Many people face the problem of pain in the lumbar region. It is not always possible to immediately understand whether the pain is in the lower back or the kidneys.
The lower back can hurt for many reasons: radiculitis, osteochondrosis, cholelithiasis, aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, kidney disease, inflammatory processes in the pelvic cavity. Pain in the lumbar region can be a symptom of many diseases, of which 90 percent are problems with the spine and back muscles, about six percent are kidney diseases, and only the remaining four percent are diseases of other internal organs.
How do the spine and back muscles hurt?
The pain can be nagging or sharp, “shooting”, when it is impossible to even straighten your back. With problems with the spine, pain is often localized in the middle of the lower back. It can radiate to the lower extremities.
Pain with osteochondrosis and radiculitis usually intensifies during movement. Mobility in the lumbar region is limited due to muscle spasm. Pain sensations decrease after rubbing warming and anti-inflammatory ointments or gels into the lower back. Back pain can also be relieved by wearing a warming or special orthopedic belt.
Lower back pain
Arthritis
Pyelonephritis
Cervical cancer
Menopause
9100 April 24
IMPORTANT!
The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. Lower back pain - causes of occurrence, what diseases it occurs with, diagnosis and treatment methods.
Almost everyone experiences lower back pain, especially after 40 years of age. One of the reasons is osteochondrosis - a degenerative-dystrophic change in the spine. However, in many cases it does not explain the nature, severity and duration of back pain.
Types of pain
Back pain can be a symptom of a serious illness, but for the vast majority the pain is benign. One of the main points that should be taken into account when diagnosing back pain, and in particular in the lower back, is its duration. In most cases, muscle pain can last up to two weeks and then disappear. Pain caused by organic changes in the spine (intervertebral hernia, arthrosis) lasts much longer and can radiate to the leg, perineum, and be accompanied by a feeling of numbness, burning, and goosebumps.
Pain caused by cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the abdominal organs is characterized by greater intensity and duration.
Possible reasons
Pain caused by spinal disease or injury
In most cases, back pain is caused by dysfunction of the intervertebral joints.
A decrease in the distance between the vertebrae due to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs leads to increased friction of the articular surfaces. This can cause subluxation and joint locking. The muscles surrounding the affected joint are in a state of overstrain for a long time, which increases joint pain.
Most often, pain in diseases of the spine is dull in nature, that is, its intensity increases gradually, intensifying with movement and weakening at rest. .
In cases of severe osteochondrosis, pain can be caused by compression of nerve endings (spinal roots) during the formation of a herniated intervertebral disc. Acute shooting or piercing pain can become constant over time and occasionally radiate to the leg with sudden movements, coughing, or sneezing. The pain syndrome is usually accompanied by numbness, tingling, and burning. Such symptoms are combined with loss of sensitivity in the area of the affected nerve, loss of reflexes, and muscle weakness.
Serious spinal injuries (fracture, fracture dislocation) are accompanied by severe pain and require emergency medical intervention.
If a fracture occurs as a result of compression of the vertebral body, then it is called compression.
In older people, such a fracture is possible due to osteoporosis, which is more common in women. A compression fracture, sometimes even with minimal external load, is caused by damage to the spine during metastasis of malignant tumors.
Diagnostics and examinations
When diagnosing, the doctor takes into account orthopedic defects, the presence of symptoms such as impaired urination or defecation; pain spreading down the leg; lack of relief after taking painkillers; weakness and numbness in the leg. To confirm the diagnosis you must do:
- CT
Symptoms of kidney diseases
Lethargy, drowsiness, fatigue, weakness; increased blood pressure and, as a result, headache; the appearance of swelling on the face and legs, which is usually noticeable in the morning and smooths out in the evening; increased body temperature, chills, sweating; nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting; frequent or painful urination; the intensity of pain does not depend on body position.
Urine may also change: it becomes rich in color or, conversely, colorless, contains blood, mucus or sediment.
The location of the pain is very important. Many people do not know where the kidneys hurt and what the characteristics of the pain are. With kidney diseases, pain occurs more often on one side - to the left or right of the spine. It is localized just below the ribs and can radiate to the lateral surface of the abdomen and groin, along the ureter, to the external genitalia, and inner thighs.
Diagnostic measures
A person who experiences pain in the area of the kidneys (for example, in the area of the left kidney, below or above, etc.) cannot know for sure that the problem lies precisely in the pathology of the urinary system. Therefore, the first thing they do in such cases is to consult a general practitioner (therapist). The doctor clarifies the medical history, collects subjective (patient complaints, asks to show with your hand where it hurts) and objective data (examination, palpation, etc.).
