It is difficult for most people to determine the source of back pain - kidneys or spine. Therefore, at the household level, renal colic is often confused with the symptoms of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Meanwhile, the paired organ has its own specifics and characteristic symptoms that occur during the disease.
It is possible to understand what is hurting - the lower back or the kidneys - if you pay attention to the presence of accompanying symptoms. Usually, diseases of renal origin occur in the background of deteriorating well-being, accompanied by fever. Attacks of nausea and frequent urination are possible.
In addition, renal pain is always localized at the site of the paired organ. It can appear on the left or right side, but rarely shoots at the back. If the pain is expressed in the middle of the lower back, it is most likely the case in the spine or back muscles.
In urological practice, pain in the lumbar region can have different intensity, frequency and frequency of occurrence, pass or not after taking antispasmodic drugs.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it cannot be ruled out that the kidneys are the source of the problem if your back hurts. Discomfort or painful feelings of varying degrees are manifested in such cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- stone formation;
- other diseases of the genitourinary system.
Pain in the lower back from the kidneys is dull or sharp, weak or sharp. In many cases, they cannot be distinguished from the painful sensations of experienced sciatica or osteochondrosis. Pain can spread to other areas: groin, thighs, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort subsides and, conversely, intensifies - for example, pressure surges in patients with nephroptosis or moving stones.
How to recognize if your kidneys hurt?
When the source of pain in the lower back is the kidney, accompanying symptoms often occur. It is possible to recognize them even on their own, 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 part of the back does not disappear or does not worsen when the position of the body changes - this is characteristic of spinal disease. The pain is felt constantly, and is usually removed only by convulsive analgesics.
Characteristics of renal pain
Kidney pain due to kidney is of two main types:
- Dull and painful, accompanied by heaviness in the lower back - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Sharp, dagger - is caused by colic, which occurs due to the influence of stones on the nerve endings of internal organs or obstruction of the urethra (with urolithiasis).
When the reason that the lower back hurts, the kidneys - painful feelings are unchanged in nature. They are either annoying or acute - according to the etiology of the disease. But the pain in the muscles in the spine is different: it often passes from the acute to the deaf phase, fades at rest and continues at the moment of the beginning of the activity.
Localization of back pain
If you "listen" to yourself carefully, you can feel exactly where the back pain in the kidney area is manifesting. Since the paired organ is located at a certain distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, painful feelings are concentrated there in depth. Conversely, when a person feels 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 real cause can be reliably judged. 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 in the clinic under the supervision of the attending physician.
Radiation pain
Back pain in this area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
The pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thighs;
- lower abdomen;
- groin area.
Severe spasms in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by renal pathology.
There is no doubt that the back can hurt from the kidneys - this is a common symptom of an inflammatory process within the organs. If the pain is felt both in the lower back and below it, it is possible to assume renal pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, the person is limited in movement, it is difficult to bend and squat, it is often not possible to stand up - any changes in body position are accompanied by pronounced feelings of pain.
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. Changes in posture are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can give you relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: active movements can intensify back pain, where the kidneys are.
Knocking on the back
To find out if your kidneys or spine are a source 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 below the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed on this area.
- Lightly tap the lying palm with your fist (as well as the edge of your palm or fingertips).
If back pain in the kidney area increases during tapping, then the paired organ is the right source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: pain is manifested when shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when tapping in a home environment, the assistant must act with caution.
The real causes of pain in the lumbar region
You can understand why your back hurts in the kidney area if you find out what caused the discomfort. The reasons are most often external - they are associated with physical activity, increased stress, sudden changes in temperature, diseases.
To find out why there was pain in the kidneys or spine, it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- hard physical work;
- sudden or intense training;
- weightlifting;
- any unusual loads;
- unfortunate fall.
All this often leads to stretching of muscles, contraction of nerves, movement of spinal discs or creation of a hernia.
Kidney problems are caused by bathing in cold water, hypothermia, sitting on the ground or a viral disease - ARVI or sore throat.
Other signs of kidney disease
How to distinguish kidney pain from osteochondrosis or sciatica? To do that, it is enough to pay attention to the symptoms that are characteristic exclusively for kidney diseases.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- 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 spikes;
- nausea;
- worsening of 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 the spine and muscles are very similar. However, muscle cramps are indicated by characteristic tingling, it is possible that there are "tingles" at the site of pain. Muscles seem to numb, but sensitivity is restored when surface warming agents are used - gels, ointments or other drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective in kidney problems. But taking antispasmodic drugs eases the patient's condition. Another piece of advice on how to distinguish osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is bathing in a warm bath. As a result of heat exposure, the body will relax and the calculus spasm will be relieved.
Tests for kidney and lumbar pain
When you shoot a kidney, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes general tests. Renal pathology is confirmed by elevated levels of ESR and leukocytes, and sometimes by low hemoglobin in the blood. Urine analysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - it shows pus impurities, with stones - excess salt and impurities in the blood.
Urine samples are taken to clarify the diagnosis of inflammatory disease. Urine culture is also prescribed.
When the source of pain in the lower back is the kidney, treatment is formulated after additional abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed if there is a suspicion of a neoplasm.
Non-renal pathologies are diagnosed mainly by examination and X-ray examination.