There are many diseases of the kidneys, but there is one symptom that is characteristic of any pathology - this is pain. In some cases, there may be a violation of urination. The intensity of the pain syndrome depending on the type of disease may vary. What causes kidney pain in women and men?
If there are pains in the kidney area, then you do not need to delay the visit to the doctor. Before starting treatment, you need to find out what caused it. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, since it can only aggravate the situation and lead to the development of complications. To make a diagnosis, doctors use modern diagnostic methods - computed tomography, ultrasound. To obtain a complete clinical picture, a laboratory study of blood and urine is prescribed.
Why do kidneys hurt? The reasons for this may be:
- idiopathic and systemic diseases;
- secondary renal diseases;
- infectious and inflammatory pathologies;
- congenital anomalies;
- toxic nephritis.
Depending on where the pathological process is located, the disease is primary and secondary. If pathological changes are observed in the renal tissue, then this is a primary disease. If the focus is localized in other organs, then this is a secondary type.
Why do kidneys hurt? Acute pain in the kidneys may appear due to injury. It could be an organ injury. In this case, the person will experience not strong and short-term pain in the lumbar region. When the organ is ruptured, severe pain occurs. Blood pressure also decreases, a hematoma forms and blood clots appear in the urine. The cause of acute pain lies in a severe injury. In this case, internal hemorrhage occurs. If timely help is not provided to a person, then he loses consciousness.
Drawing or dull pain may appear during pregnancy. What causes kidney pain in pregnant women? This is due to the fact that the uterus increases in size and puts pressure on the internal organs. If a woman was diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis or urolithiasis before pregnancy, then the risk of pain increases.
Possible diseases
The kidneys can hurt with kidney stones. This is the most common kidney disease. The disease develops due to a violation of the exchange of salts in the body, infection of the urinary tract and kidneys. In this case, the patient experiences severe pain in the lower back, the so-called. renal colic. Symptoms also include high fever, blood in the urine, and dysuria. As the disease progresses, the patient's condition worsens. There is weakness, dry mouth, stool retention, nausea and vomiting. However, the disease may be asymptomatic for some time.
When the kidneys hurt due to stones, doctors prescribe conservative treatment: diet, crushing stones with ultrasound and taking medications. In severe cases, surgical intervention (extraction of stones) is performed.
If there is bilateral pain in the kidney area, the cause is glomerulonephritis. This is a serious lesion of the renal glomeruli (glomeruli). The causes of pain are associated with infectious diseases, taking certain medications, poisoning with toxins, and systemic diseases. The disease can be recognized by high blood pressure, edema, and a decrease in the volume of urine excreted. With a pronounced clinical picture, the patient is hospitalized and prescribed antibacterial, symptomatic and immunosuppressive therapy.
Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the kidneys is capable of provoking pain. The disease develops due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels. Atherosclerosis of the renal arteries slowly progresses. At first, the disease is asymptomatic. Patients with this diagnosis are treated with antihypertensive therapy.
If there is pain in the right kidney, the causes may be hiding in a tumor of a benign or malignant nature. The symptoms also include a violation of the outflow of urine. The patient may experience discomfort in the back or lower back.
In the modern world, more and more often the cause of kidney disease is psychosomatics. These are diseases, the root cause of which was not physical, but psychological factors (stress). The psychosomatic nature is characteristic of inflammation of the ureters, depletion of blood vessels in the organ. In this case, drug treatment will only alleviate the condition, but will not neutralize the pathology itself. You need to solve the problem on a subconscious level.
Cause of all the antibiotics
Many patients complain that their kidneys hurt after antibiotics. Antibiotics kill the bacteria necessary for the kidneys. This leads to disruption of their work. Antibiotics are not considered safe drugs. These drugs have absolute contraindications and a number of side effects, so they should only be prescribed by a doctor who knows the full clinical picture of the patient.
The nature of back pain from antibiotics depends on many factors. The provoking factors include the dosage, frequency and duration of the drug, as well as its composition, the patient's individual sensitivity to the components.
Symptoms of antibiotic damage are not only pain, but also a feeling of thirst, an increase in the level of urea in the blood. The daily volume of excreted urine may also change (both up and down). These symptoms indicate a malfunction of the kidneys.
