A large number of people find it difficult to determine what the source of back pain is - the kidneys or the spine. Thus, at the household level, renal colic is often confused with symptoms of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Meanwhile, paired organs have specificities and special features that arise during the disease.
It is possible to understand what is painful - lower back or kidneys - if you notice the presence of accompanying symptoms. Usually, the original kidney disease occurs against the background of deterioration of well -being, accompanied by temperature. Attacks of nausea and frequent urination are possible.
In addition, kidney pain is always localized at the location of the paired organs. It can appear on the left or right, but there are rarely shoots on the back. If the pain is expressed in the middle of the lower back, it most likely occurs in the muscles of the spine or buttocks.
In urological practice, pain in the lumbar region can have different intensity, frequency and frequency, pass or not after taking antispasmodic medication.
Can the kidneys hurt?
Yes, it cannot be ruled out that if your back hurts, the kidneys are the cause of the problem. Discomfort or painful sensations of various degrees are shown in cases such as:
- organ prolapse (nephroptosis);
- inflammation (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- rock formation;
- other diseases of the genitourinary system.
Low back pain from the kidneys 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, thighs, etc.
Sometimes the discomfort is muted and, conversely, exacerbated - for example, with increased stress in patients with nephroptosis or stone transplantation.
How to know if your kidneys are sick
When the source of lower back pain is the kidneys, the accompanying symptoms often appear. It is possible to get to know him even independently, at home. However, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease, you should contact a specialist. Only on the basis of comprehensive diagnostic measures, it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.
Another sign: when the kidneys are sore, the pain in the lower back does not disappear or does not worsen when the body position changes - this is a characteristic of spinal diseases. Pain is always felt, and is usually relieved only with spasmodic analgesic medication.
Characteristics of kidney disease
Back pain due to the kidneys are of two main types:
- Dull and sore, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the lower back - this is a symptom of inflammatory disease (pyelonephritis).
- Sharp, dagger - caused by colic, which occurs due to the impact 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 - the painful sensation does not change. They are dull or acute - according to the etiology of the disease. But spinal muscle pain is different: it often flows from the acute phase to the deaf stage, fades at rest and resumes at the beginning of activity.
Localization of back pain
If you "listen" carefully, you can feel where the pain in the back of the kidneys is shown. Since the paired organs are located at a great distance from the surface of the body, behind the spine, the painful sensation is concentrated there, at depth. On the other hand, when a person experiences discomfort closer to the surface of the back, it is most likely caused by the muscles of the spine or back.
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 were performed. All these procedures were performed in the clinic under the supervision of the attending physician.
Radiation of pain
Back pain in this area often spreads throughout the body, causing discomfort.
Pain can affect the following parts of the body:
- inner thigh area;
- bloated stomach;
- groin area.
Pronounced cramps in the urethra are possible - they are also caused by renal pathology.
There is no doubt whether the back can ache from the kidneys - this is a common symptom of inflammatory processes in the organs. If pain is felt in the lower and lower back, then it is possible to take the pathology of the kidneys accurately.
Back pain and physical activity
With osteochondrosis or rheumatism, a person is affected by movement, it is difficult for him to bend and squat, it is often impossible to straighten - any change in body position is accompanied by a significant sensation of pain.
Back pain associated with kidney disease is expressed differently. A person may experience discomfort when standing or lying on his back, and in other positions, pain is not felt. Posture changes are much easier. Finding a comfortable position can give you relief.
Physical mobility is more difficult to tolerate with nephroptosis: with active movement, pain in the back, where the kidneys are located, can increase.
Knocking back
To find out if the kidneys or spine are the cause of back pain, you can use the tapping technique on the back.
Tapping algorithm:
- The man was lying on his stomach, his back exposed below the lower ribs.
- Open palms are placed in this area.
- With a fist (as well as with the tip of the palm or fingertips), gently tap the recumbent palm.
If, during tapping, back pain in the kidney area increases, then the paired organ is the real source.
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of this method does not depend on the strength of the blow: the pain is evident when a shock occurs as a result of the blow. Therefore, when tapping into the household environment, the helper must act with caution.
The real cause of pain in the lumbar region
You can understand why the back hurts in the kidney area by knowing what is causing the discomfort. Often, the reason is external - it is associated with physical activity, increased stress, sharp temperature changes, illness.
To find out why there is pain in - from the kidneys or spine - it is enough to remember what happened the day before. The following events often cause rheumatism:
- heavy physical labor;
- sudden or intense training;
- weight lifting;
- any unusual load;
- unfortunate fall.
All of these often result in muscle stretching, 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 illness - 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 of kidney disease only.
The following signs never accompany spinal problems:
- strong heat - the temperature rises to 40 C;
- significant swelling in the morning;
- blood impurities and pus in urine;
- increased urination;
- burning sensation during urination;
- pressure surges;
- nausea;
- deterioration in 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 pulling, the kidneys have nothing to do with it. The symptoms of spinal diseases and muscle problems are very similar. However, muscle spasm is indicated by a special tingling sensation, there is a possibility that there are "goosebumps" in the place where it hurts. Muscles appear numb, but sensitivity is restored when using surface warming agents - gels, ointments or other drugs with anti -inflammatory effect.
Rubbing is not effective for kidney problems. But taking antispasmodic medication relieves the patient’s condition. Another tip on how to differentiate osteochondrosis from kidney pain caused by stones is a warm water bath. As a result of heat exposure, the body will relax and cramps from the calculus will be relieved.
Tests for kidney and lumbar pain
When shooting at the kidneys, it is important to undergo a thorough examination, part of which is a general test. Renal pathology is confirmed by increased levels of ESR and leukocytes, and sometimes by low hemoglobin in the blood. Urinalysis should confirm leukocytosis, with inflammation - this indicates pus impurity, with stones - excess salt and blood impurities.
To clarify the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases, urine samples were taken. And also urine cultures are prescribed.
When the source of lower back pain is the kidneys, treatment is formulated after an additional abdominal ultrasound. Tomography is prescribed if neoplasm is suspected.
Nonrenal pathology is diagnosed primarily by examination and X-ray examination.