Back pain can have many causes and it is sometimes not easy to tell if it originates from the kidneys or the muscles. To distinguish where it comes from, you need to pay attention to details. You should try to identify exactly where the pain is located, assess if it is constant, and recognize any other symptoms that accompany back pain. After this careful analysis you should be able to figure out if it is the kidneys or the back muscles that are suffering.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Analyzing the Pain
Step 1. Identify which points are affected by the pain
If you feel pain in the lower back and buttocks, it is likely that the cause is an injury to the back muscles and that the kidneys are not involved. This type of disorder is quite common and often involves both the lower back and the buttocks, while pain originating in the kidneys generally affects a smaller area.
- An injury to the back muscles can affect the function and well-being of several muscle groups, including those in the buttocks and legs.
- If the pain spreads beyond your lower back or you also feel a feeling of muscle weakness or numbness, especially in your legs, it's important to see a doctor right away.
Step 2. Recognize if the pain is located between the last ribs and the flank
Usually when the problem comes from the kidneys, the pain affects the lateral part of the abdomen or the central band of the back, which is the area where the two organs are located.
If the pain is localized in the upper back, it cannot be caused by the kidneys
Step 3. Recognize if the pain is coming from the abdomen
If the pain involves the front of the torso as well as the lower back, the kidneys are more likely to be the cause. Back pain tends to remain confined to the back of the body. On the other hand, in the case of infection or enlarged kidneys, the inflammation can extend to the front of the torso.
If the pain affects only the abdomen and not the back, the kidneys should not be involved
Step 4. Assess if the pain is continuous
In many cases, kidney problems cause constant suffering. The intensity may increase or decrease throughout the day, but the pain should not give you a break. Otherwise, back pain tends to come and go irregularly.
- In most cases, the pain caused by a kidney disorder (such as stones or a urinary tract infection) remains until treatment is done. Back pain, on the other hand, can vanish on its own as the muscles recover after they have been damaged.
- Sometimes the body is able to expel stones without the need for medication. Nevertheless, it is important to visit a doctor to understand the exact origin of the pain.
Step 5. Assess if the pain is confined to one side only
If you only feel pain in the right or left side of the abdomen, it is likely that it is caused by the corresponding kidney. The two organs are located right along the hips and the suffering could derive from the presence of one or more kidney stones.
Part 2 of 3: Identifying Any Other Symptoms
Step 1. Assess the possible causes of back pain
One of the ways to tell if pain originates from the kidneys or back muscles is to analyze recent events. If you have been lifting heavy weights or have been in poor posture for a long time, there is a good chance that it is muscle soreness.
- If you have been standing or sitting in an unusual way for a long time, the pain may come from that unusual position.
- If you have suffered a back injury in the past, your current pain could be related to that episode.
Step 2. Notice if you have difficulty urinating
Because the kidneys are an integral part of the urinary tract, infections and other kidney disorders often occur when urinating. Look for blood in your urine and if the pain increases when you go to the bathroom.
- If the pain is caused by a kidney disorder, the urine may be dark or cloudy.
- If your back pain is caused by a kidney problem, such as stones, you may also feel the need to urinate more frequently than normal.
Step 3. Notice if you feel a feeling of numbness in your legs or buttocks
In some circumstances, back pain may be accompanied by numbness in the lower limbs, caused by abnormal compression of the nerves or poor blood supply. This is a common symptom when back pain is related to the sciatic nerve.
In extreme cases, numbness can also involve the lower leg up to the toes
Part 3 of 3: Getting a Medical Diagnosis
Step 1. See your doctor if the pain doesn't go away
It is important that the disorder causing back pain is diagnosed by a professional and treated properly. If you do not undergo the necessary therapies, in the future the pathology could worsen and consequently the pain could increase.
- Contact your doctor and go see yourself. Try to be as specific as possible in describing the symptoms.
- If the pain is acute, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever medication for relief while you wait to see your doctor. However, the only way to heal and eliminate suffering in the long term is to identify the source of the problem and follow proper treatment, rather than simply sedating the symptoms.
Step 2. Take appropriate tests
When you go to his office, your doctor will ask you about the type of symptoms, intensity and duration. He will then visit you to directly examine the areas where you feel pain. The data collected may be enough for him to formulate an initial diagnosis and understand what is causing the pain, or he may prescribe tests that allow him to investigate some aspects of the disorder.
- If your doctor thinks it could be a serious kidney or back condition, for example a herniated disc, he or she will prescribe an examination that will allow him to obtain images of the inside of the body, such as an ultrasound, a X-ray, MRI, or computed tomography (or CT) scan.
- If your doctor suspects that the problem comes from the kidneys, he will order blood and urine tests to see if there are any abnormal values such as blood cells or protein concentration.
Step 3. Treat the cause of the pain
After identifying the problem, your doctor will prescribe therapy for you. The aim must be to calm the symptoms, but also to eliminate the ailment that gives rise to the suffering, so it is likely that you will need to take both painkillers and drugs that treat the infection or injury in progress.
- If your back pain is due to kidney stones (one of the most common causes of kidney pain), your doctor will prescribe painkillers and will also explain the solutions offered by surgery in case the stones are too big to be able to expel them without any help.
- If the problem is a muscle tear, a common cause of back pain, your doctor will prescribe pain relief medication and possibly physical therapy sessions, and will also advise you on how to avoid getting hurt again in the future.
