Back and Kidney Pain - How to Tell the Difference Between the Two

Back pain and kidney pain can be very closely related in that the symptoms a person feels can be much the same. It is vitally important to get an accurate diagnosis before any treatment is undertaken as the two are worlds apart when it comes to suitable treatments and possible repercussions if not addressed correctly.

Pain related to the kidneys usually affects the area of the lower back that is either side of the spine and tenderness of this area is a sign of a possible kidney infection if there has been no direct contact with the affected area. If there has been an impact or other physical damage to this area of the back the situation can become somewhat harder to diagnose as the kidneys themselves may be damaged and there may be muscle or tissue damage also.

What can ultimately separate the two conditions is the presence of other symptoms such as a fever, chills, pain when urinating and the presence of blood in the urine. These symptoms are typical of a kidney infection and very uncommon with pain caused by a back problem. Also the pain from a kidney infection or kidney stone is likely to come on fast and disappear just as quickly once the infection is dealt with or the stone passed.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for a large number of back pain cases. While the causes of the pain, particularly lower back pain, can be many and varied, it is important in the first instance to see your doctor for a diagnosis so that you can start looking for a suitable solution to your particular problem.

Unless your back pain can be determined to be muscular in nature it is likely that you will be sent for an MRI scan or an X Ray and this may shed some more light on your situation. Once you have a diagnosis from your doctor it is important to weigh up all of your options, even if there is a herniated disc present surgery is not always the best solution.

You may be surprised to hear that the majority of back pain originates as a muscle imbalance. Over a period of time this can affect the alignment of the spine, organs and tissues and as a result we often end up in a state of considerable pain. Operating on a herniated disc may solve the immediate problem but many patients report still feeling pain after surgery.