Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristics of Kidney PainBack PainSeeking Medical CareFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Characteristics of Kidney Pain
Back Pain
Seeking Medical Care
Frequently Asked Questions
Back painis an incredibly common problem. Most of the time, the problem arises from the spine and surrounding areas. However, an internal organ, like the kidney, can sometimes cause pain in your back or side.
This article discusses the different characteristics of back pain and possible underlying causes.
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Your kidneys are positioned below your rib cage on both sides of your spine.Because of the location of the kidney and the types of nerves involved, kidney pain may feel like it is coming from another part of your body—often your upper back.
This type of pain is sometimes called referred pain. Because of how these nerves work, it isn’t always obvious whether pain in your back is coming from a more external problem (e.g., aherniated disc) or an internal organ, like your kidneys.
4 Serious Causes of Referred Back Pain
Location
Pain from kidney injury is often described asflank pain, pain affecting the side of the body between the ribs and the hips. Alternatively, you might feel pain in your back near your lowest ribs.
While many experience pain on just one side of the body, it’s not unlikely to have pain on both. The pain is often felt higher up your back, unlike low-back pain.
Causes
Many different problems with the kidney and related systems can cause pain. Some of these include:
Some people with kidney pain have additional symptoms. For example, a kidney infection might be the source if you’ve had a fever and recent signs of aurinary tract infection(UTI).
UTIs and Kidney InfectionUTIs are an especially important consideration for women, who get them more often than men.Seek medical attention right away if you have potential kidney pain and fever or chills,pain with urination, urinary urgency,blood in your urine, nausea and vomiting, or other severe symptoms.
UTIs and Kidney Infection
UTIs are an especially important consideration for women, who get them more often than men.Seek medical attention right away if you have potential kidney pain and fever or chills,pain with urination, urinary urgency,blood in your urine, nausea and vomiting, or other severe symptoms.
Back Pain Not Related to Kidneys
Most people suffering from back pain have a problem with the spine and surrounding areas rather than an internal organ like the kidney.
This type of pain is called mechanical back pain. Sometimes this problem is due to a specific anatomical issue, but often, an exact cause cannot be found.
Pain arising from the spine usually affects the lower part of the back and often on both sides.It usually doesn’t wrap around the sides of your body.
Some potentialcauses of back paininclude:
How Do You Know If It’s Your Back or Your Kidneys?
A healthcare provider can help determine whether your pain is due to a back or kidney issue or another medical condition or injury.
Pain resulting from a kidney issue tends to have different characteristics than back-related pain. Pain from the kidneys tends to be dull; you might sense that it stems from deep within your body. It’s often felt higher up your back and doesn’t go away when you rest or shift positions.
In contrast, pain from a back problem is often felt in your lower back. It may feel like a stabbing sensation and may radiate down your legs. The pain may worsen during certain activities or improve when you rest or change your position.
If you don’t usually have back pain and are experiencing new pain on your side or upper back without any known injury, a kidney problem, such as a kidney stone, may be causing it.
Which Type of Healthcare Provider Should You See?
If you have back pain but aren’t sure what is causing it, you should schedule an appointment with your regular healthcare provider. They should have the training to help spot a potential kidney problem.
Summary
Because of its anatomy, kidney problems can sometimes (but not always) cause back pain. This pain does not result from a problem with your spine or surrounding areas.
Pain from the kidneys is often felt on the upper back and may wrap around the side of your body. It is usually one-sided, dull, and hard to pinpoint the exact location it comes from. In contrast, pain from a spinal problem more often affects the lower back, affecting both sides; it may improve with rest or a change of position.
Although a kidney problem isn’t the most common cause of back pain, it can indicate a more severe issue like kidney stones, a kidney infection, or another medical condition. If you have back pain, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider for an evaluation to determine its cause.
Not necessarily. Many people with kidney disease don’t have any initial symptoms. People with more advanced conditions may have symptoms like fatigue, increased susceptibility to infections, or fluid retention.Symptoms from a chronic (long-term) problem (likediabetic nephropathy) may differ from a sudden problem, like a kidney infection.
Most commonly, an underlying issue with your back itself. But problems with other internal organs can also sometimes cause back pain, like anaortic aneurysm,appendicitis,pelvic inflammatory disease, or problems with the ovaries or testes.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, et al.Diagnosis and management of low-back pain in primary care.CMAJ. 2017;189(45):E1386-E1395. doi:10.1503/cmaj.170527National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys & how they work.Thia I, Saluja M.An update on management of renal colic.Australian Journal of General Practice. 2021; 50 (7). doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5751Herness J, Buttolph A, Hammer NC.Acute pyelonephritis in adults: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(3):173-180.Office on Women’s Health. US Department of Health and Human Services.Urinary tract infections.American Kidney Fund.Kidney pain: causes, why kidneys hurt, and when to seek care.Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA.Mechanical low back pain.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(7):421-428.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, et al.Diagnosis and management of low-back pain in primary care.CMAJ. 2017;189(45):E1386-E1395. doi:10.1503/cmaj.170527National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys & how they work.Thia I, Saluja M.An update on management of renal colic.Australian Journal of General Practice. 2021; 50 (7). doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5751Herness J, Buttolph A, Hammer NC.Acute pyelonephritis in adults: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(3):173-180.Office on Women’s Health. US Department of Health and Human Services.Urinary tract infections.American Kidney Fund.Kidney pain: causes, why kidneys hurt, and when to seek care.Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA.Mechanical low back pain.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(7):421-428.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, et al.Diagnosis and management of low-back pain in primary care.CMAJ. 2017;189(45):E1386-E1395. doi:10.1503/cmaj.170527National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys & how they work.Thia I, Saluja M.An update on management of renal colic.Australian Journal of General Practice. 2021; 50 (7). doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5751Herness J, Buttolph A, Hammer NC.Acute pyelonephritis in adults: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(3):173-180.Office on Women’s Health. US Department of Health and Human Services.Urinary tract infections.American Kidney Fund.Kidney pain: causes, why kidneys hurt, and when to seek care.Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA.Mechanical low back pain.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(7):421-428.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, et al.Diagnosis and management of low-back pain in primary care.CMAJ. 2017;189(45):E1386-E1395. doi:10.1503/cmaj.170527
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys & how they work.
Thia I, Saluja M.An update on management of renal colic.Australian Journal of General Practice. 2021; 50 (7). doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5751
Herness J, Buttolph A, Hammer NC.Acute pyelonephritis in adults: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(3):173-180.
Office on Women’s Health. US Department of Health and Human Services.Urinary tract infections.
American Kidney Fund.Kidney pain: causes, why kidneys hurt, and when to seek care.
Will JS, Bury DC, Miller JA.Mechanical low back pain.Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(7):421-428.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
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