Kidney pain vs. back pain, How to differentiate?

Kidneys are located a little toward the back and is underneath the rib cage. Sometimes its really difficult to tell if the area of pain are coming from the back or from the kidney.

In this case we need to understand the symptom better so that we can differentiate the source of pain. The severity of the pain, type and location of the pain will makes a different depend on whether the problem area is from kidney or back.

How to identify back pain?

Back pain is more common, normally caused by the muscles, bones, or nerves on our spine.

Where is the pain?

Back pain can occur anywhere on our back, but it’s most commonly people hurt their lower back more.

Type of pain?

Muscle pain feels like a dull ache. It will affect one or both sides. For nerve the pain is sharp, if worst burning sensation or numbness feeling may travel down your buttock to your lower leg or even your foot. It usually only affects one side.

Radiation of the pain?

Nerve pain may spread to your lower leg or travel. Back pain from a muscle usually stays in on area in the back.

Severity of the pain?

Acute back pain lasts from days to weeks, and chronic back pain lasts more than three months.

Things that make it better or worse

The pain from back pain may get worse with movement or if you sit or stand for too long. It may get better if you switch positions or lay down.

Accompanying symptoms

Other symptoms you may experience together with back pain are:

• looking swollen and feeling tender to the touch
• a muscle spasm in the painful area
• numbness and tingling or weakness in one or both of your legs (if the pain is due to a nerve issue)

If you have back pain which you cant control your urine or bowel movement, have to get it check straight away. Something is pressing on the spinal nerves. This can cause severe long-term damage to your spinal nerves if not treated right away.

How to identify kidney pain?

Kidney pain is often caused by an infection in kidney or a gallstone in the tubes coming out of your kidneys.

Where is the pain?

Kidney pain is usually felt at either of the side, which is the area between the bottom of your ribcage and above your hips. It will usually affect either one or both side of your kidneys.

Type of pain?

Kidney pain is sharp, if you have a  gallstone and a dull ache if you have an infection. Most often it will be constant. Worst if you’re passing a gallstone, the pain may fluctuate as the gallstone moves.

Radiation of the pain?

Sometimes the pain will felt on your inner thigh or lower abdomen.

Severity of the pain?

Kidney pain is based on how bad it is, from severe to mild. A gallstone usually causes severe pain, and the pain from an infection is usually mild.

Things that make it better or worst

Basically the pain wont go away if there is nothing done to correct it. For such, even if you try to change position the pain still exist.

Accompanying symptoms

Some of the symptoms if you are experiencing kidneys infection or a gallstone:

• fever and chills
• cloudy or dark urine
• an urgent need to urinate
• pain when you urinate
• blood in your urine (this can happen with an infection or kidney stones)
• pass out small  gallstones that look like gravel in your urine

When to see a doctor for treatment?

Once you’ve determined whether the pain is from your back or your kidneys, please seek your doctor for further diagnosis and treatment. Any kind of pains which you feels is not your normal, if it doesn’t get better, is more than mild pain, or spreads, you should see your doctor.

SELF-DIAGNOSE CAN BRING MORE HARM THAN TREATING IT. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE INJURY BUT DEFINITELY NOT TO THE POINT OF SELF-TREATMENT. IT WILL BE MUCH SAFER TO GET TREATED BY OUR DOCTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH ORTHOPAEDICS, YOU CAN CONTACT US, THE HOTLINE IS OPEN 24 HOURS. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US AN ENQUIRY FOR ANKLE PAIN, BACK PAIN, ELBOW PAIN, HAND PAIN, HIP PAIN, KNEE PAIN, SHOULDER PAIN OR FOR AN APPOINTMENT.