If you feel a pain somewhere in the spinethe first thing you think is that you have a muscle strain or an injury to your back. However, it is possible that your back has nothing to do with it: the pain may be coming from one of your kidneys.
Since the kidneys are very close to the back, it is possible Confusing kidney pain with back painbut these two types of discomfort have different causes and treatments.
Kidney pain is often caused by inflammation or diseases affecting the kidneys. Back pain, on the other hand, tends to occur due to damage to the tissues of the back. Learning to distinguish between the two can make it easier to get the right treatment and pain relief.
Read on to find out the Differences between kidney pain and back pain, the possible causes of each and what to do.
What is back pain like?
Back pain affects the area from the shoulders to the buttocks. It can range from a sudden, sharp stabbing or stabbing pain to a dull, constant ache.
It may also involve other symptoms, such as:
- Muscle spasms or contractions and tension of the back muscles
- Swelling or warmth in the painful areas of the back
- Weakness in one or both legs
Additionally, you may notice that your back pain:
- It temporarily improves when you rest, apply heat or ice, or take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- It is less intense or disappears when you bend, turn, stand up or change position, although in some cases, these movements can also make the pain worse.
- It’s worse in the morning but improves as you get up and move around, according to Dr. Piruz Motamedinia, associate professor of urology and endourology at Yale University.
What is kidney pain like?
Kidney pain can be felt painful, stabbing, excruciating or crampingand usually comes and goes in waves.
Since your Kidneys are below your rib cage, approximately at elbow level.when your hands are resting at your sides, you’re most likely to feel kidney pain in that area. You may also feel pain in your abdomen or groin, including the tip of your penis, the testicle on that same side, your vagina or your labia, says Motamedinia.
With back pain you may feel like you can touch the painful spot. But with kidney pain it’s usually you feel it is deeper and harder to reach.
Kidney pain often involves other symptoms as well, adds Rena D. Malik, MD, director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. These symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Vomiting and nausea
- Pain when urinating
- Cloudy or dark urine
- Urine containing stones or particles
- A recent urinary tract infection (UTI)
Kidney pain usually won’t improve until you identify and treat the root cause.
What causes back pain?
The most common causes of back pain are:
- Muscle or ligament tension: A strain of the muscles or ligaments in your back can occur during activities such as overstretching or heavy lifting. Muscle strains are responsible for most cases of back pain.
- Bad posture: Poor posture, which can mean sitting without proper support or in a slouched position, can put pressure on your back and cause pain in your mid or lower back.
- Muscle tension: This condition can be caused by stress, bed rest, or overuse of muscles.
- Infections: Any infection of the bones and tissues of the spine and ribs, such as osteomyelitis, epidural abscesses, and disc space infections, can cause back pain.
- Injuries: Although it goes without saying, your back is also likely to hurt after a fall or other injury.
- Osteoporosis:If you have this condition, your bones begin to lose density and become weaker. Back pain is a common symptom of it, and you may also feel pain in other parts of your body, such as your knees and hips.
- Spine cancer: In this rare disease, cells in the spine multiply abnormally, compressing and damaging surrounding tissues. Spinal cancer can also result from cancer cells from another organ spreading to the spine. Other symptoms may include weight loss and swelling of the back.
- Herniated disc: Also known as a herniated disc, this painful condition occurs when parts of the spine slip out of place. It can trigger sharp, burning pain anywhere along the spine.
- Sciatica: Sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve (which runs from your lower back to your feet). Sciatica can also involve leg pain and tingling or numbness in your back and legs.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: This disease causes chronic inflammation of the spine and other areas of the body and can cause stiffness in the spine, ribs, hips and knees. Other symptoms include fatigue, difficulty breathing deeply and vision problems.
- Spinal Stenosis: In this condition, the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves. You may also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs and arms.
- Pregnancy: The extra weight you carry forward during pregnancy can put strain on your back, but this pain usually stops with the arrival of the baby.
