Occasional Kidney Pain Both Sides

No, not normal: Kidney infection can cause back pain in both sides, but not likely. Kidney stones in both sides is also possible but not likely. Retained gallstone. If the pain is on both sides, it is very unlikely to be a kidney-related problem, but rather back-related. Ask your pharmacist for OTC medication. Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is a medical condition in which one or both kidneys get infected. A person has two kidneys that are located under the rib cage on each side of the spine. The pain of kidney infection may be felt on the sides (flanks) and the back. Unlike the classical back pain due to muscle or bone involvement, which typically affects the lower back, kidney pain is felt. Injury or trauma: Any strong impact or blunt force to the kidney area (such as in contact sports or an accident) may cause a laceration or other physical damage to the kidneys. Such incidents may also cause a disruption of normal blood flow to the kidneys. Acute (sudden) kidney failure may. Kidney pain normally arise injury or infection of the kidneys. Kidney pain usually felt on the upper back that may be one-sided ache, dull and if it is accompanied by urinary symptoms or fever, then it is real kidney pain.Sometime kidney stone do also cause pain when kidney stone begins to move through the ureter on the way of bladder. Very little urine formation, change in urine color.

Kidney pain normally arise injury or infection of the kidneys. Kidney pain usually felt on the upper back that may be one-sided ache, dull and if it is accompanied by urinary symptoms or fever, then it is real kidney pain. Sometime kidney stone do also cause pain when kidney stone begins to move through the ureter on the way of bladder. Very little urine formation, change in urine color, swelling in leg and vomiting are the major symptoms of kidney pain. Some medical treatments are available to remove kidney pain.

What is kidney pain?

Kidney pain is usually referred to the plane injury or some sort of infection into the kidney. If the kidneys are found full of infection or fully defective form, then a severe kidney pain is felt. On the other hand kidney pain has a close relation with the back pain; even they may have other different cases. The back pain symptoms can be caused due to kidney infection and vice versa. The major functions of kidneys are excreting waste product as a form of urine and also filter the blood. Kidney cannot able to perform its function due to kidney infection and that causes kidney pain in most of the time.

Where Do You Feel Kidney Pain?

Kidney pain normally felt between the ribs and the lower back side on either the left side or right side of the body. Most of the time kidney pain may dull, piercing pain, sharp and will sometimes happen on and off. Sometime kidney pain is felt like lower back pain. But there have a ways to distinguish kidney pain from the lower back pain. The lower back pain will get better when you apply heat therapy, and will get worsen during movement and with exercise. But kidney pain will not get better with the heat therapy. You can identify the kidney pain by applying this technique.

Where does the kidney pain hurt?

  1. In one of the both flanks, in the area between lower ribs and the hips.
  2. Deeply into the upper abdomen on the right, left or both of the side.
  3. The pain from the kidney stone which lodge into the ureter can exude from the flank region toward the groin, genitalia and inner thighs.

What does the kidney pain feel?

Description about the kidney pain:

  1. Acute or sudden pain.
  2. Persistent or chronic pain.
  3. Mild or severe pain.
  4. Sharp, dull pain.
  5. Cramping or colicky.
  6. The kidney pain is often, not always.

Kidney pain location

The kidneys are usually bean shaped inner organ in our body. It is one of the vital organs of the body’s urinary system. The major functions of the kidneys are to remove toxic substance from body, filter the blood, and eliminate body waste product as a form of urine. Both kidneys are also maintained our body’s water and electrolytes balance. Kidneys also perform some excretory functions, such as kidneys release several hormone that needed by the body, helps to generate red blood cells, help to control our body’s blood pressure and regulate also.

When our kidney obtain any injury or our body got a certain types of infection that affecting our kidneys, results kidney pain may be present. The kidney pain location is vague because usually the pain is coming from our internal organ so it is very hard to detect exact kidney pain location. But in order to make define that the pain is appeared from the kidneys and it is always better to know about the anatomical location of the organ in our body.

There is a couple of kidney in our body and both of the kidneys are located on the part of our body just under the diaphragm at the back side of the inside layer of abdominal cavity. Normally the right kidney is situated at the lower position than left kidney and it’s all happen because of liver. Just like other inner or internal organ of our body, these kidneys are also supported by an adipose tissue.

