What kind of pain do kidneys cause

The symptoms can vary by the location and severity of the obstruction. Kidney stones often cause the most pain, typically centered in the flank and radiating to the abdomen and groin in waves. Others are less specific but can worsen if the blockage is left untreated, leading to fever, sweating, chills, vomiting, hematuria, and diminished urine output. Renal tumors or cysts do not typically cause pain unless the growth is advanced or the disbursement is extensive. The three most common growth abnormalities include:.

By and large, renal tumors, whether benign or cancerous, do not cause pain until their size compromises the architecture of the kidney. It is at this stage that the pain will usually be persistent, aching, and likely to worsen over time.

The pain would most often be unilateral and accompanied by hematuria, either visible gross hematuria or invisible microscopic hematuria. If cancer is involved, persistent malaise and unexplained weight loss are telltale signs suggestive of an advanced malignancy. PKD may also be symptom-free until such time as the formation of cysts causes structural damage to the kidney.

In addition to flank pain, usually bilateral, PKD may cause progressively worsening symptoms, including headaches, high blood pressure, hematuria, abdominal pain and swelling, recurrent kidney stones, recurrent UTIs, and renal failure. As opposed to many of the other renal conditions, PKD is associated with excessive urination polyuria rather than impaired urination. The most common form of PKD, known as autosomal dominant PKD, manifests with symptoms when patients are in their 30s and 40s.

People will often assume that sudden flank pain is caused by a pulled muscle or overexertion, and, in many cases, it will be. If the pain persists, worsens, or is accompanied by urinary symptoms or signs of infections , you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. This is especially true if you are experiencing high fever, chills, vomiting, or the inability to urinate. Even if a kidney infection is mild, it can sometimes progress and lead to bacteremia if left untreated.

Given that acute pyelonephritis can strike in as little as two days, a rapid response is essential. The same applies if you experience a dull but persistent pain alongside uncommon symptoms such as painful urination, chronic fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. If you are pregnant, don't assume that persistent back pain is pregnancy-related. Be cognizant if there is a dull ache across your lower back or along the sides of your back between the ribs and hips.

If accompanied by symptoms of infection or changes in urination, call your healthcare provider immediately. This is especially true if you are suddenly unable to urinate. This may be a sign of an obstruction in need of urgent care. Only a medical evaluation can confirm a kidney condition or pinpoint the cause of a kidney pain. There are no reliable self-exams or tests to do at home. The diagnostic tools include lab and urine tests to evaluate your body chemistry and imaging tests to identify and characterize the nature of the disease.

A urinalysis is central to the diagnosis of any renal disorder. A complete urinalysis is performed by a lab to assess the chemical composition of your urine and to find any evidence of kidney dysfunction, including excessive protein , albumin , or red blood cells. Abnormal findings will suggest a kidney problem. Normal findings, by contrast, can usually rule out the kidneys as the cause.

Blood tests will also be used to evaluate your kidney function. These include:. Any abnormalities in the excretion would indicate that the kidneys are not working as they should. If an infection is suspected, a blood test known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR may be used to check for inflammation, while a urine culture can help isolate and identify specific bacterial or fungal infections.

Finally, a complete blood count CBC and liver function test LFT can offer further insights as to whether the dysfunction is caused by an associated disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cirrhosis or if changes in the blood chemistry are consistent with cancer. There are no blood or urine tests that detect renal cancer. Imaging tests are used as a means to indirectly visualize the kidneys and adjacent structures.

They can identify irregularities in the shape or structure of the kidneys, identify cysts and solid tumors, or pinpoint the location of a bleed or obstruction. Among the three tools commonly used for this:.

If imaging tests are unable to provide a clear image of an obstruction or disorder of the lower urinary tract, the healthcare provider may recommend a procedure known as cystoscopy. This involves the insertion of a flexible fiberoptic scope into the urethra to view the bladder and is commonly used to help diagnose bladder stones, cystitis , strictures , and cancer.

Cystoscopy is performed under local anesthesia and may cause pain and mild bleeding. Infection is also possible.

If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be performed to obtain a sample of cells from suspicious growth. It can be performed with a fine needle aspiration FNA , in which a narrow needle is inserted into a tumor with the aid of an ultrasound, or a core needle biopsy CNB , which utilizes a thicker, hollow-core needle. Both are nearly equal in their ability to correctly diagnose renal cancer. People will often be surprised at how high up the kidneys are in the back. In many cases, a persistent pain will be incorrectly attributed to the kidneys when it is, in fact, muscle or skeletal problem.

To this end, healthcare providers will often need to explore other causes of "kidney pain" if urinalysis and other tests do not suggest a renal disorder. While some people assume that kidney pain is a sign of kidney failure , it rarely is. Whether you have chronic kidney disease CKD or acute renal failure ARF , you are more likely to feel pain in the joints and muscles due to the build-up of toxins and depletion of electrolytes than in the kidneys.