Antibiotics destroy the renal tissue and deform the tubules of the epithelium. Also, antibiotics can disrupt blood flow and cause hemodynamic disorders in the kidneys. Therefore, if there are problems with the kidneys before taking antibiotics, it is better to consult a doctor and evaluate the potential benefits and possible complications from such treatment.
If the pain still occurs, then doctors prescribe hemodialysis, diet and probiotics, which restore beneficial bacteria. During treatment, it is contraindicated to lift weights and play sports, as this will slow down the recovery process.
Development of pyelonephritis
Pain in the kidneys in men and women can occur due to pyelonephritis. This is an infectious and inflammatory disease. Why do kidneys hurt with pyelonephritis? The causative agent of the disease are pathogenic microorganisms that penetrate the kidneys from the lower urinary tract. The disease is mainly caused by Escherichia coli, but sometimes the causative agent can be staphylococci or gram-negative bacteria.
Pyelonephritis is a serious disease. According to statistics, the reason why the left kidney hurts in women is precisely pyelonephritis. However, in some cases, the right kidney can also hurt. This is due to the fact that the urethra in women is shorter and wider, so pathogenic bacteria easily penetrate the bladder and kidneys. With neurogenic damage to the bladder, congenital anomalies of the urinary system, damage to the spinal cord, the risk of getting pyelonephritis increases dramatically.
You can also recognize the disease by other symptoms. The patient experiences nausea, which is often accompanied by vomiting, the body temperature also rises, chills and appetite disappears. With the progression of the disease, fatigue, malaise, and slight swelling are noted. In 10% of cases, tachycardia and dehydration may occur. Without treatment, pyelonephritis becomes chronic.
If the left kidney hurts, the causes are identified and a diagnosis is made, then doctors prescribe treatment. Therapy of the disease is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs. As an adjunctive therapy, you can use folk remedies. Reduce the symptoms of the disease will help infusions of bearberry, nettle, rosehip.
Why the right kidney or the left one hurts can only be determined by the doctor after a complete diagnosis and history taking. Treatment is prescribed based on the data obtained. The doctor also takes into account the severity of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.
Human kidneys work 24 hours a day, constantly filtering the blood and separating the substances that it contains into useful (reused) and toxic (removed with urine). If the kidneys hurt in the morning, in the evening, at night and during movement, the presence of a serious pathology is obvious.
The anatomical structure of the renal tissue does not belong to a number of simple ones. In the presence of pain in the kidneys, doctors have to exclude a dozen of all kinds of diseases, fortunately, there are modern diagnostic methods: ultrasound, MRI, intravenous urography. They help to make the correct diagnosis. The renal parenchyma has a complex structure. It is a special filtration mechanism that cleanses the blood of toxins. Kidney tissue acts as a grater containing pores for the penetration of chemical molecules. Useful trace elements are filtered through the renal tubules and absorbed back into the blood (glucose, vitamins, hormones and large proteins). Through the pelvis, toxic substances enter the bladder, and then are excreted.
How do human kidneys work?
Oran works in two stages - filtration and excretion. The renal parenchyma filters substances coming from the blood. It contains a large number of glomeruli called nephrons. In this anatomical region, chemicals are divided into harmful and useful. For example, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus return to the bloodstream, and urea enters the bladder. The pelvis is responsible for removing urine from the kidneys, urine first accumulates in it, and then goes to the ureter. Next, the urine enters the bladder, concentrates there for about 8 hours, and then is excreted.
Why does a person's kidneys hurt?
A characteristic symptom of the pathology is pain in the lumbar region.
But this symptom is nonspecific and occurs in other diseases. To differentiate renal malaise, laboratory tests are performed and the causes are established. Reasons for pain in the lumbar region:- increased blood pressure in inflammatory kidney diseases (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis);
- frequent night pain in the lower back - a manifestation of cystitis;
- violation of urination against the background of prostate adenoma in men, tumors of the urethra or bladder;
- urolithiasis - stones in the pyelocaliceal system.
The kidneys are one of the body's main filters. It is specially made in the form of a paired organ - so that if one of them is damaged, the second one can take its function without any problems. But many causes - infections, injuries, the intake of toxic substances and medicines - act immediately on both "wonderful networks" (namely, this is what the internal structure of the organ is called), significantly reducing their chances of normal recovery.