Normally the location of kidney pain is at the back and lower back side. But other than kidney pain, the painful sign coming from other area or organ are also felt at the back. Usually the painful symptoms can be coming from pancreas, liver, colon, spleen and back muscle. Women with the back pain sometime may also consider as menstrual pain and also ovulation.

There are several ways to manually detect, if the pain is come from the kidney. To detect the kidney pain location, at first you have to know about the exact location of the kidney and back pain. When the pain felt into the flank area on lower part at the rib cage, then it is specially related to the kidneys. But the lower region of the middle back area is not usually the kidney pain location. On the other hand the pain on the middle area or the lower back is normally caused by the muscle straining.

Another way to identify the kidney pain, at first you have to know about the characteristics of kidney pain. Normally the kidney pain is very sharp and it is really severe pain. Kidney pain is felt in a wave like manner. On the other hand aching and dull pain at the beck area is not likely to be associated to the kidney. When the pain become severe at every movement, the pain is more likely to musculoskeletal in the nature. A constant and steady pain is not also caused by the kidney. But if the pain is provoked by a simple touch on the kidney area on the flank region, then it may be due to kidney infection.

Risk factors of kidney pain

Kidney pain may happen or occur due to injury to a kidney, inflammation or swelling of the kidney and infection or inflammation of kidney. The pains from the kidney dispose in the flank region or the lower back, just under the ribs and also it can extend up to testicles. The pain due to muscle strain, arthritis and spinal problems can mistake for few problems into the kidneys. The kidney stone and the infection into the kidney are one of the major causes of kidney pain.

Kidney infection is normally accompanied by different symptoms including burning during urination, urinary infection, bloody urine, frequent urination, nausea, fever. On the other hand the pain due to the kidney stone are tends to come and go. But the condition likes polycystic kidney disease; kidney cancer and enlargement of the uterus develop typically without any pain.

Is kidney pain painful?

Either chronic or acute kidney failure by itself is normally painful. The kidney failure means severe destruction of the kidney function, but the kidney is an organ that is usually not damaged in early phase of the kidney failure. Kidney pain is causes due to kidney failure like severe kidney infection or the kidney inflammation. Fatigue, decreased or increased urination, unintentional weight loss, nausea, shortness of breath, swollen ankles and hands and pale and itchy skin are the major symptoms of kidney failure. Severe kidney failure may also cause pain in the flanks.

Types of kidney pain

Kidney pains are different types such as:

  1. Sudden Kidney Pain.
  2. Throbbing Kidney Pain.
  3. Dull Kidney Pain.
  4. Bilateral Kidney Pain or Pain in Both Flanks.

Sudden kidney pain

Major causes of sudden kidney pain including:

  1. pelvi-ureteric junction or the Obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction, that most commonly happen in children. It is the obstruction of upper part of the ureter because of surgery, infection or congenital disorders.
  2. Acute hydronephrosis: means swelling of kidney due to filling with the urine, mostly causes due to stone into ureter.
  3. Blood clots into ureter: that occurs due to kidney tumor, kidney injury, sickle cell anemia or hemophilia.
  4. Acute renal infraction.
  5. Renal vein thrombosis.
  6. Renal papillary necroses: that is occurred due to liver cirrhosis, diabetes and mainly occurs in women.
  7. Loin pain hematuria syndrome: occurred in women who take oral contraceptives.

Throbbing kidney pain

Occasional Kidney Pain Both Sides

Throbbing, pulsation kidney pains that can radiate down or up in the back and this pain may last for several seconds to few minutes, and that can be caused by:

  1. Blockage of urine flow: that may happen due to the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, ureteral stone or stricture after surgery.
  2. Kidney inflammation.
  3. Renal vein thrombosis.
  4. Cystinuria.
  5. Berger’s disease: that causes kidney inflammation.

Dull Kidney Pain

The common causes of dull kidney pain including:

  1. Renal abscesses: are normally a localized collection of pus within a kidney, which is usually, occurs as a complication of infection. Normally a doctor can detect a palpable mass in the loin.
  2. Fungal bezoars: that may occur after the kidney transplantation process or due to diabetes or long-term antibiotic treatment.
  3. IgA nephropathy or Berger’s disease: it is one kind of kidney inflammation.
  4. Polycystic kidney disease.
  5. Chronic hydronephrosis: that happens due to gradual blockage of urinary tract such as due to kidney stone and kidney surgery.
  6. Kidney tumor, cyst or cancer: that gradual development of flank pain and also blood in the urine.
  7. Narrowing kidney artery: that is happen due to atherosclerosis steady ache in the flank, ischemia, blood in urine and high blood pressure.
  8. Nutcracker syndrome: that causes blood in urine and left flank pain.
  9. Idiopathic loin pain haematuria syndrome.
  10. Retroperitoneal fibrosis: is the development of scar tissue into the area around the kidneys.

