Most people find it difficult to determine what the source of back pain is: the kidneys or the spine. Therefore, at the home level, renal colic is often confused with the 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 accompanying symptoms. Usually, diseases of renal origin occur against the background of a deterioration in well-being, accompanied by a temperature. Attacks of nausea and frequent urination are possible.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized in 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 expressed in the middle of the lower back, this 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 onset, 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 these cases, discomfort or painful sensations of various degrees occur:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- the formation of stones;
- other disorders of the genitourinary system.
Lower back pain from the kidney is dull or sharp, weak 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 is relieved and, conversely, intensifies, for example with pressure surges in patients with nephroptosis or stone displacement.
How to know if your kidneys hurt?
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, accompanying symptoms often appear. It is also possible to identify them independently, at home. However, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary to contact specialized specialists. It is only on the basis of comprehensive diagnostic measures that it is 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 worsen 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 removed only by spasmodic analgesic drugs.
Features of kidney pain
Back pain due to the kidneys 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 - painful sensations are unchanged in nature. They are dull or acute, in accordance with the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle pain is different: it often flows from the acute to the deaf phase, subsides at rest and resumes when activity begins.
Localization of back pain
If you "listen" carefully to yourself, you can feel exactly where the back pain occurs 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. 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 true cause can be judged with confidence. Effective diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging help 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.
Irradiation of pain
Back pain in the area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
Pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thigh area;
- under the belly;
- groin area.
Pronounced cramps in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by kidney pathology.
There is no need to doubt that the back can hurt by the kidneys - this is a common symptom of the inflammatory process within the organ. If pain is felt in both the lower back and lower back, then it is possible to assume precisely the kidney pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person is forced in movements, it is difficult for him to bend over and squat, often it is not possible to straighten up - any changes in the position of the body are 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 there is no pain. Posture changes are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can give you relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movements, pain in the back, where the kidneys are located, can increase.
Touching the back
To find out if the kidneys or spine are the source of low back pain, you can use the tapping technique on the back.
Touch algorithm:
- The person lies on his stomach, part of the back is exposed under the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed on this area.
- With a fist (as well as with the edge of the palm or with the fingertips), lightly tap the lying palm.
If, when touching, back pain in the kidney area increases, then the paired organ is its true source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: pain occurs when the shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when touching a home environment, the assistant must act carefully.
The real 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, diseases.
To find out why there were pains - from the kidney or spine - it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- strenuous physical work;
- sudden or intense training;
- weightlifting;
- any unusual loads;
- unfortunate fall.
All this often leads to stretching of the muscles, pinching of the 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 disease - ARVI or 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 characteristic exclusively of kidney diseases alone.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- intense heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- noticeable swelling in the morning;
- impurities of blood and pus in the urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- pressure peaks;
- nausea;
- sleep deterioration.
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 is pulling, the kidneys have nothing to do with it. The symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle spasms are indicated by the characteristic tingling sensations, it is possible that there are "goosebumps" where it hurts. The muscles seem to go numb, but the sensitivity is restored when using surface warming agents - gels, ointments or other drugs with anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective for kidney problems. But taking antispasmodic drugs relieves 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 spasm of the stone will be relieved.
Test for kidney and lower back pain
When shooting in the kidney, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes general tests. Kidney disease is confirmed by an increase in the level of ESR and leukocytes and sometimes by low hemoglobin in the blood. Urinalysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - shows impurities of pus, with stones - an excess of salts and impurities in the blood.
To clarify the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease, urine samples are taken. And a urine culture is also prescribed.
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, treatment is formulated after an additional abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed if a neoplasm is suspected.
Non-renal disorders are mainly diagnosed by examination and x-ray examination.