Before looking for the cause of pain, you need to figure out what exactly hurts
Therefore, if there are any symptoms from the urinary system, you need to urgently contact a nephrologist. We will tell you why the kidneys hurt, how it manifests itself and what to do about it.
Do they really hurt?
The kidneys are localized on both sides of the spine, at the level of the lower thoracic - upper lumbar vertebrae; part of them is covered by the costal arch. Behind them are the muscles that keep the spine in balance, which can strain and hurt with scoliosis, intervertebral hernia, and osteochondrosis. In front are the stomach, pancreas, intestines, pain from which can radiate to the lower back. Above the left kidney are the lungs, and on the right is the liver with the gallbladder; with their diseases, discomfort in the lumbar region can also be felt.
Before analyzing why a person’s kidneys hurt, it is necessary to determine that the pain syndrome is caused precisely by renal pathology. It can be described like this:
- back pain - in the place where the costal arch is attached to the spine (not the lower back on the other side of the navel);
- can give to the area to the right or left of the navel;
- if you stand on your feet, rise on your toes, and then sharply fall on your heels, the pain in the lower back increases.
In addition, the following symptoms speak of renal pathology:
- pain when urinating;
- foul-smelling urine;
- the lower back is cold all the time;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- frequent or rare urges in a small way;
- increased fatigue, fatigue, lack of appetite;
- smell of ammonia from the mouth;
- change in the color of urine;
- small red "pimples" on dry skin;
- lower back pain when lifting weights;
- dry skin;
- "powder" of white crystals on dry skin;
- high blood pressure;
- decrease in visual acuity.
Why does the kidney hurt
There are many causes of kidney disease. These are inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, and injuries of this area, and anomalies in the development of the urinary system, which “raise their heads” under the influence of provoking factors. Let's consider everything in order.
Glomerulonephritis
This is a disease when the kidney tissue suffers from an attack by its own immune cells, which, starting to fight the infection, mistake the kidney cells for microbes. Pathology develops most often after a streptococcal disease (for example, tonsillitis).
Pain is a sign of inflammation, tissue damage due to injury or tumor.
Symptoms of glomerulonephritis:
- lower back pain;
- visible "by eye" blood in the urine;
- increase in pressure;
- swelling on the eyelids, legs.
nephrolithiasis
It is one of the most common causes of kidney pain. At the same time, the pain syndrome is very intense, develops after a shaky ride, playing sports - then the stone begins to move along the ureter, touching its nerve endings.
With this disease, the pain in the lumbar region is very strong, does not allow finding the position of the body to alleviate it, is accompanied by the urge to urinate. The volume of urine is very small, often with an admixture of blood.
Pyelonephritis
Acute pyelonephritis, in addition to back pain, will be manifested by fever, weakness, nausea. Usually its manifestations are so strong that a person immediately seeks help.
Warning! More often, back pain as an isolated symptom is complained of in chronic pyelonephritis, which is also manifested by the fact that the back in the kidney area begins to freeze more, appetite worsens, the amount of urine may change, and pressure rises.
Thrombosis of the renal artery
With this disease are noted:
- the pain is sharp, severe;
- felt in the kidney on the left or right, in the side, abdomen;
- nausea;
- a sharp increase in blood pressure;
- constipation;
- moderate urination.
With this pathology, urgent hospitalization is needed.
Cyst or benign tumor of the kidney
Lower back pain will be noted when the tumor grows to such a size that it will put pressure on the capsule. The amount of urine produced may also decrease.
kidney cancer
This disease only at a late stage - when there is either damage to the structures of the kidney, or the germination of the tumor into the capsule - can also cause the kidneys to hurt. Other symptoms will be:
- weight loss in the presence of edema on the face and limbs;
- decrease in the amount of urine;
- anemia;
- high blood pressure.
Polycystic kidney disease
In this case, the symptoms of kidney failure will come to the fore: a decrease in the volume of urine released, high blood pressure, swelling and dry skin. The pain syndrome is localized in the abdomen - usually on both sides of the navel. We described in detail about the manifestations and treatment of this disease in the article:
hydronephrosis
This is the name of the condition in which the renal pelvis expands under the influence of urine accumulating in it. It can be caused by urolithiasis, tumors that compress the ureters, and anomalies in the development of the latter.