Symptoms of dull kidney pain

The major symptoms of dull kidney pain including:

  1. Mild, dull ache.
  2. Nausea, vomiting.
  3. Discomfort and tenderness in the right left or both flanks.
  4. High fever and chills.
  5. Occasional symptoms: Stiff neck, loss of appetite, diarrhea.
  6. Blood in the urine.
  7. Frequent urination.
  8. Urge to urinate.
  9. Burning pain during urination.
  10. Cloudy and foul smelling urine.

Bilateral Kidney Pain or Pain in Both Flanks

The major causes of Bilateral Kidney Pain or Pain in Both Flanks are including:

  1. Kidney infection.
  2. Kidney inflammation.
  3. Glomerulonephritis : such as post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, and IgA nephropathy.
  4. Polycystic kidney disease: blood in the urine, flank pain, recurring urinary tract infections.
  5. Nephrocalcinosis: symptoms are usually caused by kidney stones.
  6. Bilateral hydronephrosis.
  7. Renal vacuities: the Henoch-Schönlein purpura or polyarteritis nodosa, and Wegener’s granulomatosis.
  8. Retroperitoneal fibrosis.
  9. Serum sickness.
  10. Sickle cell anemia.

Causes of kidney pain

Kidney pain basically arises from injury or infection of kidney and the most common result of kidney pain are including fever, blood urine and pus and urinary tract infection. However any such types of infection always does not lead to pain and making it hard to identify in initial stage. Bleeding into kidney due to injury, trauma or any other reason may also cause kidney pain. Many other reasons can also lead to pain in kidney like kidney cancer, polycystic kidney disease, lack of blood flow and horseshoe kidney.

Kidney stone

Kidney stone is one of the major causes of kidney pain. But the thing about kidney stone in that they do not actually causes kidney pain. Normally it does not hurt you when a kidney stone is form. Usually the kidney stone pain mainly comes when the kidney stone is passed. Often kidney stone will get you stuck into the ureter on the way from kidney to the bladder. Then the blockage of the ureter can cause the severe pain. Then the flow of urine from kidney into the bladder gets blocked that causes the kidney become swell with waste. This condition is mainly responsible for kidney pain.

Kidney infection

Kidney pain may also be causes due to infection in the kidney. Kidney infection is also known by pyelonephritis, which can causes inflammation into the organ tissue, which makes kidney swell to an abnormal size and shape. When the kidney gets extended like that and it causes a person severe or sharp pain in their back area. When a person’s kidney become infected, then they will most likely to suffer from some clinical problems like nausea, fever, vomiting, blood in urine, frequent urination, reduced urination and burning urination. Some medical treatments are available to treat kidney infection. Some antibiotics should apply immediately to prevent kidney infection from permanently damaging the kidneys.

Blocked urine flow

Sometime a patient or person may suffer from a blocked urine flow which is usually not related to kidney stone. But this may be a gradual obstruction which builds up over time. On the other hand it is the rare case where a person can feel a dull pain at first. It is one of the common causes of kidney pain.

Polycystic kidney

Polycystic kidney diseases in usually a hereditary condition or situation in which the multiple cysts are appear into the kidney. This condition leads to kidney enlargement or kidney swelling. This enlargement of kidney then may leads to renal pain or the flank pain. Here the pain is normally experienced into the abdomen rater then the back pain or flank pain. Kidney enlarger occurred with the passage of the time in the case of polycystic kidney disease.

Pain due to kidney vessel trouble

Arteriosclerosis of renal artery can also bring about the renal pain. It is one of the major causes of kidney pain. This condition can also be accompanied by the number of many other problems due to the failure of proper blood flow into the kidney. This condition is mainly responsible for kidney pain.

