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Kidney Pain

Kidney pain is felt in your sides, back, belly or groin. It’s often mistaken for back pain. Kidney pain can be caused by kidney stones, kidney infection, an injury or kidney cancer. Kidney pain treatment depends on the underlying cause.

What Does Kidney Pain Feel Like?

Kidney pain can feel like a dull backache between the lower ribs and hips that affects one or both sides. It may cause other symptoms and often requires urgent medical care.

The kidneys are fist-sized organs shaped like beans. They’re located at the back of the middle of your torso, in the area called your flank. They’re under the lower part of your ribcage on the right and left sides of your backbone.

The main job of the kidneys is to filter waste out of your blood and produce urine to remove that waste — along with extra fluid — from your body.

When your kidney hurts, it usually means there’s something wrong with it. It’s important to determine whether your pain is coming from your kidney or from somewhere else so that you receive the right treatment.

There are muscles, bones, and other organs around your kidney, so it’s sometimes hard to tell if your kidney or something else is causing your pain. The type and location of the pain and any other symptoms can help point to your kidney as the source of your pain.

Once you do get to see the doctor, don’t be surprised if you’re rushed out of the exam room before you get all of your questions answered, according to healthcare staffing agency Staff Care. Studies show that 41% of ophthalmologists spend just 9 to 12 minutes with a patient, and 13- to 16-minute appointments are the norm for 40% of cardiologists, 37% of pediatricians, 35% of urologists, 35% of family physicians, 34% of obstetricians and gynecologists and 30% of otolaryngologists.

Kidney pain typically feels like a constant dull ache deep in your right or left flank, or both flanks, that often gets worse when someone gently hits the area.

Most conditions usually affect only one kidney, so you typically feel pain on only one side of your back. If both kidneys are affected, the pain will occur on both sides.

Symptoms that may accompany kidney pain include:

blood in your urine
fever and chills
frequent urination
nausea and vomiting
pain that spreads to the groin
a burning feeling or pain when you urinate
recent urinary tract infection (UTI)

Kidney pain is a sign that there’s something affecting one or both of your kidneys. Your kidney may hurt for these reasons:

Kidney stones.Kidney stones may occur in either or both kidneys, and they usually do not hurt until they pass into the tube connecting your kidney and bladder. You may pass a small stone without noticing it, but when it does hurt, it causes severe, sharp pain. You may also experience nausea or vomiting.
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection).Pyelonephritis is an infection that can occur in one or both kidneys. The cause is a UTI that has spread. Pyelonephritis can result in fever, nausea, a burning feeling when urinating, and flank pain and tenderness.
Hemorrhage.Bleeding in either or both kidneys can have a variety of causes, including injury, infection, and certain diseases. You’ll likely have blood in your urine along with pain in your abdomen or lower back.
Renal vein thrombosis. In renal vein thrombosis, there’s a blood clot in either or both of the renal veins connected to your kidneys. There may be no symptoms if the clot develops slowly. With a sudden clot, you may feel extreme pain in your flank and soreness around your ribs.
Hydronephrosis. A blockage called hydronephrosis can cause your urine to back up and fill one of your kidneys with water, making it swell. Hydronephrosis usually affects only one kidney, but in some cases it can affect both. You may feel persistent dull pain with occasional bouts of severe pain. Symptoms may also include nausea and painful urination.
A mass or cancer. You can have a benign, noncancerous mass or kidney cancer in one or both kidneys. It may cause you to feel tired, have swelling in your kidney area, and experience persistent pain in your lower back or side.
Cyst. A sac of fluid may form in either or both kidneys. Kidney cysts do not usually cause symptoms, but sometimes the cysts can get bigger and press against your organs, resulting in abdominal pain. If the cyst ruptures, you may feel extreme pain in your side.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD). In this inherited condition, many cysts grow in both kidneys and can damage them. As PKD progresses and the cysts grow, you may sometimes have periods of intense pain in your back and sides. You may also have kidney stones, high blood pressure, and blood in your urine.
Renal artery aneurysm. In this rare condition, there’s a small, weakened section of the artery wall in one or both of your kidneys. Typically, there are no symptoms. If the aneurysm tears, you may feel pain in your flank.
Atheroembolic renal disease. If plaque breaks off from a larger artery, it can block small arteries to either kidney. You may experience abdominal pain along with other symptoms, such as diarrhea and fever.

Home remedies

Drinking lots of water is one of the main treatments for smaller kidney stones.

Medications

A doctor may prescribe medications to treat different conditions. These can include:

antibiotics for pyelonephritis or other kidney infections
anticoagulants, or medications to prevent blood clots, for conditions such as renal vein thrombosis
targeted cancer medications such as sunitinib (Sutent) and sorafenib (Nexavar) to stop tumor growth
blood pressure medications to help with PKD
cholesterol medications to help with atheroembolic renal disease

Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat your kidney condition. For example, renal artery aneurysms may require surgery if the weakened part of the artery wall is expanding or tearing.

With the help of a thin, lighted microscope, a surgeon can create a small incision and remove kidney cysts. In ureteroscopy, a thin telescope passes up through your bladder and into your kidney. A surgeon can use this technique to remove larger kidney stones.

If a kidney has been significantly damaged, such as from hydronephrosis or cancer, it may need to be removed entirely. For most people, the remaining kidney is enough on its own.

A surgeon may also remove only the section of kidney with a tumor, or use cryotherapy to freeze and destroy the tumor alone.

Tips for preventing kidney pain

You may be able to use home remedies to prevent some of the conditions that cause kidney pain. To reduce your risk of developing bladder infections that can lead to kidney infections, it’s best to take these steps:

Drink plenty of water.
Urinate as soon as you feel the urge to go.
Urinate after sexual intercourse.
Wipe from front to back when using the restroom, if you have a vulva.

