Kidney Pain vs Back Pain: How to Tell the Difference and When to Seek Help

You're sitting at your desk when you feel it – that dull throb in your lower back. Is it just a pulled muscle or something more serious coming from your kidney? Understanding kidney pain vs back pain isn't always black and white. Depending on the cause of your pain, you might only need physiotherapy in Edmonton, but you might need to go to the ER. We'll help you understand the difference between the causes of lower back pain vs kidney pain so you can seek the appropriate care.

Why is It Hard to Identify Kidney Pain vs Back Pain?

One reason kidney pain feels like back pain is that they're close to one another. But it's also because of how our bodies send pain signals. The signals themselves aren't always easy to identify as coming from a specific place.

Location of the Kidneys

Kidneys are positioned underneath the rib cage towards the back of your body. They're surrounded by many layers of fat and other tissue which can cause kidney pain to feel deep and internal. Pain originating in your kidneys will usually show up in the upper-middle portion of your back but may also radiate to your abdomen or groin area.

Connection to Lower Back Pain

The lumbar spine runs through your lower back region and supports most of your body's weight. There are a lot of muscles and nerves in your lower back that allow you to move. The psoas muscle, for example, can spasm or tighten up and refer pain to deeper organs in your body. All this to say: figuring out kidney pain vs back pain requires more than stating "my back hurts."

5 Ways To Tell The Difference Between Kidney Pain and Back Pain

Each type of pain has several characteristics that repeat themselves. When you learn what to look for, you can easily identify patterns that indicate whether your kidneys or back are to blame.

1. Location of Pain

Pain location is one of the easiest ways to identify whether your back or kidneys are hurt. Kidney pain generally only appears on one side of the body in your flank region. Your flank area is between your lower ribs and your hips. Pain comes from deep within rather than on the surface of your skin. Mechanical pain in your back usually centers on your spine or spreads throughout your lower back. However, if you're feeling pain very low in your back near your tailbone or sacrum, it's unlikely that your kidneys are the issue.

2. The Pain Itself

This is another area where kidney pain vs back pain differ greatly. If your kidneys are injured or infected, you'll most likely experience a dull ache that remains constant throughout the day. That said, kidney stones can cause intense, sharp waves of pain that are excruciating. Meanwhile, mechanical back pain may begin as a dull ache, but it's likely to cause sudden sharp pains when you move incorrectly. That sharp jab you feel when bending over to tie your shoe? Yup, that's coming from your back.

3. Triggers and Response to Movement

Mechanical back pain loves to move around: sometimes quite literally. Try bending forward, lying down, stretching, or twisting to see if your pain increases or decreases. Movement will either help your back pain or cause it to get worse. Kidney pain does not respond to changes in your body's position. Sitting, standing, lying down…it all hurts the same when kidneys are the cause of your pain.

4. Other Symptoms You're Experiencing

Pain doesn't exist in a bubble. What else is happening in your body can help determine the cause of your discomfort. Flu-like symptoms like fever and chills, along with nausea or vomiting, can accompany kidney-related flank pain. Someone with kidney stones or an infection may notice that their urine is darker than usual, has blood in it, or burns when they pee. Any change in urination can signal kidney issues. But if you feel stiffness (usually in the morning), tightness, or pain that worsens with movement in your back, the cause is likely mechanical. Muscle spasms and tenderness when pressed on are also signs of back pain. Another back pain indicator is pain that radiates down your leg if your nerve is compressed (sciatica). Back pain isn't typically associated with fever.

5. How Did the Pain Begin?

Since mechanical pain in your back is caused by a strain or injury to your muscles, ligaments, or spine, it usually has an immediate cause. Lifting heavy objects, poor posture, abrupt twisting, or sleeping in a funny position can trigger pain. Pain can come on suddenly (e.g., pulling a muscle) or gradually increase over time. Kidney pain often comes on suddenly and without an obvious reason. You could be going about your day just fine and then suddenly feel intense pain on one side of your body.

Common Causes of Kidney Pain

Let's dig deeper into some of the causes of pain in your kidneys.

Kidney Stones

As you probably guessed, stones are hard crystals that form in your kidney. As they move through your urinary tract, they can cause severe pain that comes in waves. Many people rank pain from kidney stones as one of the worst types of pain you can experience.

Kidney Infection

Urinary tract infections that reach your kidney will cause pain in your flank. A kidney infection will typically present with fever and chills along with consistent, dull pain in one side of your back.

Physical Trauma to the Kidney

If you're hit in the back hard enough, you can injure one or both of your kidneys. Falling, sports injuries, or accidents can cause kidney pain that will not go away on its own.

Common Causes of Mechanical Back Pain

Muscle or Ligament Strain

General strain happens when you overuse your back, lift something incorrectly, or move suddenly wrong. This is the pain you'll hear someone brag about after "throwing out their back." Rest and light activity can help this type of pain.

Sprained or Herniated Disc

Your spine is made of vertebra that sit on top of each other. In between each vertebra is a jelly donut-like cushion called a disc. If one of these discs moves out of place, it can bulge or press on your nerves. These types of back pain can cause pain to radiate to your legs.

Poor Posture

When you slouch or hunch over, you're wreaking havoc on your spine. Gravity is constantly pulling your body downwards. Improper posture forces your muscles to work harder than they need to. They get tight, stiff, and hurt over time.

What Physiotherapy Can Do for Back Pain

If your back is hurting, you might be able to avoid medication or surgery with the help of physiotherapy. Let's see what some physios can do to help you manage your back pain.

• Manipulation: Manual therapy is when a physiotherapist uses their hands to manipulate your joints and muscles to improve your movement.
• Mobilization: Your physiotherapist will show you special exercises you can do at home to help your body move properly.
• Posture: Bad posture can cause and worsen back pain. A physiotherapist can show you how to sit, stand, and lift correctly every day.

Instead of masking the pain, physiotherapy treats the cause of your pain for long-lasting relief.

Don't take back pain lying down. If you're experiencing pain in your lower back region in Edmonton, reach out to us at Vira Physiotherapy. We can assess your pain to see if it's mechanical and determine the best treatment for you. If you suspect your kidneys are involved, seek medical attention immediately.

FAQs

Does water help with kidney pain?

Water is great for your kidneys, but it won't provide immediate pain relief if your kidneys are hurt. Drinking lots of water can help your body pass small kidney stones and prevent kidney stones from forming. However, it won't help with an infection or blockage caused by a larger stone.

Can hurting your back cause kidney pain?

Your lower back pain cannot cause kidney pain, but some injuries can harm your kidneys. Severe injuries that cause your kidneys to bump or move around a lot can cause injury (i.e. falling from a height, car accidents). Long-term back problems or pain meds may lead to kidney damage over time.

What are some subtle signs of kidney infection?

We mentioned some of these above, but let's highlight subtle signs of kidney infection. Fatigue, low-grade fever, and dull back or side pain are some of the first symptoms you'll feel when you have a kidney infection. You may also feel like your urine is murky, smells weird, or burns when they pee. These seemingly harmless symptoms can be serious, so visit your doctor if you feel them.

Can your psoas cause kidney pain?

When trying to identify kidney pain vs back pain, your psoas can be your worst enemy. The psoas is a long muscle that runs along your kidneys. If your psoas is tight, you may feel pain in your kidney area. This is common if you sit for too long, overuse your back, or have poor posture. The pain will increase when you move (i.e. bring your knee to your chest) and decrease with stretching. Your physio can help relieve your psoas if needed.