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is another common cause of kidney pain. Normally the urinary systems are involves ureter, urethra, kidney, and urinary bladder. And the infection in any of those organs can cause urinary tract infection. The major symptoms of urinary tract infection are fever with rigors and chills, blood in urine, vomiting, urgent urination, nausea and frequent urination. Urinary tract infection occurs more commonly in women.

Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer is a cancer that is originates into the kidneys. These kidney cancers are also major causes that occurs kidney pain. The kidneys are bean shaped organ and they are located behind of abdominal organs, with the one kidney on each side of spine. Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of kidney cancer in adults. Other less common type’s kidney cancer also can occur. On the other hand young children are much more likely to develop types of kidney cancer that called Wilms’ tumor. CT scan is major treatment option to detect kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is another major fact for kidney pain.

Alcohol abuse

The problems associated with kidney are commonly related to the alcohol abuse. On the other hand alcohol can affect some renal hormone such as anti diuretic hormone. It may also produce dehydration by accelerate the urinary output. Excessive consumption of alcohol also raises the risk to develop atherosclerosis and also clot formation.

Arteriosclerosis

Occasional

Arteriosclerosis only happen when the arterial walls are occupied by the fatty material. Normally the fats block the flow of blood thereby arteries to get hardened. This condition is one of the major causes of kidney pain. Drug therapy can help to decrease the causes of arteriosclerosis.

Other less common causes of kidney pain

Other less common causes of kidney pain are including:

  1. Bleeding in kidney.
  2. Horseshoe kidney.
  3. Hydronephrosis.
  4. Renal vein thrombosis.
  5. Urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of kidney pain

One of the common symptoms of ache and problems in kidney is intolerable pain into the back region. Normally the kidney pain is accompanied by much many other symptoms which become nearly impossible for patient to make differentiate the pain due to kidney and other flank pain. The major symptoms of kidney pain are including:

  1. Decreasing count of red blood cells.
  2. High Blood Pressure.
  3. Diabetes.
  4. Very little urine formation.
  5. Swelling in legs and feet.
  6. Less appetite.
  7. Decreased Mental Sharpness.
  8. Hiccups.
  9. Itching.
  10. Chest pain.
  11. Fatigue.
  12. Vomiting, Feverish and Nausea.
  13. Restlessness and queasy.
  14. Pain in the lower back.
  15. Blood in urine.
  16. Frequent urination.
  17. Burning urination.
  18. Painful urination.
  19. While urinating and abnormal color is detected.
  20. Urine with excessive unpleasant smell.
  21. Extreme pain in lower abdomen.
  22. Noticeable colored swelling into hands and face.
  23. Joint pain.
  24. Nail abnormalities.
  25. Painful menstruation.
  26. Stabbing pain into the upper back area.
  27. Weakness.
  28. A lump in the flanks or the upper abdomen.
  29. Body swelling.
  30. Anorexia.

Kidney pain diagnosis

Self-diagnosis of urinary organ connected pain isn’t counseled because it is incredibly risky. Whenever the preceding symptoms area unit found in a very patient, rather than self-doctoring or self-medication, correct doctor ought to be consulted. A doctor can checks the condition of the patient like vital sign, heart rate, rate and temperature so as to look at the state of health.

Physicians also will check the signs and symptoms of any urinary organ connected disorder. Physical examination and excretory product check are conducted. A medical practitioner can check the center or lower a part of the patient’s back to search out any sensitive space associated with tender pain. The excretory product check can confirm if the patient has any history of tract infection. Overall, the medical practitioner can recommend you various procedures for your next examination.

Some technique to diagnose kidney pain

It is possible to diagnose kidney pain by using several medical techniques including:

Full blood count

It is one of the major diagnostic tools to detect kidney pain. It will determine the number of blood cells specially the white blood cells. If white blood cells count is high, then it means that there have presences of infection. It is possible to determine the amount of hemoglobin by using this technique.

Urine culture test

It is another major technique to diagnose kidney pain. It is possible to determine the causative agent behind the infection.

Urinalysis

By using this technique it is possible to determine the presence of virus that causes kidney infection. This technique is also important for detecting the main etiological agent of kidney infection.

Blood culture

Blood culture is very important to detect urinary tract infection or renal infection that causes kidney pain. It is also very important clinical technique to determine kidney infection and kidney pain.