Note that if you have kidney failure, you may need to limit the amount of water you drink.

You can also reduce your risk of kidney cancer by taking these steps:

Avoid or quit smoking.
Exercise regularly.
Follow a healthy, balanced diet.
Maintain a moderate weight.

Kidney Pain

Kidney pain is felt in your sides, back, belly or groin. It’s often mistaken for back pain. Kidney pain can be caused by kidney stones, kidney infection, an injury or kidney cancer. Kidney pain treatment depends on the underlying cause.

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Overview

Several different health conditions can result in kidney pain, including trauma, infection, kidney stones and cancer.

What is kidney pain?

Kidney pain (renal pain) is discomfort near your kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located just below your ribcage, on each side of your spine. Kidney pain doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with your kidneys specifically — but it does usually indicate an issue somewhere in your urinary system.

What does it feel like when your kidneys hurt?

People often mistake kidney pain for back pain. But there are some key differences between kidney pain and how it feels compared to back pain.

Kidney pain vs back pain

Back pain usually affects the middle of your back, over your spine, and most commonly in the lower back. Spine-related issues can also cause back pain to sometimes radiate down your legs.

In comparison, kidney pain is typically located higher on your back and it often feels deeper. Most of the time, kidney pain symptoms occur under your ribs, to the right or left of your spine. Kidney pain may also radiate to other areas, such as your abdomen or groin. Sometimes, hip pain is confused with kidney pain, but hip pain is lower down in your back than kidney pain.

Possible Causes

What are the most common causes of kidney pain?

Your kidneys are connected to your bladder and ureters (the tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder). Problems with any of these areas can result in pain and discomfort. Possible causes of kidney pain include:

Kidney stones. Kidney stones form from the buildup of minerals or compounds inside your body. Stones may be as small as a grain of sand or larger than a pearl. Small stones may leave your body on their own. However, larger stones may get stuck in your urinary tract and prevent pee from passing through. In either case, intense kidney pain can develop.
Urinary retention. With this condition, you’re unable to empty your bladder completely. This can happen suddenly or gradually over time.
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). This reflux of urine causes urine to flow backward from your bladder to your ureters or kidneys. VUR can happen to anyone, but it’s most common in babies and young children.
Ureteropelvic junction obstruction. With this condition, there’s a blockage that occurs where your ureter attaches to your kidney. This can cause flank pain that may radiate to your belly or groin.
Ureteral stricture. This refers to a narrowing of your ureter. The ureters are the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder. Ureteral stricture can occur on one or both sides.
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis). This condition develops when bacteria infects your kidneys. Symptoms include fever, chills, back or side pain, and nausea and vomiting.
Polycystic kidney disease. People with this inherited condition have fluid-filled sacs (cysts) inside their kidneys. As the cysts expand, the kidneys become enlarged and can cause pain. As a result, they may not function properly.
Injury or trauma. Impact from contact sports, accidents or other blunt force trauma may cause physical damage to your kidneys. This could result in blood in the urine or around the kidneys as well as leakage of urine from the kidneys.
Kidney (renal) cancer. The most common type of kidney cancer, renal cell carcinoma, usually affects people in their 60s or 70s. Symptoms may include blood in your pee, flank pain or the appearance of a lump on your side.

What are common kidney pain symptoms?

People with kidney pain may experience different symptoms. Some of the most common kidney pain symptoms include:

A constant, dull ache in your back.
Pain in your sides, under your rib cage or in your abdomen.
Severe or sharp pain that comes in waves.
Pain that spreads to your groin area.
Kidney pain is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, especially if the pain is due to kidney stones.

Care and Treatment

How is kidney pain treated?

Kidney pain treatment depends on the condition that’s causing it. For example, if you have kidney pain due to an infection, your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. If you have kidney pain due to stones, then you may need to have treatment to remove them.

What tests can help determine the cause of kidney pain?

In order to pinpoint a cause, a number of tools are available to help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis:

Urinalysis: This test checks for the presence of blood, white blood cells (which would point to an infection), proteins and certain molecules that are linked to various kidney disorders.
Imaging tests:Ultrasound or a CT (computed tomography) scan can provide images of the physical structure of the kidneys and urinary tract. It can also tell your healthcare provider if stones are present and determine if urine flow is adequate.

What should I do if my kidneys hurt?

If you have kidney pain that doesn’t go away, the first thing you should do is call your healthcare provider to schedule an appointment or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms such as uncontrolled pain, severe nausea or vomiting, fevers or chills, or an inability to pee. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to ease discomfort:

Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will help flush bacteria from your urinary tracts. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
Use heat. Place a heating pad on your back, abdomen or side to help reduce kidney pain.
Takepain relievers. To ease fever or discomfort, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (unless you have known liver or kidney damage and are not supposed to use these medications).

What drinks are bad for the kidneys?

In general, water is the best. Drinks that are high in sugar can lead to diabetes and those with lots of salt or caffeine can cause dehydration, both of which can lead to kidney damage over time.

When to Call the Doctor

When should I call my healthcare provider?

See your doctor if you have persistent pain in the kidney area, or if you have back pain along with any of the following symptoms:

Fever or chills.
Nausea or vomiting such that you cannot eat or drink.
Oddly colored pee.
Pain when you pee.
Blood in your pee.
A repeated urgent need to pee that is unusual for you.
The appearance of solid material (kidney stones) in your pee.
A general feeling of illness or lethargy that won’t go away.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Kidney pain may be mild or severe. Sometimes it’s harmless, but in most cases, it means that you have a problem somewhere in your urinary system. If you develop back pain along with fever, vomiting, pain when you pee or other worrisome symptoms, see a healthcare provider right away. They can find out what’s causing your kidney pain and figure out how to treat the problem.

Kidney Pain