The pain can be sharp or a dull ache, and it may come and go. It's usually worse on one side, but it can occur on both flanks.
In comparison, kidney pain is typically located higher on your back and it often feels deeper. Most of the time, kidney pain symptoms occur under your ribs, to the right or left of your spine. Kidney pain may also radiate to other areas, such as your abdomen or groin.
The most prominent symptoms of kidney stones are severe abdominal or lower back pain. When patients visit the emergency room or their primary care doctor to discuss these symptoms, they can be mistaken as either appendicitis or general lower back pain.
Dehydration (which is when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to work properly) Kidney cysts (fluid-filled pouches that form on or in the kidneys) Kidney stones (hard objects that form due to chemicals in urine) Kidney trauma, which could be caused by an accident, a fall or contact sports.
Kidney pain occurs in a more specific area than general back pain. The location of kidney pain is typically contained in the region where the kidneys are found on either side of the spine at the base of the rib cage. Depending on the cause, pain may be felt on either one or both sides of the spine.
Call your health care provider right away if you feel constant, dull, one-sided pain in your back or side. Ask for a same-day appointment if you also: Have fever, body aches and fatigue. Had a recent urinary tract infection.
If you're experiencing these symptoms, it's important to seek immediate medical help. Severe pain – Pain that prevents patients from finding a comfortable position, including severe pain in the lower back, abdomen or groin. If pain is not relieved by changing positions, it could be a kidney stone.
Kidney pain is an important symptom to look out for, as it could mean a number of dangerous problems may be going on in your body. But since it is so similar to other pains, it is often dismissed. If the underlying issue isn't dealt with until much later, things can get worse.
Severe dehydration can eventually build up waste in your kidneys, causing pain. This is why it's important to drink an adequate amount of water for your age, weight, and level of physical activity. A person who doesn't drink enough fluids over time may become dehydrated and eventually experience kidney pain.
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. This means it usually doesn't get worse with lifting, twisting, or bending like muscle pain does.
A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired, weak and can make it hard to concentrate. Another complication of kidney disease is anemia, which can cause weakness and fatigue. You're having trouble sleeping.
Conditions that Improve or Worsen Kidney Pain
Moving around will not affect the pain. It likely won't provide relief, but it will not worsen the symptoms either. In most cases, nothing you do will get rid of the pain until your doctor or specialist properly treats your kidneys.
Waves of severe pain, known as renal colic, usually last 20 to 60 minutes. Pain can occur in the flank (the side, between the ribs and the hip) or the lower abdomen, and the pain can move toward the groin. If you have pain that you suspect may be due to a kidney stone, call your health care provider for advice.
If a kidney infection isn't treated, it can get worse and cause permanent kidney damage. Symptoms of a kidney infection often come on within a few hours. You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side.
Blood Tests. Because your kidneys remove waste, toxins, and extra fluid from the blood, a doctor will also use a blood test to check your kidney function. The blood tests will show how well your kidneys are doing their job and how quickly the waste is being removed.
You feel kidney pain in the area where your kidneys are located: Near the middle of your back, just under your ribcage, on each side of your spine.
Kidney stones are sometimes considered "the great mimicker" because their signs and symptoms are very similar to appendicitis, ovarian or testicular conditions, gastritis, and urinary tract infections.
Signs and symptoms of Stage 1 CKD include: High blood pressure. Swelling in your hands or feet. Urinary tract infections.