Every day, kidney patients come to see me for “back pain”, and they are so nervous that they are afraid of having kidney disease. A careful examination shows that they only have “low back disease”, not “kidney pain”, although they are both pain, but the two meanings are completely different. Kidney pain can occur on one or both sides of the back, and the causes of pain include urinary tract infections, kidney stones and blunt trauma to the kidneys. Low back pain can involve the entire back, but most people are located in the lower back. Low back pain may occur from weight bearing, poor posture, prolonged standing or sitting, and some diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and infections can also cause low back pain. We recommend an article to tell you the difference between the two types of pain. The kidneys are important organs for removing metabolic waste and more than water from the body and are located on both sides of the crest at the lower edge of the rib cage. So how can you distinguish whether it is kidney pain or low back pain when you have back pain? Let’s take a look at the causes and characteristics of kidney pain and low back pain! To clarify whether it is low back pain or kidney pain, 3 major points need to be considered: location of pain, type and severity of pain, and accompanying symptoms. Kidney pain The kidney is an important organ for filtering blood metabolic waste and toxins and is prone to infection and injury. Excessive deposits of calcium, oxalate and phosphorus in the kidney can form kidney stones, which can cause blockage and lead to pain. Location of pain Kidney pain is located below the ribs on either side of the crest. Depending on the number of kidneys involved, kidney pain can be unilateral or bilateral. In addition, kidney pain can involve other areas such as the abdomen, groin and thighs. Type and severity of pain Small stones can be excreted through the urine and usually do not cause severe pain. However, large stones can cause sharp, severe pain, which often worsens when the kidney moves into the ureter. Pain due to kidney infection is dull or aching. Accompanying symptoms Diseases involving the kidneys can also cause other symptoms, such as: 1. cloudy or hematuria 2. painful urination 3. frequent urination 4. nausea and vomiting 5. constipation or diarrhea 6. high fever 7. dizziness 8. weakness Signs of serious kidney injury or disease: 1. bad breath 2. metallic taste 3. difficulty breathing 4. edema of the legs, ankles, or feet 5. confusion 6. arrhythmia 7. muscle spasms Causes of kidney pain Can cause Diseases that can cause kidney pain include: 1. urinary tract infection 2. kidney stones 3. kidney infection 4. kidney thrombosis 5. kidney trauma or injury Low back pain Low back pain is a common clinical condition, and according to data, 80% of adults will have low back pain during their lifetime. Depending on the cause, the location, severity and accompanying symptoms of low back pain vary. Location of pain Low back pain can occur anywhere in the back, but most is located in the lumbar region. Type and severity of pain Muscle pain is a dull or aching pain, which can be aggravated by exercise, and ranges in severity from mild to severe. Neuralgia is a burning or stabbing pain and can radiate to other areas. Sciatica is a neuropathic pain involving the back. When the sciatic nerve is squeezed or compressed, it can cause sciatica, which then radiates to the lower back. Bone pain caused by vertebral fractures or irregularly shaped crests is usually sudden and painful. The severity varies from moderate to severe and is aggravated by activity. Accompanying symptoms Accompanying symptoms of low back pain include: 1. crestal pain or stiffness 2. cervical spine tingling 3. pain or muscle spasm making it difficult to stand 4. difficulty walking 5. numbness or tingling in the back that may extend to the extremities 6. unilateral or bilateral lower extremity weakness 7. incomplete bladder emptying 8. urinary incontinence 9. diarrhea or constipation Etiology Muscle or ligament strain in the low back is a common cause of pain. Other causes include: 1. improper posture 2. prolonged standing or sitting 3. muscle spasm 4. muscle tension 5. back injury, such as fracture or fall 6. disc injury, dislocation or rupture 7. abnormal crestal curvature 8. tumor Diseases that can cause low back pain include: 1. inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and cremasteritis 2. osteoporosis 3. herpes zoster 4. crestal tumor 5. infection 6. cauda equina 7, abdominal aortic aneurysm 8, endometriosis Key Points Quick Facts Kidney pain can occur on one or both sides of the back, and causes of pain include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and blunt trauma to the kidney. Low back pain can involve the entire back, but most people are located in the lower back. Low back pain may occur due to weight bearing, poor posture, prolonged standing or sitting, and some diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and infections.