You can get back pain for a variety of reasons. In fact, there are dozens of possible causes. More often than not, the pain comes from damage to soft tissue like muscles and ligaments. It may also be the result of nerve damage in the spinal column. Such is not always the case, however.
The trouble may be coming from an organ inside your body: namely, a kidney problem. Some people say that pain from a kidney stone or kidney infection is the worst pain they’ve ever felt.
So how can you tell if your back pain is coming from a kidney problem rather than a muscle injury or nerve damage?
One of the best ways to tell is the location of your pain. Pain from a kidney problem usually doesn’t occur close to the spinal column. It will present more toward your sides or “flanks.” Generally, you’ll feel it below the bottom of the rib cage and above the hips.
Pain from a kidney disorder sometimes comes on very quickly. Everything seems fine – but a few minutes later you’re dealing with severe discomfort.
Kidney stones sometimes cause back pain when they move from the kidneys down to the bladder. Kidney stones that become “stuck” in the ureters and obstruct the flow of urine to the bladder are likely to cause extreme discomfort.
Another sign of a kidney problem is dark urine. If your urine is reddish or reddish brown, it could mean there’s blood in your stream – a sign that something is probably wrong.
When you have a kidney problem or some other disorder of the urinary tract, you’ll probably feel a need to urinate more often than usual. However, most of the time, not much urine will actually come out.
A stinging or burning sensation during urination is also typical.
Kidney stones don’t always have to be removed through surgery or shock wave treatment. They sometimes pass out of the body on their own dueing urination. This is more likely to take place if you drink a lot of water. Your back pain will stop when this happens.
Fortunately, although kidney stones can be extremely painful, they’re not considered to be life-threatening.
A kidney infection, however, can lead to kidney failure. When kidney failure is left untreated, it is potentially fatal. Therefore, if you even suspect your back pain is coming from a kidney infection, it’s best to call a doctor right away.
Do you still want more information on related topics? Click on renal failure. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and television reporter with a special interest in kidney health. You can read more of his articles about kidney disorders at http://www.kidney-problem.org.