Lower Back Pain vs Kidney Pain
When you experience lower back pain, it’s normal to feel worried that you may be suffering from a kidney infection. But the two conditions are actually easier to tell apart than you might think. Kidney problems make themselves known in many ways that back problems don’t. By checking for a few telltale signs, you can feel confident in knowing whether you need to be examined for a more serious condition.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Location
Your kidneys are located at the bottom of your back, along your sides and above the hips.
Back Pain
The Location & Symptoms of Kidney Pain
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If you have a dull, aching pain that gets worse when you move around, it’s probably back pain. This kind of pain usually gets better with a hot pack or a massage.
Pressure
If lightly pressing on the area where you feel the pain makes it get worse, the pain may be coming from your kidneys. In this case you’ll want to get checked for a kidney infection.
Symptoms
Kidney Symptoms: Flank and Back Pain
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If you are having a kidney problem, you’re very likely to have other symptoms besides back pain. You could have a fever, chills, nausea, painful urination, or you might find blood in your urine.
Kidney Stones
There is no confusing a kidney stone with back pain. Kidney stone pain comes in waves and is very severe. It can be so bad that people have compared passing a kidney stone to childbirth. If your pain is a constant ache, it’s probably not a kidney stone.
- There is no confusing a kidney stone with back pain.
Related Articles
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Kidney Stones. Updated May 2017.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & Facts for Kidney Stones. Updated May 2017.
- Brikowski TH, Lotan Y, Pearle MS. Climate-related increase in the prevalence of urolithiasis in the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(28):9841–9846. doi:10.1073/pnas.0709652105
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for Kidney Stones. Updated May 2017.
- National Kidney Foundation. 6 Easy Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones.
Writer Bio
Amy R. Balfour has been a professional writer since 2005. She worked as a marketing copywriter with a major toy manufacturer, and she has written packaging copy, product copy, ads, corporate communications, web copy, catalog copy, newsletters, articles and press releases. Balfour earned her master's degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California.