Most people find it difficult to determine the source of their back pain - the kidneys or the back. Therefore, at the family level, renal abdominal pain is often confused with the symptoms of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Meanwhile, the paired organ has its own specificity and characteristic symptoms that arise during the disease.
It is possible to understand what hurts - the lower back or kidneys - if you pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms. Usually, diseases of renal origin occur against the background of a deterioration of well-being, accompanied by a fever. Attacks of nausea 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 hits the entire back. If soreness is expressed in the middle of the lower back, it is most likely to occur in the spine or dorsal muscles.
In urological practice, pain in the lumbar region may have different intensity, frequency and frequency of onset, pass or not after taking antispasmodic drugs.
Can they hurt the kidneys?
Yes, it can be ruled out that if your back hurts, the kidneys are the source of the problem. Discomfort or painful sensations of varying degrees are manifested in such cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- stone formation;
- other diseases of the genitourinary system.
Lumbar pain from the kidneys 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, thighs, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort is silent and, conversely, intensifies - for example, with pressure waves in patients with nephroptosis or stone displacement.
How to tell if your kidneys hurt
When the source of low back pain is the kidneys, accompanying symptoms often appear. It is possible to identify them even independently, at home. However, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease, you should contact specialized specialists. Only on the basis of comprehensive diagnostic measures is it possible to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective therapy.
Another sign: when the kidneys hurt, the pain in the lower back does not disappear or worsen when the body position changes - this is characteristic of a spinal disease. The pain is felt constantly and is usually removed only by analgesic spasmodics.
Characteristics of renal pain
Back pain due to kidney is of two main types:
- Dull and painful, accompanied by weight in the lower back - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Sharp, dagger - caused by abdominal pain, which occurs due to the effect of stones on the 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 of unchanged nature. They are either dull or acute - according to the etiology of the disease. But the pain of the spinal muscles is different: it often flows from the acute phase to a dull one, fades into calmness and resumes at the moment of starting the activity.
Localization of back pain
If you carefully "listen" to yourself, you can feel exactly where the pain appears in the back in the kidney area. Since the paired organ is located at some distance from the surface of the body, behind the back, the painful sensations are concentrated there, in depth. Conversely, when a person experiences discomfort closer to the surface of the back, it is most likely due to the back or back muscles.
Whenever back pain in the kidney area, the true cause can surely be judged. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI help to clarify the diagnosis. Furthermore, blood and urine tests are performed. All these procedures are performed in the clinic under the supervision of the attending physician.
Radiation of pain
Back pain in this area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
Pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thigh area;
- girdle;
- hip area.
Excessive pain in the urethra is possible - they are also caused by renal pathology.
There is no need to doubt whether the spine can be damaged by the kidneys - this is a common symptom of the inflammatory process within the organ. If the soreness is felt both in the lower back and down, then it is possible to assume exactly renal pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person is restricted in movement, it is difficult for him to bend and squat, it is often not possible to direct - any change in body position is accompanied by pronounced sensations of pain.
Back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may experience discomfort while standing or lying on his back, and in other positions, grief is not felt. Behavioral changes are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can give you relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movement, back pain, where the kidneys are, may increase.
Back knock
To find out if the kidneys or spine are the source of low back pain, you can use the tapping technique on the back.
Interception algorithm:
- The person lies on the abdomen, part of the back is exposed below the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed in this area.
- With a fist (as well as the edge of the palm or fingertips), tap the outstretched palm.
If, during tapping, back pain in the kidney area increases, then the paired organ is its real source.
Importers It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the force of the blow: bitterness appears when the blow occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when eavesdropping on a home environment, the helper should act with caution.
The real causes of pain in the lumbar region
You can understand why back pain in the kidney area by discovering what caused 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 - from the kidneys or back - it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- heavy physical work;
- immediate or intensive training;
- weight lifting;
- any unusual load;
- unfortunate decline.
All of this often leads to muscle strain, nerve tightening, dislocation of the spinal discs or the formation of a hernia.
Kidney problems are caused by swimming in cold water, hypothermia, landing or 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 characteristic exclusively of kidney disease.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- intense heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- visible swelling in the morning;
- impurities of blood and pus in the urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- pressure waves;
- mixed;
- deterioration in 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. The symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle spasms are indicated by the tender sensations of the piercing sensation, it is possible to have "goosebumps" at the site where it hurts. Muscles appear to be numb, but sensitivity is restored when using surface warming agents - gels, oils or other medicines with anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective for kidney problems. But taking antispasmodic drugs alleviates the patient's condition. Another tip on how to distinguish osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is to take a warm bath. As a result of heat exposure, the body will relax and spasms from the calculation will be relieved.
Tests for renal and lumbar pain
When shooting at the kidney, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, of which general tests are a part. Kidney pathology is confirmed by an increased level of ESR and leukocytes, and sometimes by low hemoglobin in the blood. Urine analysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - indicates pus impurity, with stones - an excess of salts and impurities in the blood.
Urine samples are taken to clarify the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease. And a urinary culture is also described.
When the source of low back pain is the kidney, treatment is formulated after additional abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed if a neoplasm is suspected.
Nonrenal pathologies are mainly diagnosed by examination and X-ray examination.