Kidney pain may indicate different health problems, such as changes in kidney function, infections, or spinal problems, which can cause different symptoms, such as pain, changes in the color of your urine, and burning of your urine.
The treatment of pain is done according to the cause of the problem, and may include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, rest and massage.
Main causes of kidney pain
The following are the main causes of kidney pain and what to do to relieve and treat the problem.
1. Kidney stones
The presence of kidney stones causes the onset of severe pain that may be directed to the belly or genital organ, pain when urinating, and pink, reddish or brown urine due to the presence of traces of blood.
How to treat: The treatment is done according to the type of stone formed, and may include use of medicine analgesics, changes in diet or laser treatment, which breaks the stones into smaller pieces, facilitating elimination through the urine. See more in: Treatment for Kidney Stone.
2. Infection
The symptoms of kidney infection are severe pain in the back, pain and burning when urinating, frequent urination of urine and strong-smelling urine. In some cases fever, chills, nausea and vomiting may also occur.
How to treat: Drink plenty of water to help eliminate the microorganism causing pain and make use of antibiotics, according to the guidance of the general practitioner or urologist.
3. Polycystic kidney or cyst
Symptoms of cyst in the kidney only appear when the cyst is already large, and can cause pain, urine with blood, high blood pressure and frequent urinary infections.
How to treat: Treatment should be recommended by a nephrologist and can be done with the use of medications, when the cyst is small, or through surgery, which is done to remove the larger cysts.
4. Cancer
Pain caused by kidney cancer usually only appears in advanced stages of the disease, and is characterized by pain in the lateral region of the belly and back, and blood in the urine.
How to treat: The treatment is done with a medical oncologist and depends on the stage of the tumor, and may include surgery, cryotherapy, radiofrequency and use of medications to relieve symptoms. Renal tumors usually do not respond well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
5. Hydronephrosis
It is the swelling of the kidney due to the accumulation of urine, causing pain in the back, urine with blood, fever and chills.
How to treat: You should go to the doctor to remove the accumulated urine and identify the cause of the problem, which may be kidney stones, severe urinary tract infection or kidney tumor. See more in: Hydronephrosis.
6. Renal vein thrombosis or ischemia
That's when there is not enough blood for the kidney, causing cell death and pain. It is similar to what happens in stroke or when you have a heart attack.
How to treat: Only medical tests can detect the problem, and treatment can be done with the use of medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
7. Injuries and Strokes
Injuries and blows to the back, especially at the waist, can cause inflammation and pain in the kidneys.
How to treat: Put a bag of hot water on your back and lie down, and you can also use pain medication. If pain persists, seek medical help.
Signs and symptoms of kidney problems
Check your symptoms and find out if you can have any type of kidney impairment:
- 1. Frequent urge to urinate Yes No
- 2. Urinate in small quantity at a time Yes No
- 3. Constant pain in the bottom of the back or flanks Yes No
- 4. Swelling of the legs, feet, arms or face Yes No
- 5. Itching all over the body Yes No
- 6. Excessive tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
- 7. Changes in color and smell of urine Yes No
- 8. Presence of foam in the urine Yes No
- 9. Difficulty sleeping or less sleep quality Yes No
- 10. Loss of appetite and metallic taste in the mouth Yes No
- 11. Feeling of pressure in the belly while urinating Yes No
Kidney pain in pregnancy
Kidney pain in pregnancy is usually caused by changes in the spine, due to the effort that the pregnant woman makes by the weight of the belly. Rarely it is related to renal changes, but in cases that there is also pain when urinating, one should consult the gynecologist to identify the cause of the problem and to avoid complications.
To relieve it, you can place a hot water bottle in the painful region and lie back in a comfortable armchair, with feet elevated. This position relieves back pain and dislodges the feet. See more in: Kidney pain in pregnancy.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended to seek medical help whenever the pain in the kidneys is very strong, preventing the normal routine activities, or when the pain becomes frequent. Although there are many causes of kidney pain, it can often also be related to spinal problems, and so physical therapy may also be a treatment option.
See also example of medicines and home remedies for kidney pain.
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