Intravenous pyelogram

It is one kind of X-ray technique that specially designed for the urinary tract and kidney. This technique is mainly applied to detect the size, shape and location of kidney and ureter or urinary tract. This technique is also help to detect kidney stone.

Abdominal X-ray

This abdominal X-ray technique gives a portrait of kidneys, ureter and urinary bladder or urinary tract. It is possible to detect kidney stone by applying this medical technique.

CT scan

It is an imaging test to detect the position of kidney infection. A computer is use to view the internal image of abdomen and detect kidney infection. It is very important medical technique to detect kidney pain.

Ultrasound

In this technique a sound wave is use to determine kidney infection. A magnetic wave and special computer is normally used to determine kidney infection or urinary tract infection. it is another major technique to determine kidney pain.

Treatment of kidney pain

Kidney pain treatment is mainly depended on the severity of pain and the types of pain. Major treatment options of kidney pain are including:

Medical treatment

You can take antibiotics medication with your regular pain killer to reduce kidney pain. But you must take prescribe medication and follow your doctors rules. Infection required antibiotics when other treatment is symptomatic. But over the counter pain killers may helps but you should be avoided.

Surgical treatment

It is the last stage of kidney pain treatment. Due to acute kidney failure, or when kidney becomes fully defected, then surgery must need as a treatment of kidney pain. On the other hand when medications are failed to dissolve kidney stone, then surgery must needed to eliminate kidney stone.

Diet mediation

Some diets are mainly responsible for formation of kidney stone such as those foods containing calcium oxalate including chickpea carrot, cauliflower and turnips. You have to avoid these foods to risk free from kidney stone. You have to eat much more foods that containing more amino acids.

  1. You should consume over ten glasses of water per day that will keep far from kidney stone formation. By drinking much more water, the fluid will pass into the urinary tract and thus flushes out all harmful bacteria from body. Excessive consumption of water is also very important to remove kidney stone.
  2. You have to intake much more vegetable that make you kidney much better. Some liquid containing fruits like grapes, oranges, watermelons, cranberries and other juicy fruits is very important to remove kidney stone. Those foods also decrease the chance of formation kidney stone. Cranberry has antibiotic properties that prevents harmful micro-organisms from assaultive our body. Cranberries may get replaced as supplements within the kind of tablets or capsules and recent or dried powder.
  3. Patients have t intake more vitamin C containing food to avoid kidney complication. You can also take some vitamin C containing capsule to avoid the kidney stone formation.
  4. You have to avoid coffee, soda containing drink or acidic containing drink.

Prevention of kidney pain

Prevention is much better than treatment. You can prevent kidney pain by following some healthy lifestyle such as:

Drink sufficient water

You can prevent tour kidney pain if you regularly drink sufficient amount of water. Elevated level of fluid will help you to reduce kidney pain.

Avoid alcohol

You must avoid excessive amount of alcohol consumption to keep your kidney batter. When you consume much more alcohol then your kidney have to do excess work to eliminate toxic product from body. Alcohol is major factor of all types if kidney disease.

Avoid smoking

If you are a smoker then also have a great chance of kidney disease with heart disease. You have to build up healthy lifestyle to keep far from all types of disease.

Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs that are located in the middle of your back against the back muscles, with one on either side of your spine. Your kidneys provide a vital function for your body to filter blood and produce urine. Pain in your upper abdomen or back and sides is also called flank pain or kidney pain. Flank pain can sometimes be an indication of a kidney infection or urinary tract infection. Kidney stones are also a common cause of kidney pain that is felt in the middle back.

In some cases of kidney pain, there are a few simple steps to alleviate the pain in your back. However, in general, you should see a doctor for any type of kidney or flank pain to rule out any serious condition that causes the kidney pain. This includes acute, sharp pain that occurs suddenly in one or the other side of your middle back.

In this article, you will find out all you need to know about the causes of flank pain that are associated with your kidneys. This will help you tell the difference between general back pain and pain that comes from your kidneys.

The Location of the Kidneys

Your kidneys are two organs about the size of your fist that are shaped like a bean. According to Dr. Charles Patrick Davis on MedicineNet, your kidneys are located just below your rib cage in the back of your abdomen under your liver. Because the largest part of your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, your right kidney sits a little lower than your left kidney.1

Therefore, most infections or issues with your kidney health cause flank or middle back pain. Usually, kidney pain is different from back pain because is it constant and doesn’t get better if you move position or massage the area.