The treatment of kidney pain is as varied as the causes themselves. Severe disorders typically require the care of a kidney specialist known as a nephrologist or a urinary tract specialist known as a urologist. Most kidney infections are bacterial and readily treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Fungal and viral infections are most commonly seen in people with compromised immune systems, including organ transplant recipients and people with advanced HIV. A urine culture can help isolate the bacterial strain so that the most appropriate antibiotic is chosen.

The most commonly prescribed antibiotics include ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin. Severe cases may require intravenous rather than oral antibiotics. Resistant bacterial strains may require combination antibiotic therapy or more potent antibiotics like carbapenem. During treatment, you'll need to drink plenty of water to promote urination and help flush the upper and lower urinary tract.

Treatment of a renal trauma is directed by the grading of the injury as follows:. Low-grade injuries can often be treated with extended bed rest. More severe events may require surgical repair, including the placement of renal stents to open obstructed vessels.

Selective embolism, in which a chemical agent or metallic coil is used to block a blood vessel, may help control bleeding. In a worst-case scenario, a surgical procedure known as nephrectomy may be needed to remove one or, less commonly, both kidneys.

While you can function normally with just one kidney, the removal of both would require you to be placed on dialysis until an organ donor can be found. Treatment is primarily focused on relieving the source of the obstruction.

This may involve antibiotics to resolve an infection, nephrostomy the drainage of urine with a urethral catheter , or surgery if a stone cannot be passed on its own. Severe hydronephrosis may require percutaneous nephrostomy, a procedure in which a tube is inserted through your back to directly drain the kidneys.

A ureter stent may also be placed during cystoscopy to open a blocked ureter. Additional treatments may be needed to address the underlying cause. Depending on the findings, treatment may involve selective embolism to reduce the size of a tumor essential "starving" the tumor of the blood needed for growth or nephrectomy to remove part or all of the affected kidney.

Benign tumors are often treated in the same way as cancerous ones if they obstruct vessels or tubules inside of the kidney. Cancer therapy is directed by the stage of the malignancy which is based on the size of the tumor, the number of nearby lymph nodes affected, and whether the tumor has metastasized spread. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy , and newer-generation targeted therapy. There are no treatments for PKD. Treatment would instead be focused on the avoidance of complications including high blood pressure, renal infection, kidney failure, and brain aneurysm in tandem with routine disease monitoring.

The development of kidney pain isn't something you should ignore. This condition, called cauda equina syndrome , can cause severe long-term damage to your spinal nerves if not treated right away. Read this article in Spanish. Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are masses made of crystals. They originate in your kidneys but can be found at any point in your urinary tract.

A bladder infection is a bacterial infection and a type of UTI, which refers to infection in the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Most bladder…. There are many causes for pain in the lower back right side, including some that are unique to men or women. Cystocele is a condition in which the bladder protrudes into the vagina. We explain the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more. Foul-smelling urine is not a symptom or sign of cancer.

It can, however, indicate other conditions, such as urinary tract infections or STIs. The idea that urine is sterile is a pervasive idea, but what does the research say? Urine contains DNA but only in small amounts, and it deteriorates quickly. This makes extraction difficult and test results unreliable. Learn more….

If you have pain in your right kidney, it could be caused by a relatively common kidney problem or a more uncommon condition. Learn about 6 possible…. A healthy bladder can hold about 2 cups of urine before it's considered full.

It takes your body 9 to 10 hours to produce 2 cups of urine. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Kidney Pain vs. Kidney pain Back pain See a doctor Kidney pain vs. Learn how to tell the difference between back pain and kidney pain here. A person may also feel kidney pain in their groin. This may happen because pain can radiate to areas of the body other than where it originates.

Males may feel kidney-related pain in their testicles. However, if testicular pain is accompanied by enlargement, redness, or changes to the scrotal skin, the problem might be a primary issue with the testicle. If this is the case, they should seek medical advice. Learn about some other symptoms of testicular cancer here. If a person experiences a stinging or burning pain while urinating, they may have a urine or bladder infection.

Some other symptoms of infection include :. Learn more about kidney infections here. If someone is experiencing kidney pain, it may indicate a problem with one or both of their kidneys. A person may experience a range of other symptoms in addition to kidney pain, including :. The kidneys are a pair of bean shaped organs that are situated on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage.

The left kidney tends to be slightly larger and sit slightly higher up in the body. The primary job of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood. For example, they get rid of excess water from the body by creating urine. The kidneys also help control blood pressure and help the body make more red blood cells.

Learn more about the kidneys here. A person who is experiencing kidney pain should contact a doctor as soon as possible to find out what is causing it. People must contact a doctor to diagnose and treat kidney pain.

Receiving the correct treatment ensures that the kidneys do not become damaged, which can lead to kidney failure. Doctors may order tests such as:. If a person is experiencing the following symptoms , they need emergency medical care:.

Without the correct treatment, kidney infections can become chronic and cause permanent kidney damage. Kidney pain can occur on either or both sides of the spine, below the ribs.

Some people may also experience pain in the lower groin. Pain in the kidneys may be an indication that something is wrong with these essential organs.