A referral for tests (general urine and blood tests) is required. In some cases, making a diagnosis is not difficult. For example, if a patient complains of pain during urination, frequent urge to go to the toilet, a decrease in the amount of urine discharge, or pain in the suprapubic area, we are most likely talking about cystitis. Taking into account the research results obtained, a diagnosis is made.
Additionally, ultrasound of the kidneys, urography, etc. may be prescribed. If back pain is not associated with renal pathology, damage to the musculoskeletal system or neurological disorders is suspected. Instrumental research methods are prescribed: radiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI.
In pregnant women, pain in the kidney area is usually associated not with the paired organ, but with pressure on the back
Characteristics of pain in kidney pathology
Renal colic is characterized by acute paroxysmal pain. Painful sensations from urolithiasis are associated with blockage of the urinary tract by a calculus and a violation of the outflow of urine. Increased peristalsis and spasm of the ureters occur, in addition, a stone with sharp edges injures and irritates the nerve endings in the wall of the urinary tract. These changes are the cause of pain.
Pain caused by kidney inflammation is of a different nature. Inflamed kidneys increase in volume, their tissue swells. As a result, the renal capsule, which contains many nerve endings, stretches. When the membrane is stretched, these endings are irritated, which leads to painful sensations.
The region's first endosurgery center opened at the Kaluga Clinical Emergency Hospital
Pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis are characterized by dull aching sensations in the right or left lumbar region. With these diseases, the pain is not very pronounced, unlike urolithiasis and diseases of the spine.
Possible reasons
Painful sensations in the spine can be caused by the following reasons:
- microtraumas, fractures and damage to the spinal column;
- age-related changes in bone tissue;
- lifting large weights and heavy objects;
- constant physical activity that forces the body to work hard;
- the presence of degenerative pathologies of the back (intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis);
- infectious and inflammatory processes in the structures of the spinal column;
- the presence of benign and malignant formations (cysts, oncological tumors).
Experts also associate the appearance of a pathological process in the spine with a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle. A low level of activity leads to salt deposits in the joints and muscles of the back, low metabolism and impaired blood flow to the spine.
If the appearance of pain is associated with renal pathologies, then this may be preceded by the following diseases:
- Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory disease that is accompanied by damage to one of the renal pelvis. With this pathology, pain occurs in the area of the right or left kidney.
- Glomerulonephritis is a lesion of the glomeruli of the kidneys, which leads to dysfunction of the paired organ. Frequent symptoms of this disease are swelling of the lower extremities and sudden jumps in blood pressure.
- Urolithiasis is a pathology, the occurrence of which is associated with metabolic disorders in the organ. It is characterized by the formation of small stones in the kidneys, bladder and other structures of the urinary system.
- Kidney failure is a chronic disease in which the organ loses the ability to form and excrete urine. In case of renal failure, the patient experiences cutting pain to the right and left of the spinal column.
- Nephroptosis or wandering kidney is a pathological condition in which the kidney is displaced from the lumbar region to the pelvic organs.
- Malignant formations - oncological tumors in organs are accompanied by constant pain.
Signs of urolithiasis appear only after some time, so special attention should be paid to dull and constant pain in the lumbar region
Diagnostic tests
An experienced specialist knows which symptoms of kidney disease are most typical. To distinguish renal pathology from back pain, the doctor performs the following technique: he taps the lumbar region with the edge of his palm. In case of kidney disease, effleurage is accompanied by the appearance of dull internal pain. To identify the cause of the pain, an X-ray of the lumbar spine is taken (with osteochondrosis and radiculitis, there are characteristic changes in the spine - osteophytes, intervertebral hernias, etc.); general blood test (with diseases of the spine there are usually no changes, with kidney disease – leukocytosis, anemia, increased ESR); general urinalysis (increased or decreased relative density of urine, hematuria, leukocyturia, bacteriuria, increased salt content indicate kidney disease); Ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal cavity (increase in the volume of the kidneys, the presence of stones in them).
Important:
If you find that lower back pain is accompanied by these symptoms, do not self-medicate and consult a doctor immediately. If you have kidney inflammation, you should not heat your lower back, so do not apply a heating pad or apply ointment until you consult a specialist.
Prepared by Tatiana PETROVA.