With hydronephrosis, pain is felt in the last stages of the disease.
Hydronephrosis manifests itself in the form of pain, which can be localized in the lower back, but can also be felt in the abdomen. There may be other symptoms: decreased urine volume, nausea, fatigue.
Renal tuberculosis
With this disease, back pain will have a stabbing, cutting character; a person will also be disturbed by severe weakness and fatigue. There is also a change in the nature of urine: it becomes cloudy, bloody, pus can be clearly seen.
Kidney prolapse
Nephroptosis does not manifest itself for a long time, but in the last stages of the disease, pain in the kidney appears, which increases in an upright position and reaches its peak in the evening. Over time, it becomes unbearable, leading to personality disorders. A person loses weight, practically ceases to feel hunger; Nausea and heartburn are intermittent.
Warning! The risk of kidney prolapse increases with sudden weight loss, intense physical exertion, and injuries to the lumbar region.
Causes of pain in the kidneys according to the characteristics of pain
Consider the most common diseases with renal pain syndrome, which people describe in a certain way.
Pain associated with alcoholism
Consider why the kidneys hurt after beer:
- this drink "pulls" water from the tissues, which leads to an increased load on the kidneys: first, you need to remove the increased volume of urine, and then another - the liquid that the person took because of the thirst caused by beer;
- after a while, the blood becomes thicker (the main part of the liquid has already left), and it is more difficult for the kidneys to filter it;
- as a result of such a “dehydration storm”, the tissues lose the necessary electrolytes (potassium, calcium, phosphorus) and proteins, which are gradually deposited in the kidneys and form stones.
If the kidneys hurt after alcohol, this means that ethyl alcohol - the main component of alcohol - has led to a violation of their ability to concentrate and filter blood plasma, forming urine. This happens either after taking a large number of strong drinks, or if a person takes them systematically. The risk of pain syndrome increases in people suffering from either chronic pyelonephritis, or nephrolithiasis, or those whose kidneys and ureters have structural abnormalities.
morning pain
But to understand why the kidneys hurt in the morning, it is the urologist or nephrologist who should do it, since this is a dangerous symptom. He says that the urine that has accumulated overnight in the kidney presses on its walls.
Warning! This can cause pain only if there is damage to the structure of the kidney, which happens with glomerulonephritis, hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis and other diseases.
Kidney hurts on the left
The reasons why the left kidney hurts are:
- nephrolithiasis;
- hydronephrosis;
- organ prolapse;
- pyelonephritis;
- kidney tumors;
- abscess.
In the left lumbar region, pain can be given during inflammation of the pancreas, which requires a diagnosis.
Both kidneys hurt
Pain syndrome that develops on both sides of the spine is characteristic of glomerulonephritis and polycystic kidney disease.
Lower back pain on the right
The reasons why the right kidney hurts may be slightly more than for the left organ, due to its lower localization (because of the liver, the right kidney is ? -1 vertebra lower than the left one). It:
- post-traumatic pain;
- calculus in the renal pelvis;
- pyelonephritis;
- benign neoplasms;
- cancer tumor.
Pain in cholecystitis, osteochondrosis, appendicitis also radiates to the right lumbar region, simulating renal pathology.
What to do with kidney pain
If, in addition to pain, there are:
- temperature rise;
- weight loss
- loss of appetite;
- weakness;
- high pressure;
- swelling,
you need to see a doctor urgently, as delay can destroy the kidney.
The kidneys are an important organ in the human body. Due to disruption of work, serious complications can appear in them. It is impossible to understand why the kidneys can hurt, it is impossible on your own, a doctor should carry out the diagnosis. Pain in the right or left kidney can take you by surprise.
Many experience discomfort for a long time, but they do not rush to the hospital for help. Meanwhile, discomfort can be a symptom of many diseases.
- this is a paired organ, the shape resembles a large bean, the weight of one kidney can reach up to 0.2 kilograms. The main function of the body is to remove water and other water-soluble substances from the body.
The process is considered complex and takes place in several stages. As a result, all organs and systems can fully function, and a person can live.
If you follow the statistics, then more than 4% of people in Russia suffer from kidney disease, and most of these are women. It must be understood that many diseases can lead to serious consequences, including death. The causes of pathologies are varied, from maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle to a hereditary predisposition.
