17688 Kidney Pain

Overview

Kidney pain is pain that comes from one or both of your kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that sit high in your back, just below your ribs, one on each side. They filter waste from your blood and make urine. Kidney pain is usually felt as an ache or sharp pain in your side or upper back, and it can spread to your tummy or groin. It is important to know that most back pain is not kidney pain — it usually comes from muscles, joints or the spine. Pain that is truly coming from a kidney often comes with other clues, such as problems passing urine, blood in the urine, or a fever.

Yes. Pain in the kidney area is a common reason people contact their doctor or a health service. Most of the time the cause is something treatable, such as an infection or a stone.

Anyone can get kidney pain, at any age. It is more common in people who have had kidney stones before, people who get repeated urine infections, women (because urine infections are more common in women), pregnant women, older men with an enlarged prostate, and people with diabetes or a family history of kidney problems.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• A dull ache or a sharp, cramping pain in one or both sides of your lower back, just below the ribs
• Pain that comes in waves and spreads towards your tummy or groin
• Pain or a burning feeling when you pass urine
• Needing to pass urine more often, or suddenly
• Cloudy, smelly or pink/reddish urine (blood in the urine)
• Feeling sick or being sick
• A high temperature, feeling shivery, or feeling generally unwell
• Feeling restless and unable to find a comfortable position during bad pain

Symptoms in children

• Young children may not be able to point to the pain — they may just have tummy ache
• A fever with no obvious cause, or being generally miserable and irritable
• Vomiting or refusing feeds
• New bedwetting or wetting during the day in a child who was previously dry
• Pain when passing urine, or holding on and crying on the toilet

Symptoms in older adults

• Confusion or new drowsiness can be the main sign of a urine or kidney infection
• Feeling very tired, weak or off their feet rather than having clear pain
• A lower fever than you might expect, or sometimes no fever at all
• Needing to pass urine more often, or new problems getting to the toilet in time

Causes

Main causes

• Kidney or urine infection — germs travel up from the bladder into the kidney, causing pain, fever and feeling unwell
• Kidney stones — small hard crystals that form in the kidney and can block the flow of urine, causing sharp waves of pain
• A blockage in the flow of urine, for example from an enlarged prostate gland in men, which can make urine back up and stretch the kidney
• Inherited conditions such as polycystic kidney disease, where fluid-filled sacs grow in the kidneys
• Damage or bruising to the kidney after an injury or fall
• Problems with the shape or drainage of the urinary system, including reflux where urine flows the wrong way
• Less common causes include a growth in the kidney, reduced blood supply to the kidney, or side effects from some medicines

Risk factors

• Having had kidney stones before, or a family history of stones
• Not drinking enough fluid, especially in hot weather or during hard exercise
• Repeated urine infections, or problems emptying your bladder fully
• Being pregnant
• An enlarged prostate gland, or being an older man with urinary symptoms
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, or long-term kidney disease
• Long-term use of certain pain-relief medicines — ask your doctor or pharmacist if this applies to you
• Being immobile for long periods, for example during a long hospital stay

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Pain in your side or back with a fever or shivering
• Blood in your urine
• You cannot pass urine, or only pass a few drops
• Severe pain that is not settling, or keeps coming back in waves
• You are pregnant and have pain in your side, fever, or burning when passing urine
• You are caring for a baby or young child with a fever and unusual crying or vomiting — seek advice the same day

Book a routine appointment if:

• Mild, recurring aches in your side or back that come and go over weeks
• Pain that has settled but you want to know what caused it
• Ongoing changes in how often you pass urine, or how it looks or smells
• A family history of kidney stones or kidney disease and you are worried
• You have been told before that you have kidney stones and want to plan what to do next

Diagnosis

Your doctor will start by asking about the pain — where it is, what it feels like, whether it comes in waves, and what makes it better or worse. They will ask about your urine, fever, vomiting and your general health, then examine your back and tummy. A urine sample is usually the first and most useful test, because it can show infection or blood straight away. Depending on what they find, they may arrange blood tests or a scan.

Tests that may be done

• Urine test — a simple dipstick test in the clinic, and sometimes a sample sent to the laboratory to grow any germs
• Blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working and to look for signs of infection
• Ultrasound scan — a painless scan that shows the kidneys, whether they are swollen, and whether urine is flowing properly
• CT scan — sometimes used to look for stones or other causes more clearly
• A pregnancy test if there is any chance you could be pregnant

What to expect at your appointment

Many people are diagnosed at a single appointment with a urine test and an examination. If a scan is needed, you may have to wait a few days for an appointment, or be sent to the hospital the same day if your doctor is concerned. Bring a list of your medicines and tell your doctor if you have had kidney problems before. It can help to note down when the pain started and what it feels like beforehand.