Causes of kidney pain
Can lower back pain be caused by kidney problems? Yes, pain in the lumbar region can be associated with pathological processes in the kidneys. This could be inflammation, infection, or a complication of other diseases. It is worth considering in detail why the kidneys may hurt and what will accompany this condition.
Diabetes
Kidney disease in diabetes mellitus
called diabetic nephropathy and is associated with the fact that the level of glucose in a person’s blood is elevated. This is a fairly common complication of diabetes, and without medical attention within 15 to 25 years, kidney disease can lead to the need for dialysis and a transplant.
Infections and inflammations in the genitourinary system
If you don't know how to check whether your lower back or kidneys are hurting, it's best to make an appointment with your doctor. Based on characteristic symptoms, he will determine whether there is inflammation and infection in the genitourinary system, or identify problems with the kidneys. Pathological processes in the kidneys and genitourinary system can be accompanied not only by pain, but also by a rise in temperature, symptoms of intoxication, and problems with going to the toilet.
Kidney surgeries
The cause of lower back pain in the kidney area may be a recent operation. It is worth understanding that any surgical intervention will entail discomfort and pain, at least for the recovery period. If you are worried about whether everything is okay and whether your recovery is going as it should, contact your healthcare provider. After examination, questioning and diagnostics, he will determine whether everything is normal.
Pregnancy in women
If during pregnancy you happen to find out where the kidneys are located, whether they or the lower back hurt, you should understand that pain in this condition is generally common. During the process of bearing a child, a woman’s body works in an intensive mode “for two”, therefore, due to the increased load, pain in the abdomen and back is quite possible.
Bad habits
If you have bad habits, sooner or later you will find out exactly how the lower back hurts with kidney disease. The fact is that nicotine, alcohol and narcotic substances “hit” primarily the excretory system. The kidneys suffer greatly because they have to process (pass through) a huge amount of substances that poison the body and remove them from it.
Back pain due to kidneys
Sometimes discomfort in the back indicates a disease of the genitourinary system. This is a very common case when inflamed kidneys radiate to the back. The nature of the pain in this case can also be different: sharp cutting or dull aching. The difference from ordinary back pain is that “renal” pain is localized just below the ribs. In this case, additional signs may appear:
- renal colic;
- problems with urination (burning, pain, discomfort);
- change in the color of urine (admixture of blood or pus);
- elevated temperature;
- swelling.
Having experienced all the delights of the symptoms, do not expect that everything will go away by itself. Diagnosis and treatment in the early stages guarantees the use of gentle measures and a quick recovery of the patient. It involves the use of advanced medications and minimally invasive technologies.
The most common kidney diseases are: pyelonephritis and urolithiasis. However, it is impossible to determine the diagnosis without examination by a nephrologist and test results.
For a more detailed consultation, we suggest contacting the Urology Clinic named after. R.M. Fronshteyn, where experienced specialists work, and also offer a range of services for the treatment and diagnosis of urological diseases.
Kidney functions
The main task of the kidneys is the formation and excretion of urine. The organ filters a huge amount of blood. It passes through the kidneys within 1 minute in a volume of 1 liter. In the process, metabolic products and harmful substances are removed. As it passes through the organ, the composition of each drop of blood is controlled and changed. The breakdown products are carried away by the blood plasma into the ureters, and then into the bladder. Then, through the process of urination, harmful substances are removed from the body.
If an infection enters the body, the kidneys begin to remove harmful substances, thereby reducing the load on the body. With their normal operation, it is possible to quickly defeat the disease. But in difficult situations, the kidneys do not have time to cope with their tasks and there are risks of developing kidney disease.
In addition, the kidneys perform a homeostatic function, in particular, the organ maintains the balance of fluid and salts and regulates the pH level. This is important for the stability of the human body as a whole.
Features of pain in back diseases
If lumbar pain is caused by diffuse degenerative changes in the spinal column, then they are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- sharp jabs across the entire back area;
- pain increases when bending and turning the body;
- relief occurs after the person has assumed a lying position;
- pain is localized in the center of the spinal column;
- upon palpation, muscle spasm can be detected.
If discomfort and unpleasant sensations go away when a person has rested or used anti-inflammatory ointments, then this indicates the presence of degenerative processes. In diseases of the spine, you can easily determine where the pathological process occurs. It is in this area that pronounced symptoms of osteochondrosis, protrusions and other diseases are observed.
Muscle spasms cause severe discomfort. The patient begins to feel limited movement, which is why bending and turning the body causes severe pain.