Are Your Kidneys Causing Your Back Pain?

An injury to the back muscles causes most back pain.  Back pain from the kidneys is a less common problem.  But because the kidneys are so important, knowing the causes of kidney pain is essential.  If your back pain is severe or comes with a fever or changes in your urine, it is time to see a health care provider.

Are Your Kidneys Causing Your Back Pain?
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

​Around 8 of 10 people will have back pain at some point.  Sometimes you know what happened, like trying a new workout or lifting something heavy.  But muscle strains and spasms are not the only cause of back pain.  There are other vital organs back there, like the kidneys.
So how do you know if your kidneys cause your back pain?  The following are some ways that can help you to tell the difference.
 
Causes of back pain
The most common cause of back pain is a strained or inflamed muscle.  The reason for the problem is not always apparent, but repetitive movements, new activities, or heavy lifting can cause it.  Most back pain comes from the spine's muscles, bones, or disks.
Another source is the kidneys located in the back deep inside the body.  Kidney pain often causes specific symptoms. 
The following is an overview of the different causes of back pain:

• Muscles - this might be tension, a strain, or a tear.  Sometimes the ligaments and tendons that connect muscles and bones get inflamed, too.
• Bones - pain in the spine's bones can occur with a fracture, arthritis, scoliosis, or a tumor.
• Discs - these are the cushions between the bones of the spine.  Sometimes they push against spinal nerves and cause pain.
• Blood vessels - if the largest blood vessel in the body, the aorta, is damaged or leaking, it causes severe back pain.
• Organs - back pain can also come from organs like the kidneys, uterus, ovaries, gallbladder, or pancreas.

 
How can you tell if back pain is from a kidney problem?
There is no reliable way to know if a kidney problem is the cause of back pain.  But there are some important clues:

• Location of the pain - the kidneys are between the ribcage and hips.  There is one on each side of the spine.  Kidney pain is often felt on one side, under the rib cage, in the middle part of the back.  Some people refer to this area as the flank.
• Type of pain - Kidney pain comes from a deeper place than the muscles.  It usually does not get worse with lifting, twisting, or bending like muscle pain does.  Sometimes kidney pain feels dull and constant.  Other times it comes in waves, or it might shoot from the kidneys to the low back or groin.
• Other symptoms - a fever points toward infection in the kidneys.  Blood in the urine may point to an infection or kidney stone.  Nausea and vomiting may also suggest a kidney problem.

The kidneys have important work to do.  They get rid of waste products from the blood and keep your electrolytes in balance.  So it is crucial to know if your back pain means your kidneys are in trouble.
 
What types of kidney issues can cause pain?
Kidney pain can happen if the kidneys are swollen, blocked, or inflamed. Let’s look at the most common issues that can cause this.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) starts in the bladder.  If the infection travels to the kidneys, it causes more serious pyelonephritis.  Symptoms of pyelonephritis include:

• Pain in the back or side
• Fever or chills
• Frequent or painful urination
• Nausea or vomiting
• Urine that is cloudy, bloody, or has a strong odor

Kidney stones are another cause of kidney pain.  It happens when chemicals in the urine form small stones in the kidney.  This can cause pain if the stone gets caught from the kidney to the bladder.  It can also cause pain if a stone causes a backup of urine and the kidney swells.
The symptoms of a kidney stone include:

• Pain that comes and goes in waves
• Pain that makes you want to move around when it’s happening
• Pain that travels down to the low abdomen or groin
• Cloudy, dark, or bloody urine
• Nausea or vomiting

• Fever and chills (if the backed-up urine becomes infected)

Other causes of kidney pain that are less common include:

• Polycystic kidney disease
• A tumor or something else putting pressure on the kidneys
• Trauma or injury to the kidney
• Lack of blood flow to the kidney, which can happen with atherosclerosis

 
When should you get medical attention for back pain?
Most back pain from muscle strains and spasms improves with time and care at home.  But there are some warning signs that your back pain may be something more serious:

• Dark or bloody urine
• Fever or chills
• Inability to urinate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Painful urination
• Weakness or numbness in the legs
• Weight loss without trying

 
If you have back pain with these symptoms, it’s time to get medical attention.