Table of contents:
- The characteristics of back pain due to kidneys
- Back pain due to kidney stones
- Back pain because the kidney is infected
- What is the difference between back pain and kidney pain?
- How to relieve back pain due to kidneys
- Tips for keeping your kidneys healthy
Pain in the back can indicate a variety of things from mild to serious. Well, one of the causes of back pain that you need to be aware of is kidney disease. Back pain due to kidney disease usually shows distinctive characteristics. Like what?
The characteristics of back pain due to kidneys
The kidneys are located on both sides of the spine under the ribs. When the kidneys have problems, whether due to infection, irritation, or inflammation, one of the typical symptoms is back pain. The main cause is usually a urinary tract infection that has spread to the kidneys, kidney infection, or kidney stones.
Usually, low back pain caused by the kidneys is felt around the lower back, to be precise between the lowest ribs and the buttocks. However, pain can also radiate to both sides of the body down the pelvis, groin, or to the abdominal area. Back pain due to kidneys usually doesn't go away even if you change your position.
Other symptoms that appear include:
- fever and chills
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- headache
- urine color becomes more cloudy or sometimes there is blood
- bad-smelling urine
- feeling very tired
- urinating frequently or less frequently than usual
- pain when urinating
Now in addition to the main symptoms above, the characteristics of back pain that arise because each kidney problem can be different. Here's a further explanation:
Back pain due to kidney stones
Kidney stones are deposits of minerals, salts, and other waste products that crystallize in the kidneys into rocks. The characteristics of back pain due to kidney stones are usually:
- Pain in the back can be felt more and more, the more the number and the bigger the size of the stones.
- The pain you feel comes and goes because the stone can move.
- Feeling pain when going to urinate.
- The intensity of back pain due to kidney stones feels sharper.
Back pain because the kidney is infected
Infections of the kidneys are usually caused by bacteria such as E. coli that live in your intestines.
These bacteria can move through the ureters and then to the bladder as well as the kidneys. These symptoms are also similar to other urinary tract infections, such as:
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain in the stomach, back and waist
- Difficulty holding back urination
What is the difference between back pain and kidney pain?
Sometimes, back pain from other causes, for example from muscle, bone, or nerve problems, can be difficult to distinguish from pain caused by kidney disease.
How to distinguish ordinary low back pain from those caused by kidney disease, quoted from Healthline, are:
- Lumbago concentrated in the lower back and above the coccyx. Meanwhile, kidney disease is in the area above the waist.
- Back pain feels dull and sometimes causes a burning sensation.
- The spread of back pain around the back can even reach the toes. If the characteristics of back pain are kidney problems, the pain can spread from the lower abdomen to the inner thighs.
If your back pain is so severe that it interferes with daily activities, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, or incontinence, consult a doctor immediately.
How to relieve back pain due to kidneys
Common back pain can generally be treated with massage or applying warm patches. However, low back pain due to kidney disease requires more appropriate medical treatment.
Your doctor can prescribe medication according to the cause of your kidney disease. The reason is, massage will actually make you sick even more because it puts pressure on the problematic kidneys.
If your kidney disease is caused by kidney stones, the medicine is allopurinol. These drugs can help dissolve stones. The smaller the stone size, the easier it will be for it to be wasted with urine. If the stone does not dissolve, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Meanwhile, if the cause of your back pain is due to a bacterial infection of the kidneys, the medicine is probably an antibiotic.
Now, as a quick way to relieve back pain that appears suddenly, you can do the following ways to relieve the pain.
- Apply an ice pack wrapped in a clean towel to the affected area of the waist, for 20-30 minutes every 2-3 hours.
- You can also replace it with a hot compress. Soak a clean towel in hot water. Then, place it on the sore waist to reduce pain and inflammation.
- You can also take painkillers, such as paracetamol.
Tips for keeping your kidneys healthy
To help deal with back pain due to kidney disease, you can do the following healthy tips:
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to optimize the main function of the kidneys in removing toxins in the body.
- Limit your intake of animal protein and salt. Apparently, salty foods can disturb the mineral balance in the body. This is what makes the kidneys work harder so that it interferes with normal function.
- Wash the genital area from front to back to prevent colon bacteria from entering the urinary tract and causing infection.
- Get the right exercise. You can try lifting weights by bending low and squatting your knees and holding the weight close to your chest. Also take the time every few minutes to stretch out those tight muscles.
- Quit smoking as this can damage blood vessels thereby reducing blood flow in the kidneys. When there is not enough blood flow, the kidneys also cannot work optimally.
If you are not sure what causes back pain is due to kidney disease, you should consult your doctor. Including when back pain does not subside and feels more and more spreading.
