Most people have a hard time figuring out 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 diseases of the musculoskeletal system. During this time, the paired organ has its own specificity and characteristic symptoms that arise during the course of the disease.
It is possible to figure out what hurts - the lower back or the kidneys - if you pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms. Usually, diseases of kidney origin occur against the background of a deterioration in well-being, accompanied by a temperature. Nausea attacks and frequent urination are possible.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized to the location of the paired organ. It can appear on the left or right side, but rarely shoots all over the back. If the pain is in the middle of the lower back, it is most likely in the spine or back muscles.
In urological practice, the pain in the lumbar region may have a different intensity, frequency and frequency of occurrence, pass or not after taking antispasmodics.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it is not excluded that if you have back pain, the kidneys are the cause of the problem. Discomfort or painful sensations of varying degrees are manifested in such cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- stone formation;
- other disorders of the genitourinary system.
Lower back pain from the kidney is dull or sharp, weak or sharp. In many cases, they are indistinguishable from the painful sensations experienced with sciatica or osteochondrosis. The pain can spread to other areas: groin, thigh, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort is alleviated and, conversely, intensifies - for example, with pressure surges in patients with nephroptosis or stone displacement.
How to tell if your kidneys are hurting
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, associated symptoms often appear. It is possible to identify them even independently, at home. However, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease, you need to contact specialized specialists. Only on the basis of comprehensive diagnostic measures is it possible to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.
Another sign: when the kidneys hurt, the pain in the lower back does not go away or worsen when the position of the body is changed - this is characteristic of a disease of the spine. The pain is felt constantly and is usually only eliminated with spasmodic pain relievers.
Characteristics of kidney pain
There are two main types of back pain caused by the kidney:
- Dull and painful, accompanied by heaviness in the lower back - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Sharp, dagger - caused by colic, which occurs due to the effect of stones on nerve endings of internal organs or blockage of the urethra (with urolithiasis).
When the reason is that the lower back hurts, the kidneys - painful sensations are unchanged in nature. They are either dull or sharp - depending on the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle pain is different: it often goes from the acute phase to the deaf phase, subsides at rest, and resumes when activity begins.
Location of back pain
If you "listen" to yourself carefully, you can feel exactly where the back pain is in the kidney area. Since the paired organ is located at a certain distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, pain sensations are concentrated there, in the depths. On the contrary, when a person feels discomfort closer to the surface of the back, it is most likely due to the spine or back muscles.
Whenever the back hurts in the kidney area, one can confidently judge the real cause. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI help to clarify the diagnosis. In addition, blood and urine tests are done. All of these procedures are performed in the clinic under the supervision of the attending physician.
Irradiation of pain
Back pain in the area often spreads throughout the body causing discomfort.
Pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thigh area;
- stomach;
- groin area.
Pronounced cramps 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 inside the organ. If the pain is felt both in the lower back and below, then it is possible to accurately assume kidney pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person is constrained in his movements, it is difficult for him to bend over and squat, often it is not possible to straighten up - any change in the position of the body is accompanied bypronounced pain sensations.
Back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may experience discomfort when standing or lying on their back, and in other positions pain is not felt. Changes in posture are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can be a relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movement, pain in the back, where the kidneys are located, may increase.
Slap on the back
To find out if the kidneys or the spine are causing low back pain, you can use the back patting technique.
Tapping algorithm:
- The person is lying on his stomach, part of the back is exposed under the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed over this area.
- With a fist (as well as the edge of the palm or fingertips), lightly tap the lying palm.
If, when tapping, back pain in the kidney area increases, then the paired organ is its real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: pain occurs when the shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when typing in a home environment, the helper should act with caution.
The real causes of pain in the lower back
You can understand why the back hurts in the kidney area by finding out the cause of the discomfort. Most often, the reasons are external - they are associated with physical activity, increased stress, a sharp change in temperature, illness.
To find out why there was pain - kidney or spine - just remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- intense physical work;
- sudden or intense training;
- lifting weights;
- any unusual load;
- unhappy fall.
All this often leads to stretching of the muscles, pinching of the nerves, displacement of the intervertebral discs or the formation of a hernia.
Kidney problems are caused by swimming in cold water, hypothermia, sitting on the floor, 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 characteristic symptoms exclusively of kidney disease alone.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- intense heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- noticeable swelling in the morning;
- blood impurities and pus in the urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- water hammer;
- nausea;
- deterioration of sleep.
How to distinguish pyelonephritis from osteochondrosis or back muscle problems? A clear sign of the inflammatory process is the appearance of purulent particles in the urine.
Symptoms of back pain
If the lower back pulls, the kidneys have nothing to do with it. Symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle spasms are indicated by the characteristic tingling sensations, there may be "goose bumps" where it hurts. Muscles seem to go numb, but sensitivity is restored with the use of surface warming agents - gels, ointments or other drugs with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective for kidney problems. But taking antispasmodics relieves the patient's condition. Another tip for distinguishing osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is to take a warm bath. As a result of the heat exposure, the body will relax and the stone spasm will be relieved.
Tests for kidney and lower back pain
When shooting in the kidney, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, of which general tests are a part. Renal pathology is confirmed by an increase in the level of ESR and leukocytes, and sometimes by a low level of hemoglobin in the blood. Urinalysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - it shows impurities of pus, with stones - an excess of salts and blood impurities.
To clarify the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease, urine samples are taken. And also a urine culture is prescribed.
When the source of the low back pain is the kidney, the treatment is formulated after complementary abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed if a tumor is suspected.
Non-renal pathologies are diagnosed mainly by examination and X-ray examination.