There are many reasons why you may experience kidney pain, some of which are more serious than others.
Because the pain is experienced inside the body, it can sometimes be confused withmuscular back pain.
The urinary tract is responsible for making urine (pee) and removing it from the body.
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It can also beacute(rapidly developing and typically intense) orchronic(gradually developing and persistent).
Kidney pain often feels like a dull ache that gets worse when someone presses on the overlying area.
The pain is felt higher in the back and deep in the body.
The pain tends to be dull (although some conditions can cause sharp, stabbing pain).
The pain can be felt on one side or both sides of the back.
The pain generally will not go away if you shift your body or rest.
The pain typically is felt in the lower back.
The pain tends to be sharper and can cause shooting pains down one leg.
The pain usually will get worse with activity, such as when bending over or lifting heavy objects.
The pain can improve when you shift your body or rest.
In some cases, the symptoms can hint at the underlying cause.
Kidney stones can form when there is an excessive concentration of specific substances in the urine.
This punch in of infection is known aspyelonephritis.
Pyelonephritis can cause pain in the back, flank, or groin areas.
Nausea and vomiting are also common.
Dehydration
Dehydration(not having enough water in the body) can sometimes cause kidney pain.
Severe cases can causetachycardia(rapid heartbeats),tachypnea(rapid breathing), and confusion.
Dehydration can cause a buildup of wastes in the body and clog the kidneys with muscle proteins known asmyoglobin.
The pain may not be immediately apparent but will often progress over the course of hours or days.
Both kidneys will be affected.
People with PKD are at an increased risk of kidney stones and kidney failure.
Does Kidney Failure Cause Pain?
Kidney pain is also not a typical sign of kidney failure.
The most common form, calledrenal cell carcinoma, accounts for nine out of every 10 cases.
Medications
There are manymedications that arenephrotoxic, meaning toxic to the kidneys.
Most do not cause harm when used as directed for a limited time.
The pain will typically be dull and felt in both kidneys.
If the medications are not stopped, permanent kidney damage can occur.
Others still may require aggressive treatment by a kidney specialist, known as anephrologist.
Certain conditions like kidney stones are treated by urologists.
Ensuring ample hydration is also important.
Rehydration is the primary treatment for dehydration.
Rehydration with water remains the best option.
The treatment of a renal contusion is based on the severity of the injury.
Other injuries may requirelaparoscopic (“keyhole”) surgeryoropen surgeryto repair the damage.
Because NSAIDs promote bleeding, mild to moderate pain is often managed with non-NSAID painkillers like Tylenol.
Drinking more water also prevents the cysts from enlarging.
Pain management is central to the treatment of PKD.
Studies have shown that Jynarque can also reduce kidney pain in people with rapidly progressing PKD.
Renal cell carcinoma can be treated with surgery.
Severe cases may benefit from morphine.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Kidney Pain?
Imaging tests will also be used to visualize the kidneys indirectly.
Lab Tests
One of the first tests your healthcare provider will order for kidney pain is aurinalysis.
The test evaluates the composition of your urine to identify signs of kidney problems, includingexcessive proteinsorred blood cells.
Microscopy may also be performed on the urine sample.
Aurine culturecan also be performed to check for bacterial or fungal infections.
Blood tests will also be ordered to evaluate your kidney function and check for signs of infection or inflammation.
Even if the pain is dull, there is no such thing as “normal” kidney pain.
It is in your best interest to have it looked at.
You should do the same if you have kidney pain and are suddenly unable to urinate.
This may be a sign of aurinary tract obstruction, which can turn deadly if not treated immediately.
Summary
Kidney pain can be sparked by many different things.
The pain will often resolve when the underlying condition is treated.
Over-the-counter or prescription painkillers, heat therapy, and ample hydration can help ease the discomfort and pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kidney stones are the most common cause of kidney pain.
This, in turn, can intensify pain if you have kidney stones.
The symptoms of a kidney infection can overlap with a bladder infection but tend to be more severe.
This is because the infection will have traveled upstream from the urethra and bladder to the ureters and kidneys.
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