Where are your kidneys located in your body – diagram

Kidney Location in the Body – Diagram

The function of the kidneys

Your kidneys are closely connected with your urinary tract and filter out waste from your blood and get rid of excess fluid. Urine from the kidneys flows down the urinary tract and into your bladder. You then get rid of this waste product when you pee.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, your kidneys also help keep your blood healthy.2 Some ways your kidneys do this is by:

  • Keeping a balance of electrolytes in your blood.
  • Regulating blood pressure.
  • Producing a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) which is required for making red blood cells.
  • Removing waste from your blood.

Kidney Pain Location and Sensation

Most people tend to associate pain in the area between the ribs and hips as either digestive problems or muscular back pain. However, kidney pain isn’t always felt in the same place as the kidney’s location.

Dr. Charles Patrick Davis on MedicineNet explains that renal or flank pain can be felt anywhere between the lowest rib and the buttocks. The pain may also radiate to the groin or abdominal area. Depending on the underlying cause of the kidney pain, you may feel the pain in just the left or right side of your back. However, sometimes kidney pain affects both sides of the back.3

Kidney pain vs back pain

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between kidney pain and back pain. Some muscular problems in the back or other diseases can mimic kidney pain. Dr. Davis goes on to explain that pain that comes from your kidneys is usually accompanied by other symptoms. For example, you may notice changes in your urination or you may have a fever.3

Usually, back pain is distinguished from kidney pain because it may get better or worse when moving the back muscles. Unlike kidney stone pain which comes on in sharp, painful waves, back pain is more constant and connected with movement.

In general, flank or kidney pain is usually higher in the back just under the ribs and the pain sensation is deeper. Back pain that is muscular is usually in the lower back.

General Symptoms of Kidney Pain

Apart from causing pain in your middle back, abdomen, or groin area, kidney pain will often have other symptoms. According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, some of these could be:5, 6

  • Fever and chills
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Increase in urination frequency
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Urine that has a strong odor or is cloudy
  • Strong need to urinate and sometimes only urinating small amounts

Causes of Kidney Pain

Most kidney or flank pain is felt around the location of the kidneys. However, as you will see, depending on the cause of kidney pain, kidney disease and infections can cause pain sensations elsewhere in your body.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are one of the most common reasons for severe sharp, flank pain that may radiate to your groin area. One of the first signs that you have kidney stones is a severe pain below the ribs on your side and back. According to the Mayo Clinic, the pain can then spread to the lower abdomen and you could experience nausea, vomiting, pain when urinating, and fever.

Kidney stones form when minerals and salts form in the kidney into tiny stone-like substances. Although tiny, the pain they can cause in your kidneys and urinary tract can be excruciating.

According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, it is only when the mineral deposits in your kidneys move that they cause pain. One of the first signs is an agonizing pain in your flank, below your ribs. Depending on where the stone moves, the pain from the kidneys may come and go and radiate to the lower abdomen and groin.6 Some of the other symptoms of kidney pain are passing cloudy or pink urine, painful urination, and having to pee more than usual.

There are a number of ways to treat kidney stones naturally. For example, you can drink apple cider vinegar for kidney stones to help dissolve the mineral buildup in your kidneys. You should drink a glass of water with 1 or 2 teaspoons of cider vinegar frequently through the day. The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar and the increase in your fluid intake helps to dissolve and flush out the kidney stones.

Back Pain Both Sides Kidney

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Because your kidneys in your middle back are connected to your urinary system, a urinary tract infection can also cause kidney pain.

Dr. Siamak Nabili on eMedicineHealth says that bacteria can enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. Bacteria can reach the kidneys via the urinary system and cause a kidney infection resulting in a dull pain on the side or in your lower back.7, 8 Some other symptoms of a UTI are a fever (however, sometimes you could experience chills without a fever), bubbles in your urine, or discolored urine.

Dr. Adam Husney on WebMD says that a urine test showing the presence of nitrites in your urine is a strong indicator that bacteria is the cause of the infection. Your doctor may also check for leukocytes in your urine which can also indicate a bacterial urinary tract infection.

You can prevent a urinary tract infection from causing a kidney infection by treating the early UTI symptoms.

