Most people find it difficult to determine the source of back pain - the kidneys or the spine. Therefore, at the household level, renal colic is often confused with symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. Meanwhile, the paired organ has its own specificity and characteristic symptoms that appear during the disease.
It is possible to find out what is hurting - the lower back or the kidneys - if you pay attention to the presence of concomitant symptoms. Usually diseases of renal origin occur against the background of deteriorating well-being accompanied by fever. Attacks of nausea and frequent urination are possible.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized at the site 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 with the spine or back muscles.
In urological practice, lumbar pain may have different intensity, frequency and frequency of occurrence, to pass or not after taking antispasmodics.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it cannot be ruled out that if your back hurts, the kidneys are the source of the problem. Discomfort or painful sensations to varying degrees are manifested in such cases:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- stone formation;
- other diseases of the genitourinary system.
The pain in the lower back of the kidneys is dull or sharp, weak or sharp. In many cases, they do not differ from the painful sensations of sciatica or osteochondrosis. The pain can spread to other areas: groin, thigh, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort subsides and, conversely, intensifies - for example, in pressure surges in patients with nephroptosis or displacement of stones.
How to find out if your kidneys hurt
When the source of lower back pain is the kidney, accompanying symptoms often occur. It is possible to identify them even on your own, at home. However, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease you should 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 disappear or does not worsen when the position of the body changes - 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 kidneys are of two main types:
- Dull and painful, accompanied by heaviness in the lower back - this is a symptom of an inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Acute, dagger - caused by colic that occurs due to the effect of stones on the nerve endings of internal organs or obstruction of the urethra (with urolithiasis).
When the reason is that the lower back hurts, the kidneys - the painful sensations are unchanged. They are either dull or sharp - according to the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle soreness is different: it often goes from the acute phase to the deaf, disappears at rest and resumes at the beginning of the activity.
Localization of back pain
If you "listen" carefully, you can feel exactly where the pain in the back in the area of the kidneys manifests itself. Because the paired organ is located at some distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, there, in the depths, are concentrated painful sensations. On the contrary, 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 kidneys, one can confidently assess the real cause. 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.
Irradiation of pain
Back pain in the area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
The pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- the inner thigh;
- thighs;
- groin area.
Severe cramps in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by renal pathology.
There is no need to doubt whether the back can hurt the kidneys - this is a common symptom of the inflammatory process inside the body. If the pain is felt both in the lower back and below, then it is possible to assume exactly renal pathology.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person has limited movement, it is difficult for him to bend and squat, it is often impossible to stand up - any changes in body position are accompanied by severe pain.
Back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed in different ways. One may feel discomfort while standing or lying on one's back, and in other positions no pain is felt. Changing posture is much easier. Finding a comfortable position can give you relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movements, back pain, where the kidneys are, can increase.
Knocking on the back
To find out if your kidneys or spine are a source of low back pain, you can use the back patting technique.
Eavesdropping algorithm:
- The man lies on his stomach, part of the back is exposed below the lower ribs.
- An open palm is placed over this area.
- With a fist (as well as the edge of the palm or fingertips) tap lightly on the recumbent palm.
If the back pain in the area of the kidneys increases when tapped, then the paired organ is its real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the force of the blow: the pain occurs when the shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when knocking at home, the assistant must act carefully.
The real causes of lumbar pain
You can find out why your back hurts in the kidney area by finding out what caused the discomfort. The most common causes are external - they are associated with physical activity, increased stress, sudden changes in temperature, illness.
To understand why there was pain - from the kidneys or the spine - it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often lead to rheumatism:
- heavy physical work;
- sharp or intensive training;
- weight lifting;
- any unusual loads;
- unfortunate fall.
All of this often leads to muscle strain, nerve pinching, spinal disc displacement, or hernia formation.
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, which are unique to kidney disease.
The following symptoms 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 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 is pulled, 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, there may be "tingling" where it hurts. The muscles appear to tingle, but sensitivity is restored when surface warming agents are used - gels, ointments or other medicinesanti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is ineffective in kidney problems. But taking antispasmodics 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 heat exposure, the body will relax and the tartar spasm will be relieved.
Tests for kidney and lumbar pain
When shooting in the kidneys, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination, part of which are 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 - shows impurities of pus, with stones - an excess of salts 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 lower back pain is the kidney, treatment is formulated after additional abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed when a neoplasm is suspected.
Renal pathologies are diagnosed mainly by examination and X-ray examination.