What causes kidney pain?
The kidneys filter waste from the body, make urine, and produce hormones that regulate red blood cell formation and bone function.
Kidney pain is often caused by diseases of the kidney and other parts of the urinary system. Some causes of kidney pain are
- Kidney stonesKidney stones form when minerals build up in the kidneys. Smaller kidney stones may pass when you urinate, but larger stones can block the urinary tract and cause pain that feels like burning, stabbing, sharp, or dull pain.
- Urinary retention: If you have difficulty urinating, fluid trapped in your bladder can stretch it beyond its usual size, causing pain that can range from mild to severe. You may also notice swelling in your lower abdomen.
- Vesicoureteral reflux: With this rare condition, the bladder does not empty properly because urine backs up to one or both kidneys through the ureters, the tubes that carry urine to the bladder. This condition can occur when the kidneys or ureters do not work as they should, and is more common in boys. Other symptoms include an urgent need to urinate, bedwetting, and frequent urinary tract infections.
- Injury: Kidney damage from an accident, fall, stabbing, shooting, or other injury can also cause pain.
- Kidney cancerIf you have cancer in one or both kidneys, you may have other symptoms along with the pain, such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and blood in your urine.
- Kidney infections: These occur when bacteria or viruses enter the kidney. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and pain when urinating.
- Ureteral stenosis: This condition occurs when the ureter becomes narrowed due to things like inflammation, radiation, damage during surgery, pressure from tumors, or damage from large kidney stones. Other symptoms include fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- Polycystic kidney diseaseThis genetic disorder causes cysts in the kidney, liver, pancreas, and other organs. It can also cause headaches, bloating, high blood pressure, and blood in the urine.
When to see a doctor
Back pain may go away on its own, but you can also relieve it with a few actions:
- Applying hot or cold compresses
- Doing stretches or gentle massages
- Correct your posture by standing at your desk, using a backrest, or using an ergonomic chair when possible
- Taking over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.
- Try aerobic exercise, such as rowing, cycling or using an elliptical machine, but only when a doctor has confirmed that it is safe for you.
If this does not improve with rest and these relief strategies it may suggest a serious health problem. Therefore, it is It is advisable that you seek medical attention if you continue to experience pain.
Home remedies often do little to relieve kidney pain, as they cannot address the underlying cause. If you think the discomfort is coming from your kidneys, you should make an appointment with a doctor immediately.
How to know if you have kidney problems? Symptoms and consequences of kidney failure
It is always a good idea to seek medical attention if any pain you experience is:
- Intense
- It occurs together with other symptoms
- Persists or appears and disappears for more than a week
Your doctor may ask you questions about your pain and your general health, such as:
- Your usual exercise routines
- The type of work you do
- Any treatment you have tried
- Other symptoms you have noticed
- What relieves your pain or makes it worse
- Recent injuries, medical procedures or surgeries
- Any effect on your daily life – for example, if your pain causes you to miss school or work, or makes it difficult for you to walk and do other things
You may also have your back and abdomen examined and may be advised Tests to help make the diagnosis correct, such as:
- Urine analysis: This test helps your doctor check your urine for blood, particles, or signs of infection.
- Complete blood count (CBC): shows the count and concentration of blood cells and helps the doctor detect possible cancers, inflammations and infections.
- Magnetic resonance imaging or CT scanImaging tests—such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, or bone scan—can help doctors examine your bones, muscles, kidneys, and other organs for any signs of problems.
- Electromyography: Also called nerve conduction tests, these tests help your doctor check if your nerves are working as they should.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein tests: These blood tests can help identify ongoing inflammation anywhere in the body.
So if the pain doesn’t go away, you have other symptoms, or it seems to be coming from a deeper area of your back, it’s a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Your healthcare professional may recommend Tests to help determine if the pain is coming from the back or the kidneys. They can also suggest the best treatment to help you not only get relief, but also reduce the risk of long-term complications.