Kidney infection (Pyelonephritis)

Any kind of infection in your kidney will cause dull flank pain as well as other symptoms. Apart from a UTI that can lead to kidney infection and kidney pain, Dr. Minesh Khatri on WebMD says that a blockage in the urinary tract, prostate infection, or not emptying your bladder completely can all cause kidney infections and pain.9

The infection in our kidneys may also cause symptoms like fatigue, blood in your urine, lack of appetite, and lower back pain.

If you have any signs of a kidney infection, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Dr. Khatri says that, if left untreated, kidney infections can lead to life-threatening problems.10

Kidney injury

A blow to your middle back could injure your kidneys and cause kidney pain because they stop working properly. However, Dr. Gregory Thompson on WebMD says that kidney injury can also happen due to long-term use of certain medicines, ingesting poisons, or a serious drop in blood flow to the kidneys.11

Dr. Thompson explains that as well as causing flank pain, kidney injuries can result in passing very little urine, swelling in your legs, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

Blood clots

Blood clots can be very serious and a clot in the vein that drains blood from the kidney can cause lower back pain.

Dr. Charles Silberberg on MedlinePlus says that blood clots in the kidneys (renal vein thrombosis) can be caused by an aortic aneurysm, pregnancy, or severe trauma to your back or abdomen.12

Kidney cysts

One of the reasons why you can have kidney pain is because a cyst has formed in your kidneys. Sometimes, small sacs of fluid form in the kidney and usually don’t cause any harm.

Dr. Melinda Ratini on WebMD says that in most cases a kidney cyst doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, if the cyst becomes larger and presses on other organs, it can cause pain in your upper abdomen, flank, or side.

In some cases, a kidney cyst can become infected which will result in pain that could radiate to your lower abdomen or groin. If you have flank pain and signs of an infection, you should see your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy and kidney pain

Pregnancy can sometimes cause kidney pain. Being pregnant puts you at a greater risk of developing a urinary tract infection or blood clots all which can cause a sensation of pain in your middle back.

Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler on MedicineNet, says that during pregnancy the uterus becomes enlarged and the urine flows slower. You could even experience vesicoureteral reflux where urine flows back up the urinary tract. This means that it is easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract and spread the infection to the kidneys.14

Kidney disease

In its early stages, kidney disease doesn’t cause any symptoms. It is usually only when the disease is advanced people realize they have serious issues with their kidneys. One of the early warning signs of kidney disease is lower back pain.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, pain below the rib cage or on your sides could be coming from your kidneys. This may be accompanied by a change in urination so that you either urinate less or more often, and your pee may be foamy and smell bad. A urine test usually looks for protein in your urine which can also show that the kidneys aren’t functioning properly.15

Occasional Kidney Pain Both Sides Lower

Make sure to avoid these common habits that can damage your kidneys.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you may experience flank pain because of kidney disease. Dr. Anne Poinier on WebMD says that diabetes is one of the main causes of kidney disease. Dr. Poinier recommends managing your diabetes symptoms properly to lower your risk of kidney disease.16

If you have diabetes, you can follow a diet that doesn’t put a strain on your kidneys and can help prevent kidney disease and the pain that accompanies it. This includes reducing salt intake and protein. Regular exercise and not smoking or drinking will help keep your kidneys working better.

Kidney Pain Left Side Symptoms

Kidney cancer

In some cases, constant pain coming from your kidneys and your middle back could be a symptom of kidney cancer. However, there will usually be more cancer warning signs, not just kidney pain.

The American Cancer Society says that along with the low back pain, you may have loss of appetite, blood in the urine, a lump on the side or lower back, unexplained weight loss, and a constant fever. However, doctors say that these symptoms can also be caused by other kidney problems. So, you should visit your doctor to have a full check up.17

Occasional Kidney Pain Both Sides Side

When to See a Doctor for Kidney Pain

Kidney pain that you feel in your middle back or that radiates to your abdomen or groin is usually an indicator of a serious health condition.

Lower Back Side Pain Kidney

According to Dr. Charles Patrick Davis, you should visit your doctor promptly if you suspect kidney pain. Some of the warning signs of kidney disease or problems are:

  • Sharp flank pain that comes on suddenly
  • A dull, constant one-sided pain in your back or side
  • Blood in your urine
  • Frequent and/or painful urination
  • Swelling around your feet and hands

Kidney Side Pain

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Article Sources

Back Right Side Pain Kidney

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