Recognizing the Difference between Back Pain & Kidney Pain

Solving the mystery behind what is the cause of back pain is a difficult task. It can be especially tricky if there has not been any recent injury. There is a collection of all kinds of different muscles, joints, nerves, and ligaments that can get hurt back there. There is also a chance that there might be some organs in the part where you would assume just to be your back. You can get back soreness due to these organs.

The kidneys are a bean-shaped organ located beneath the rib cage on both sides of your spine. The kidneys are responsible to filter the extra water from the blood to produce urine. Expect to get some irritating back aches when your kidneys get swollen or blocked. These are just some of the reasons why back pain needs your attention ASAP. 

If left untreated, swollen kidneys can become the cause of high blood pressure, kidney damage, and sometimes lead to organ failure. This is one of the reasons why you need to be sure if your backache is a muscle twinge that can get better with some rest and aspirin. Or if it is an underlying issue with your kidneys that needs a doctor’s attention. 

How To Tell the Difference Between Kidney Pain & Back Pain

So how do you know if it is back pain or kidney pain? To understand the difference between the two, there are two basic factors you need to identify. The first is the exact location of the pain and the second is the type of ache you are feeling.

Place of the Pain:

Back pain can be anywhere up or down your back if you have a ligament strain, disc damage, or pulled muscle. It is more likely to be near the lower spine, also known as the lumbar region. The reason is that this area supports most of our body weight throughout the day. The back becomes vulnerable to damage, muscle fatigue, and injury because all of our body weight acts on this part of our body.

The pain can also be lower down your butt or in one of your legs if it is because of a nerve issue. This is the reason why back injuries lawyers always ask you to consult a general physician first before making any hasty decisions. Kidney pain manifests itself more towards the middle of your back. You will also be able to feel it on either side of the spine also known as the flank area.

Kind of Pain

You might feel back pain like a sharp burning sensation or it could be a dull ache. There might also be some tingling or numbness in your legs. The way to recognize back pain is that it might flare up or lessen based on your posture or how you move. You might not feel the back pain as you stand.

But your back will begin to burn as you bend over to pick up your backpack. It will not be the kind of pain you would want to hire a Phoenix burn injury lawyer, but it will be super agonizing. You will feel your back is burning if you remain seated for long hours. At the same time, you will find that even the slightest exercise makes your back feel a little bit better.

All of these indications are a sign that your backache is not a kidney issue. These are all signs that you may have injured a muscle. “You will be able to poke the exact muscle that is feeling the pain,” according to Dr. Eugene Thomas. These are all signs that there is no problem with your kidney.

Indications of Kidney Pain

You cannot discover kidney pain by the sense of touch alone. The severity of kidney pain can be from mild to intense. But the consistency of kidney pain does not change based on your posture or how you have been sitting for long periods. “You might want to make a mental note of how consistent your ache is because kidney pain does not vary with your body’s position” according to Dr. Eugene.

There are specific symptoms associated with kidney pain.

•         Urine will have a reeking stinky smell
•         You will feel pain when you go for a tinkle
•         Constantly feeling the need to pee
•         Extremely dark-colored or hazy pee
•         Feeling nauseous
•         Having a fever or feeling chills

All of these are signs that you need to have a medical examination for your kidney function.

What is the Reason for Back Pain & Kidney Pain?

The reason for back pain is being overworked, bad posture, and sometimes it can also occur due to not get enough sleep. The following is the list of the five reasons for experiencing kidney pain listed from most common to least possible.

1.     Kidney Stones

A pile of mineral deposits and salts that harden and form a blockage in your kidney. “You may be able to flush out small stones without any pain,” says Dr. Eugene. “You will feel the pain in sharp waves if the kidney stones are larger, and it will hurt even more if the stone moves,” says Eugene.

One-sided pain is an indication that it might be a kidney stone. Because you don’t get kidney stones on both sides of your kidney.

2.     A bad-case of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

There is a chance that bacteria from a UTI can creep their way back up to the kidneys through the bladder. Once the kidneys become infected you will feel a slight pain constantly in your lower back area. You will feel nausea with a fever or chills.

3.     Injury

Luckily, kidneys are protected by a ribcage and physically strong back muscles. It is not very easy to injure a kidney unless you have an accident. If you get hit extremely hard in the side between the ribs and hipbone then there is a chance that you might face some organ damage.

4.     Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

PKD is a genetic condition when clumps of non-cancerous cysts are produced in the kidneys. There is a chance that these clumps of cysts can become infected or they can bleed. This causes the kidneys to become swollen and become dysfunctional. High blood pressure, UTIs, and kidney stones are all symptoms of PKD.

5.     Kidney Tumor

A kidney tumor is a form of noncancerous benign cyst that can get big enough to cause uneasiness. Out of all of the different causes of back pain, this is the most unlikely possibility.