Lower Back Pain May Be A Symptom Of A Kidney Problem
Dozens of possible diseases and conditions can contribute to back pain. Of course, back pain often results from an injury. Most of the time, nerve damage in the spine or injuries to the muscles, tendon and ligaments of the back are at fault. But sometimes neither of these possible causes are responsible for your discomfort.
A problem with either or both of your kidneys can also cause severe back pain. It could be a kidney infection, kidney stone, or some other kidney disorder. Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone will tell you it’s some of the worst pain they’ve ever experienced.
So, what symptoms and signs will tell you that there’s a kidney problem instead of a nerve or muscle injury?
One of the best clues is the location of your discomfort. Kidney pain usually happens in the “flank” region, which is just below the bottom of your rib cage.
Pain from a kidney problem often comes on fast and strong. You seem fine - and then a few minutes later you’re dealing with a lot of discomfort.
Kidney stones are among the most common causes of back pain caused by kidney problems. Pain often occurs as these pebble-like masses move out of the kidneys and down the ureters toward the bladder. Kidney stones that become “stuck” in the ureters and obstruct the flow of urine to the bladder are likely to cause extreme discomfort.
Another sign of a kidney problem is dark urine. If your urine is reddish or reddish brown, it could mean there’s blood in your stream - a sign that something is probably wrong.
Anyone with a kidney disorder or some other type of urinary tract condition is likely to feel the need to urinate often - even though very little urine is produced in most cases.
Kidney stones and kidney infections will also usually cause a burning or stinging sensation during urination too.
Kidney stones don’t always have to be removed through surgery or shock wave treatment. They sometimes pass out of the body on their own dueing urination. This is more likely to take place if you drink a lot of water. Back pain ends immediately when this happens.
Kidney stones - while they may cause severe pain and discomfort - are not considered to be life-threatening.
But a kidney infection, left untreated, can lead to kidney damage and even kidney failure. Therefore, if you even suspect your back pain is coming from a kidney infection, it’s best to call a doctor right away.
Still looking for additional information on related subjects? Click on kidney failure. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV reporter with a special interest in topics related to health and fitness. You can read more of his articles about kidney trouble at http://www.kidney-problem.org.