Difference between kidney pain and low back pain: do you know how to tell them apart?

Notice lower back pain it may be due to kidney disease or lower back problems. Although they may have very similar symptoms, there are also some key differences that can help tell them apart.

How to know if it is muscle or kidney pain?

It’s often hard to tell what kind of pain there is, but if you pay attention to the signs you can figure out if it’s lower back pain or muscle pain. One of the keys is in the specific location of pain.

First it is important to know where exactly the kidneys are. The kidneys are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. When it comes to kidney painusually noticeable on one side of the back (between the lower ribs and the hip). That pain may also radiate to the lower abdomen or groin.Low back pain (or lumbago)instead, is usually centralized in the lower back, above the buttocks. It can also radiate to other areas.

Another of the signs to differentiate them are the characteristics and intensity of pain:

He kidney pain is often dull (although in some cases it can also be intense or sharp) and can be constant or intermittent. Can increase when urinating or by applying pressure to the affected kidney. low back pain can vary in intensityIt can be anything from a dull ache to a sharp or stabbing pain. also can worsen with movement or by being in certain positions.

On the other hand, if pain improves with pain relievers, applying heat or cold, or changing position, it is more likely to be related to muscular or skeletal causes (low back pain). In any case, should consult the doctor to determine the origin.

Other symptoms of kidney pain

Other symptoms associated with kidney pain are:

Frequent urination. Urgency to urinate. Blood in the urine. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine. Nausea and vomiting. Fever and chills. Swelling in the legs or ankles (edema). Tiredness. Loss of appetite.

Kidney pain: causes

Kidney pain is usually caused by kidney problems such as:

kidney stones (kidney stones), hard deposits of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys and, when they move or block the urinary tract, can cause pain.urinary tract infectionswhich in addition to pain, can cause frequent urination, a burning sensation when urinating, and cloudy or bloody urine.Kidney infections (pyelonephritis)bacterial infections that reach the kidneys and that, along with pain, can cause fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.kidney diseasessuch as polycystic kidney disease (an inherited disease characterized by the growth of cysts in the kidneys), renal artery stenosis (which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys become narrow), or kidney tumors.Trauma or injury to the kidneys.

Low back pain: causes

Low back pain can be caused by various problems, such as:

Muscle or ligament strainsdue to sudden movements, lifting heavy objects or bad postures.herniated discthat is, when a vertebra is displaced or protrudes from its place and presses on an intervertebral disc.spinal stenosisa narrowing of the space within the spinal column that can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.osteoarthritisa degenerative joint disease that can affect the joints in the lower back.bad postures.Injuries in the lower back due to bumps or falls.

Kidney pain in pregnancy

During pregnancythere is often Pain in the back side of the backwhich can be both renal and lumbar pain.

On one hand, the urinary tract infections are common in pregnant women and must be treated to avoid complications. It can also happen that the uterus puts pressure on the urinary tract and causes a temporary obstruction of the urinary tract.

On the other hand, as the belly growsthe center of gravity of the body is shifted forward, which increases the pressure (and pain) in the lower back.

Additionally, during pregnancy hormones are released to prepare the body for childbirth that loosen ligaments and joints and can contribute to low back pain.