Treatment

Treatment depends completely on the cause, so getting a clear diagnosis matters. Infections are usually treated with a course of medicine to clear the germs. Stones often pass on their own with pain relief and plenty of fluids, but larger stones or ones causing a blockage may need a procedure. Blockages from other causes are dealt with by treating the underlying problem. In every case, the aim is to ease pain, protect the kidneys, and stop the problem coming back.

Self-care at home

• Drink plenty of water unless your doctor has told you to limit fluids — pale yellow urine is a good sign you are drinking enough
• Rest when the pain is bad, and use a warm pack on your back or side for comfort
• Ask your pharmacist or doctor which pain relief is safe for you, especially if you have kidney problems or take other medicines
• Finish any course of medicine your doctor prescribes, even if you feel better quickly
• Keep a note of your symptoms and temperature so you can tell your doctor if things change
• Avoid alcohol while you are unwell and recovering

Medical treatments

If you have an infection, your doctor will usually prescribe a course of medicine to treat the germs, along with advice on pain relief and fluids. For stones, treatment focuses on managing the pain and helping the stone pass, and your doctor may give you medicine to help with sickness. If tests show your kidney function is affected, or that urine is not draining properly, you may be referred to a kidney or urinary specialist. Some people need a short stay in hospital for fluids and monitoring. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain what each medicine is for and what to do if you feel worse.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery or a small procedure is only needed for some causes. Examples include a stone that is too large to pass or is blocking the kidney, a blockage that will not clear on its own, a prostate problem making it hard to empty your bladder, or a structural problem in the urinary system. Many of these procedures are done through a thin tube and do not need a big operation. Your specialist team will explain the options, the risks and the recovery time before you decide.

Living with this condition

While you recover, take things gently and give yourself permission to rest. Keep drinking fluids regularly through the day rather than a large amount all at once. If you have had a stone, your doctor may ask you to strain your urine to catch it so it can be tested — this helps plan how to prevent another one. If pain keeps interrupting your sleep or work, tell your doctor rather than simply putting up with it.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep a water bottle with you and sip through the day
• Go to the toilet when you need to rather than holding on
• Take any prescribed medicines exactly as explained to you
• Keep a simple symptom diary if pain keeps returning
• Attend follow-up appointments, even if you feel well

Diet and exercise

A balanced diet with plenty of fluids is the mainstay. Some people find that cutting down on salt helps, and if you have had certain types of stones your doctor or a dietitian may give you specific advice about foods to adjust — ask before making big changes. Gentle regular activity, such as walking, is good for your general health and helps recovery. Avoid very intense exercise in hot weather without drinking enough, as this can concentrate your urine.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Ongoing or repeated pain can be tiring and worrying, and it is completely normal to feel anxious or low about it. Pain that disturbs sleep can affect your mood and concentration. Talking to your doctor about how it is affecting you is part of good care, not a sign of weakness. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis support service straight away, and tell someone you trust.

Prevention

Not all kidney pain can be prevented, but many of the common causes can be made less likely. Drinking enough fluid, treating urine infections promptly and managing long-term conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure all help protect your kidneys.

Vaccines

There is no vaccine that prevents kidney pain itself. Keep up to date with routine vaccinations recommended for your age and health, as infections elsewhere in the body can sometimes make you unwell.

Screening programmes

There is no general screening programme for kidney pain. However, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease, your doctor may arrange regular blood and urine checks to keep an eye on your kidney function. Ask your doctor whether you are due any of these checks.

Complications

If left untreated

• A kidney infection can spread into the bloodstream and make you seriously unwell
• A blocked kidney can become damaged if urine cannot drain for a long time
• Repeated infections or blockages can lead to long-term kidney scarring and reduced kidney function
• Large stones can cause ongoing pain and repeated visits to hospital
• Some kidney problems can raise your blood pressure, which in turn affects the kidneys

Long-term outlook

The outlook is good for most people. Simple urine infections settle quickly with treatment, and many kidney stones pass without any procedure. Even when a scan or a small procedure is needed, most people recover well and get back to normal life. Seeing your doctor early is the single best thing you can do to keep things simple.

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