When to Seek Help for Kidney Pain

Kidney pain? Back pain? What’s it all about? According to the National Institute of Health, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than one in seven adults in the U.S., and up to 90% are not aware their kidneys — and not their backs — are the problem. Early-stage kidney disease may not have any symptoms, leading to diagnosis in the late stages of illness.

Understanding whether your pain is due to a strenuous workout, too much heavy lifting or a sign that your kidneys may need attention is important.

Is Back Pain a Symptom of Kidney Disease?

Sometimes. The kidneys are located behind the lower back muscles, which is why pain in these organs is sometimes confused with back pain.

Kidney pain strikes below the rib cage on either side of the spine and can feel like it is coming from deep inside the body. It’s common to feel pain on one or both sides of the body, depending on whether the trouble is in one or both of these bean-shaped organs. Kidney pain can also spread to the sides, abdomen, groin and thigh.

What Causes Kidney Pain?

Kidney pain can come from many sources, including kidney stones or cysts, infection, trauma, cancer, dehydration, bleeding or blood clots in the kidney veins.

• Kidney stones cause sharp, intense pain that worsens as the stone(s) migrate from the kidney to the ureters (tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder).
• Infections of the kidney usually show up as a dull ache or soreness.
• Trauma can result in mild or strong pain depending on how badly the kidney is injured.
• Cancer pain usually doesn’t evolve until the condition is advanced. Cancer pain is persistent and felt in the side, back or stomach.
• Cysts cause side or back pain.

Symptoms That May Accompany Kidney Pain

When a potential kidney problem is lurking, you may experience other symptoms, such as:

• Cloudy or bloody urine
• Painful urination or the need to urinate often
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

Severe kidney damage or disease can cause:

• Bad breath
• Metallic taste
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the legs, ankles or feet
• Confusion
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle cramps

When to See a Doctor

Symptoms that point to an issue with the kidneys need to be reported to your doctor right away since kidney pain often doesn’t begin until a disease or condition is advanced.

Call your doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in the stomach, back near your kidneys or genitals
• Pain when you pee
• Blood in your urine
• Cloudy urine
• Loss of appetite

Your doctor may recommend testing to diagnose the issue. Testing can include a blood test, urine test, MRI, CT scan or ultrasound. In some cases a biopsy is needed.