changing your posture is much easier. Finding a comfortable position can be a relief.
In the case of nephroptosis, physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate: with active movements, back pain where the kidneys are may increase.
Tapping his back
You can use the back-knocking technique to determine if your kidneys or spine are causing low back pain.
Tap algorithm:
- The person lies on their stomach, the back is exposed under the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed in this area.
- With your fist (as well as the edge of your palm or your fingertips), lightly tap the lying palm.
If back pain intensifies in kidney pain when you knock, the paired organ is the real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: the pain manifests when the shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when tapping in a home environment, the assistant should proceed with caution.
The real causes of pain in the lumbar region
You can find out why your back hurts in the kidney area by finding out what caused the discomfort. Most often, the causes are external - they are associated with physical activity, increased stress, sharp changes in temperature, illness.
To find out why there was pain in the kidneys or spine, it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- strenuous physical work;
- sudden or intense training;
- weight-lifting;
- any unusual load;
- unfortunate fall.
This often leads to muscle stretching, nerve stings, spinal displacement, or hernia formation.
Kidney problems are caused by swimming in cold water, hypothermia, sitting on the ground, or a viral illness - ARVI or sore throat.
Other signs of kidney disease
How to distinguish kidney pain from osteochondrosis or sciatica? To do this, it is enough to pay attention to the symptoms that are specific to kidney disease.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- intense heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- noticeable swelling in the morning;
- blood and pus impurities in the urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- pressure voltages;
- nausea;
- deterioration of sleep.
How can pyelonephritis be distinguished from osteochondrosis or posterior muscle problems? A clear sign of the inflammatory process is the appearance of purulent particles in the urine.
Symptoms of back pain
If you pull on your lower back, your kidneys have nothing to do with it. The symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle cramps are indicated by the characteristic tingling sensations, it is possible that there is "goosebumps" in the place where it hurts. The muscles seem to numb, but sensitivity is restored when surface-heating agents - gels, ointments or other anti-inflammatory drugs - are used.
Rubbing is ineffective in kidney problems. But taking antispasmodic drugs makes the patient’s condition easier. Another tip on how to distinguish osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is a hot bath. As a result of the heat, the body relaxes and the spasm from calculus is relieved.
Examination of kidney and lumbar pain
When shooting in the kidneys, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, of which general examinations are a part. Renal pathology is confirmed by increased levels of ESR and leukocytes, and sometimes low hemoglobin levels in the blood. Urine analysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - pus impurities, stones - excess salt and blood contamination.
Urine samples are taken to clarify the diagnosis of inflammatory disease. And they also require urine culture.
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, treatment is formulated after further abdominal ultrasound. If neoplasm is suspected, tomography is prescribed.
Non-renal diseases are mainly diagnosed by examination and X-ray.