Did you know that kidney pain is often confused with spinal pain? The reason is that kidney problem is an unexpected reason behind back pain. This article will help you distinguish between backbone pain and kidney problem.
What is a Kidney Problem?
You should know that spinal pain is usually restricted to the lower back, while the kidney pain dives deep and high up the backbone. Your kidneys are located beneath the ribcage, one on each side of the spine. So, if there is a problem with your kidney, you can feel it on the sides, the mid or upper side of your backbone. To be specific, kidney ache is felt mostly under the ribs, towards the right or left corner of the spine. This pain usually spreads to other regions like the abdomen or groin.
Painful kidneys are a result of inflammation or obstruction in the kidneys or urinary tract. If you suffer from a kidney ailment, you may have fever, nausea, and pain while urinating.
What Are the Potential Causes of Kidney Disorder?
Your kidney?s function is to filter out the blood from urine and transfer it out of your body through ureters. Hence, any issues with these structures can lead to pain. The widespread reasons for kidney problem are:
Kidney Stones
These stones are built through the accumulation of minerals and chemical waste in your body. Stone size can vary from a sand grain to a pearl. However, if they are tiny, they tend to pass out in the urine. And if they are large, they may get trapped in the urinary tract and restrict urine from passing out. In both scenarios, you will feel shooting pain.
Urinary Tract Infection
If bacteria are left behind after you urinate, it may cause infection in your tract. Hence, the symptoms include temperature, painful urination, cloudy urine, and exhaustion.
Kidney Infection
You may suffer from a kidney infection if bacteria from the urinary bladder infection have contaminated kidneys. Diabetic people are more susceptible to such infections. However, in severe cases, an infected urinary tract may cause the urine to flow backwards, resulting in repetitive disorders and eventually kidney failure.
Polycystic Kidneys
In this hereditary condition, cysts may develop in your kidneys, and when they enlarge, it impacts your kidney function.
Accident or Injury
If you have countered an accident or sports injury, it may cause physical damage to your kidney. Your average blood flow to the kidneys may get disrupted. At the same time, a kidney trauma may lead to kidney failure.
Renal Cancer
It usually occurs after 60 years of age. You may notice blood in urine, a disturbing pain below the ribs, or swelling on the side.
How Doctors Diagnose Kidney Issue?
Doctors may assess a kidney issue from the symptoms you describe. While exact diagnosis is made by:
Urinalysis
It is a procedure that examines the urine for blood presence, surplus white blood cells, and chemicals that indicate a kidney disorder.
Imaging Tests
An ultrasound or CT scan can help detect kidney stones or assess the blood flow to the organ.
Kidney Pain Vs Spinal Pain
How to Identify?
When you have a kidney disorder, you may experience lower back pain in Fort Worth.
What Kind of Pain is It?
If you have kidney stones, you may experience sharp pain, and if there is an infection, you will feel a dull ache. However, it will be persistent. The intensity of this pain can be mild or severe. And if you are passing out a kidney stone, the pain may vary as the stone moves along. Kidney pain never worsens if you move and cannot be relieved with home remedies. This pain usually spreads to your inner thigh muscles or lower abdomen.
What are the symptoms?
Also, this pain comes along with other symptoms like:
- Temperature
- Sickness and Vomiting
- Dark or Cloudy Urine
- Pain When Urinating
- Blood in Urine
- Stones in urine
- Discoloured Urine
- Lethargic feeling
How to Identify Back Pain?
Facts state that back pain in Dallas is more common than kidney issues. The source of spine pain can be an issue with the muscles, bones, or spinal nerves. Spinal pain can occur anywhere in your backbone, but it usually focuses on your lower back or buttocks.
What kind of pain is it?
When you have backbone pain due to a muscular problem, you may feel a dull pain. And if the nerves have been damaged or irritated, you may experience a shooting pain or burning sensation that may trickle down to your buttocks, lower leg, and even feet. Muscular pain may impact one or both sides and is confined to the back. However, this pain can be mild or severe, depending on your condition. It may last from days, weeks, to months. However, if it lasts more than three months, you should consult a doctor.
What are the symptoms?
Back pain usually gets worse with movements or shifting positions. However, the accompanying symptoms include:
- A painful and inflamed region that feels tender to touch
- Muscle spasm in the affected area
- Numbness or feebleness in one or both legs (is you have a nerve problem)
Suppose you are suffering from backbone pain and cannot control your urine or bowel movements, or you feel something is pressurizing your spinal nerves. In that case, you should immediately see a doctor. It can be cauda equina syndrome. If not treated on time, it can lead to long-term damage to spinal nerves.
When to Visit a Doctor?
Once you have identified whether your pain is due to a spinal issue or kidney, you should plan a visit to the specialist for an examination, proper diagnosis, and treatment.
Kidney pain does not disappear on its own and needs a doctor?s intervention. In contrast, you can treat mild back pain through effective remedies. However, if your spinal pain is not improving, you should visit a doctor without any delay.
