Kidney Pain

Where Is Kidney Pain Located?

Kidney pain is often mistaken for lower back pain in those who have never experienced kidney pain before.

What causes kidney pain? There can be a number of things. Kidney infections and kidney stones are the most common.

A kidney infection is likely to cause lower back kidney pain. The kidneys are located in the area of the lower back to the sides of the spine, just above the hips. Kidney pain often presents as tenderness in this area.

Lower back kidney pain is also deceptive because it can radiate to other parts of the body. It usually has a very rapid onset, and ends when the kidney infection goes away. Back pain from trauma to the back doesn't typically subside as quickly.

Usually, there are signs that make it easy to tell the difference between the pain from a kidney infection and back trauma. Symptoms from a kidney infection, for example, may also include pain with urination, fever, chills and blood may also be seen be seen in the urine by the naked eye or by laboratory analysis of the urine.

Kidney infections are especially because they can cause kidney failure if they're not treated quickly. Kidney failure is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Kidney stone pain usually appears first in the back or "flank" on either side of the body (depending on which kidney has developed a stone). Someone suffering lower back kidney pain from a kidney stone usually feels a sharp, cramping discomfort in the back and side or in the lower abdomen. Later, pain may spread to the groin. As the stone moves toward the bladder, a person may feel an increased need to urinate, or a burning sensation when urinating.

Severe kidney stone pain may last a few minutes...or it may go on for hours as the stone moves and irritates the lining of the urinary tract or blocks the flow of urine. Then, for no apparent reason, the pain stops and may not come back for hours--or days. If the stone is too big to pass, the muscles in the wall of the tiny ureter strain to squeeze the stone along into the bladder.

During an attack of kidney stone pain, there may be nausea and vomiting.

Learn more about the dangers of kidney disease by clicking on the book cover below or

The Kidney Disease Solution