Experiencing prolonged pain and aches in your back? Most likely, you will have a hard time detecting the cause, especially because the symptoms of back pain are actually similar to the symptoms of kidney pain. For that, try reading this article to find out the various details that distinguish the two diseases. In fact, you just need to focus a little more on identifying the location of the pain, its consistency, and other accompanying symptoms to differentiate the two.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Analyzing Pain
Step 1. Identify radiating pain in the lower back and buttocks area
If pain occurs along this area, you most likely have a back muscle injury, not a kidney problem. Apart from being a “wetland” for back injuries, back pain will generally spread to a wider area when compared to kidney pain, which has a narrower area of spread.
- Back muscle injuries can affect the function and intensity of pain in various muscle groups on the sides of the body, including the gluteus muscles.
- If pain, cramping, or tingling radiates to your feet, call your doctor immediately!
Step 2. Watch for pain that appears between the ribs and pelvis
Often, kidney pain is located in the pelvic area (the area along the sides of the body to the lower back), especially because this is where your kidneys are located.
Therefore, pain in other areas of the back is generally not related to your kidneys
Step 3. Watch out for pain in the lower abdominal area
If pain occurs in the lower back and lower abdomen, it is likely that your kidneys are being compromised. Back pain is generally only felt in the back of the body and does not radiate to the stomach. Meanwhile, swelling due to enlarged or infected kidneys can make pain felt in the back and front of the body.
If you only have lower back pain, chances are the pain is not related to your kidneys
Step 4. Observe the consistency of your pain
In most cases, kidney pain feels more consistent than back pain. Although the intensity may decrease, the pain due to kidney disorders will not completely go away. Meanwhile, back pain can often go away completely on its own, although it may recur at a later date.
- Generally, pain due to kidney disorders (including urinary tract infections and kidney stones), will not go away on its own. Meanwhile, back pain usually goes away and heals on its own.
- Some types of kidney stones can pass by itself from your body. Even so, still see a doctor to analyze the cause of your pain.
Step 5. Watch for pain that only occurs on one side of the lower back
If the pain is only felt on one side of the body, you are most likely experiencing kidney pain. Remember, the human kidney is located between the ribs and the pelvis. Therefore, pain that only appears on one side of the body is most likely related to a disorder of one of the kidneys.
Part 2 of 3: Identifying the Different Symptoms
Step 1. Think about the biggest causes of back pain
To differentiate between back pain and kidney pain, try to remember whether you've been doing activities that risk making your back hurt. For example, if you've been lifting heavy objects a lot lately or have been hunched over a lot, you're most likely experiencing back pain, not kidney pain.
- Standing or sitting too long can also cause back pain.
- If you've had back pain before, it's likely that your condition is related to the situation.
Step 2. Observe the condition of your urination
Because the kidneys are an important part of the urinary tract, infections and other kidney disorders can generally be detected through urine. Beware of bloody urine and excessive pain when urinating!
- If you have kidney disease, generally your urine will be dark or cloudy in color.
- Alternatively, you will feel the urge to urinate several times, especially if you have kidney stones.
Step 3. Watch for numbness or tingling in the lower back area
In some cases, back pain sufferers will feel numb or tingling due to pressure on the nerves and obstruction of blood flow to the buttocks and legs. This is a common symptom of back pain associated with the sciatic nerve.
In some extreme cases, the numbness or tingling sensation will radiate to the toes
Part 3 of 3: Getting a Medical Diagnosis
Step 1. Call your doctor if your pain doesn't subside
Remember, the underlying medical condition for your pain should be treated by a medical professional! If not managed properly, these problems can actually cause more serious disturbances and disrupt your life in the future.
- Call the hospital or clinic and describe your symptoms to the nurse or staff on duty. After that, they can make an appointment with the right doctor.
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers is a temporary solution. However, make sure you continue to treat long-term pain with the help of a doctor so that the problem is really resolved, rather than just hiding behind a mask of drugs.
Step 2. Perform a medical examination
Most likely, your doctor will ask for details about your symptoms (including when they started and their intensity over time). After that, they will perform a physical examination of the area that hurts. Generally, doctors can make a general diagnosis based on the results of these examinations. However, if needed, they will perform various further tests to produce a more specific diagnosis.
- If your doctor suspects a problem with your back (such as a dislocated back joint) or your kidneys, they will usually order an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or CT scan.
- If your doctor finds a problem or disorder with your kidneys, they will most likely do blood and urine tests to determine the number of blood cells and proteins in your body.
Step 3. Treat the cause of the pain
Once the cause of the pain has been identified, it is likely that the doctor will advise on the appropriate treatment method. Ideally, this method is able to relieve pain as well as treat the cause. In other words, you may need to take painkillers and other medications to treat the infection or other health problem that is causing the pain.
- If your kidney pain is caused by a kidney stone, your doctor will likely prescribe painkillers. If the stone is too large and won't come out on its own, your doctor will also recommend surgery that can be removed.
- If you have back muscle spasms (the most common cause of back pain), your doctor will likely recommend methods to manage your pain and restore muscle tone, as well as provide you with treatment options worth trying.
