Many people have difficulty identifying the source of back pain - kidney or spine. Therefore, renal colic at home is often confused with symptoms of musculoskeletal system diseases. Meanwhile, the paired organ has its own specificity and characteristic symptoms that occur during the disease.
If you pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms, it is possible to understand what will hurt - the spine or kidneys. In general, diseases of the kidneys occur against the background of deteriorating well-being, accompanied by a fever. Nausea and frequent urination attacks are possible.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized to the location of the paired organ. It can be seen on the left or right, but rarely hits from behind. If the pain is expressed in the middle of the lower back, it is most likely in the lower back or dorsal muscles.
In urological practice, back pain may have a different intensity, frequency, and frequency of occurrence, and may or may not pass after taking antispasmodic medications.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, if you have back pain, it cannot be ruled out that the source of the problem is the kidneys. Anxiety or varying degrees of pain manifest themselves in the following cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- formation of stones;
- other diseases of the genitourinary system.
Low back pain is dull or sharp, weak or sharp. In many cases, they are no different from the painful feelings they experience with sciatica or osteochondrosis. The pain can spread to other areas: groin, thighs, etc.
Sometimes the anxiety is silenced and, conversely, exacerbated - for example, with an increase in blood pressure in patients with nephroptosis or stone displacement.
How to explain the pain in your kidneys
When the source of back pain is the kidneys, the accompanying symptoms often appear. They can be identified independently and at home. However, you should consult a specialist for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease. Only on the basis of comprehensive diagnostic measures it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective therapy.
Another sign: when the kidneys hurt, the back pain does not go away or does not worsen when the condition of the body changes - this is typical of spinal disease. The pain is constant and is usually relieved only with spasmodic analgesics.
Features of kidney pain
There are two main types of kidney pain:
- Dull and painful, accompanied by heaviness in the waist - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Acute, dagger - is caused by colic caused by the impact of stones on the nerve endings of the internal organs or obstruction of the urethra (with urolithiasis).
The reason is that when the back hurts, the kidneys - painful sensations in nature do not change. It is either dull or acute - depending on the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle pain is different: it often flows from the acute phase to the deaf, decreases at rest, and starts again as soon as it begins to function.
Localization of low back pain
If you "listen" carefully, you can feel exactly where the back pain in the kidney area manifests itself. Because 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. Conversely, when a person experiences discomfort near the back surface, it is most likely caused by the back or lumbar muscles.
When you have back pain in the kidney area, the real cause can be assessed with confidence. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI help to clarify the diagnosis. In addition, blood and urine tests are performed. All these procedures are performed under the supervision of a physician involved in the clinic.
Radiation of pain
Low 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;
- under the abdomen;
- groin area.
Cramps in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by kidney pathology.
There is no doubt that the back can damage the kidneys - this is a common sign of an inflammatory process inside the body. If the pain is felt in both the lower back and lower back, it is possible to assume a clear renal pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
A person with osteochondrosis or rheumatism is limited in movements, difficult to bend and squat, often unable to correct - any change in body position is accompanied by obvious feelings of pain.
Low back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may feel discomfort while lying on their feet or back, and there is no pain in other positions. Posture changes are very easy. Finding a comfortable place can give you flexibility.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate in nephroptosis: active exercise may increase back pain in the kidneys.
Shoot the back
You can use a back tapping technique to find out if your kidneys or spine are a source of back pain.
Taping algorithm:
- It stretches in the abdomen, part of the waist remains under the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed in this area.
- With a fist (along with the palm or fingertips) tap lightly on the lying palm.
If back pain increases in the kidney area during tapping, the paired organ is the real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: pain manifests itself when a blow occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, the assistant should be careful when shooting at home.
The real causes of back pain
By finding the cause of the discomfort, you can understand why your back hurts in the kidney area. It is often beyond the causes - physical activity, increased stress, sudden changes in temperature, associated with illness.
It is enough to remember what happened the day before to find out why there is pain in the kidneys or spine. The following events often cause rheumatism:
- heavy physical labor;
- a sharp or intense workout;
- lift weights;
- any unusual load;
- fail.
All of this often causes the muscles to stretch, the nerves to constrict, the spinal discs to move, or a hernia to form.
Kidney problems can be caused by swimming in cold water, hypothermia, sitting on the floor, or a viral illness - ARVI or sore throat.
Other symptoms of kidney disease
How to distinguish kidney pain from osteochondrosis or sciatica? It is enough to pay attention only to the symptoms of kidney disease.
The following symptoms never accompany a spinal problem:
- strong 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 increases;
- nausea;
- worsening of sleep.
How to distinguish pyelonephritis from osteochondrosis or lumbar muscle problem? A clear sign of the inflammatory process is the formation of purulent particles in the urine.
Low back pain symptoms
If the spine is low, the kidneys have nothing to do with it. The symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle spasms are characterized by a characteristic tingling sensation, and there may be a "gas spill" at the site of the pain. Muscles are numb, but sensitivity is restored when using surface warming agents - gels, ointments or other drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective for kidney problems. However, taking antispasmodics relieves the patient's condition. Another tip on how to relieve osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is to take a hot bath. Exposure to heat will relax the body and eliminate the spasm of the stone.
Kidney and back pain tests
It is important to have a thorough kidney examination, which is part of the general tests. Renal pathology is confirmed by increased levels of ESR and leukocytes and sometimes low hemoglobin in the blood. Urine analysis should confirm leukocytosis with inflammation - pus, stones - large amounts of salt and blood impurities.
Urine samples are taken to clarify the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease. Urine culture is also determined.
If the source of low back pain is the kidneys, treatment is prepared after an additional abdominal ultrasound. When a neoplasm is suspected, a CT scan is performed.
Non-irrenal pathologies are diagnosed by examination and X-ray examination.