Most people find it difficult to determine what is the source of back pain: the kidneys or the spine. Therefore, at the domestic level, renal colic is often mistaken for 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 the kidneys, if you pay attention to the presence of the accompanying symptoms. In general, diseases of kidney origin occur in the context of a deterioration of well-being, accompanied by a temperature. Attacks of nausea and frequent urination are possible.
Also, 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 the back muscles.
In urological practice, pain in the lumbar region can have different intensity, frequency and frequency of appearance, whether or not it passes after taking antispasmodic drugs.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it cannot be ruled out that if your back hurts, your kidneys are the source of the problem. In such cases, discomfort or painful sensations of varying degrees are manifested:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- the formation of stones;
- other ailments of the genitourinary system.
Low back kidney pain is dull or sharp, faint 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 lessens and, conversely, intensifies, for example, with sudden increases in pressure in patients with nephroptosis or displacement of stones.
How to know if your kidneys hurt
When the source of low back pain is the kidney, accompanying 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 does not get worse 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.
Back pain due to the kidney is of two main types:
- Dull and sore, 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 the nerve endings of internal organs or blockage of the urethra (with urolithiasis).
When the reason is that the lower back hurts, the kidneys, the painful sensations do not change by nature. They are dull or sharp, according to the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle pain is different: it often flows from the acute to the dull phase, fades at rest, and resumes at the time of onset of activity.
Location of back pain
If you "listen" carefully, you can feel exactly where the back pain is manifesting in the kidney area. Since the paired organ is located at some distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, the painful sensations are concentrated there, in the depths. In contrast, when a person experiences 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, the true cause can be safely judged. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, CT, MRI help clarify the diagnosis. In addition, blood and urine tests are done. All these procedures are carried out in the clinic under the supervision of the attending physician.
Radiation of pain
Back pain in the area often spreads throughout the body and causes discomfort.
Pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thigh area;
- belly
- groin area.
Pronounced cramps in a urethra are possible; they are also caused by kidney disease.
There is no need to doubt whether the back may hurt from the kidneys; this is a common symptom of the inflammatory process within the organ. If the pain is felt both in the lower back and in the lower part, then it is possible to accurately assume a kidney pathology.
Back pain and physical activity.
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person has limited movements, it is difficult for him to squat and squat, it is often not possible to straighten up; any change in the position of the body is accompanied by pronounced pain sensations.
Back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may experience discomfort while standing or lying on their back and, in other positions, no pain is felt. Posture changes are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can ease it.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movements, pain in the back, where the kidneys are, can increase.
Touching the back
To find out if the kidneys or spine are the cause of low back pain, you can use the back tapping technique.
Tapping algorithm:
- The person lies on his stomach, part of the back is exposed under the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed in this area.
- With a fist (as well as the edge of the palm or fingertips), lightly tap the palm that is lying down.
If, by tapping, back pain increases in the kidney area, then the paired organ is your real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the force of the blow: pain manifests itself when the shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when tapping in a home setting, the assistant should exercise caution.
The true causes of pain in the lumbar region.
You can understand why your back hurts in the kidney area by finding out 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 know why there were pain, from the kidney or the spine, it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- strenuous physical work;
- rough or intense training;
- lifting weights;
- any unusual load;
- unfortunate fall.
All of this often leads to stretching of the muscles, pinching of nerves, displacement of the spinal discs, or the formation of a hernia.
Kidney problems are caused by swimming in cold water, hypothermia, sitting on the ground, or a viral illness - ARVI or a 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 exclusively characteristic of kidney diseases only.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- intense heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- noticeable swelling in the morning;
- blood and pus impurities in the urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- pressure peaks;
- nausea;
- impaired 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.
Back pain symptoms
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. The muscles seem to go numb, but sensitivity is restored when surface heating agents are used - gels, ointments or other drugs 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 exposure to heat, the body will relax and the stone spasm will be relieved.
Kidney and lumbar pain tests
When shooting in the kidney, it is important to undergo a complete examination, of which general tests are part. Renal disease is confirmed by an elevated level of ESR and leukocytes and, sometimes, by a low level of hemoglobin in the blood. Urinalysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - 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 a urine culture is also prescribed.
When the source of low back pain is the kidney, treatment is formulated after an additional abdominal ultrasound. A CT scan is prescribed if a neoplasm is suspected.
Nonrenal pathologies are mainly diagnosed by examination and X-ray examination.