Types of kidney pain
Many patients at the reception in the hospital say that they have pain in the kidney area. Only high-quality instrumental or laboratory diagnostics can reveal the nature of pain. Nephrologists, on the other hand, argue that the kidneys are a patient organ and it simply cannot get sick on its own.
The capsule that surrounds the kidney can give pain in the lower back. Unpleasant sensations arise due to its stretching. Often this can occur as a result of a heart attack, or during an inflammatory process.
Renal colic
A separate type of pain in the kidneys is this. The source of its appearance is not the tissue of the kidney, but the ureter, along which the stone begins to move. The pain is more often unilateral in nature, it can occur suddenly, thereby catching a person by surprise.
The main symptom of renal colic is cramping pain in the lumbar region. It can appear even at night, when a person is sleeping. Discomfort can be provoked by physical activity, as well as the intake of large amounts of fluid.
The duration of pain is from three hours, all this time the place of localization and intensity can change. In some cases, colic can be so severe that the person's blood pressure drops and cold sweat runs down the skin.
Causes of kidney pain
There are various reasons that can cause pain in the kidney area.
But the most common are the following:
- . This is the most common cause of discomfort.
- - an infectious disease, the development of which is provoked by various bacteria. The inflammatory process can affect both two kidneys and one. The disease affects people of all ages. The pain is localized in the lower back, aggravated by tapping.
- - This is a congenital anomaly of development, due to which the functioning of the organ is disrupted. Both kidneys suffer, despite the fact that the size of the cysts is small, there are a lot of them. In adulthood, there is a feeling of heaviness in the lumbar region. As the disease progresses, migraines and chronic uremia will develop.
- Benign or malignant tumors. With the development of cancer, pain is initially absent, but as the disease progresses, it will appear, and its strength will increase. It is recommended to pay attention to such symptoms as lack of appetite, weight loss, as well as any incomprehensible sensations in the organ area.
- Congenital malformations. People usually know about such problems from childhood. Many of them do not manifest themselves in any way, however, periodically unpleasant sensations may appear.
- Kidney injury. Naturally, after receiving them, pain appears, but its intensity depends on the severity. Unpleasant sensations are often weak, however, due to rupture of the kidney, they may intensify.
Another common cause of pain in the kidney area is called. In this state, the organ is displaced in one direction or another. The pain is localized in the lumbar region, but can occasionally radiate to the stomach.
Other causes of pain
It must be understood that pain in the kidney area is not always associated with the development of some kind of pathology in them.
They can also arise for other reasons, among which are:
- Pregnancy. Discomfort appears because the fetus is growing, and the enlarged uterus presses on neighboring organs. The condition is inherent in later terms.
- Osteochondrosis. If there are degenerative changes in the vertebrae, this can also cause discomfort in the kidney area.
- Herniated disc. The pain experienced with a hernia may resemble that of the kidneys. Unpleasant sensations can be given to the buttocks, groin.
- Lumbago. With osteochondrosis and hernia, the sensations are quite intense, there are many diseases that can cause similar sensations. With lumbago, the pain is acute, because of it, physical activity is limited. A distinctive feature - when you try to put your hand behind your back, the discomfort increases.
- Appendicitis. Pain during such a disease rarely radiates towards the kidneys, but, nevertheless, a similar phenomenon can be observed. This can be explained by the fact that the appendix subject to the inflammatory process is located in the wrong place.
- Prostate adenoma and prostatitis. Discomfort in such diseases gives to the lower back, reminiscent of renal colic. However, in addition to this, problems with potency will appear, the outflow of urine will be disturbed.
- Intestinal diseases. This can include ulcerative colitis, tumor, inflammation of the diverticulum, and so on.
Appendicitis is one of the causes of pain resembling kidney
Not only their pathologies can provoke pain in the kidney area, as you can see, there are many reasons. The development of many diseases can be suspected independently, because their symptoms are specific.
What to do at home?
With the appearance of pain in the kidneys, many patients try to self-treat. But it is not recommended to do this, because first you need to identify the cause of this condition.
At the first sign of a disease, it is recommended to go to the hospital and undergo an examination after which a diagnosis will be made.
At home, it is allowed to take those medications that were prescribed by the attending physician. Once again, it is worth noting that self-medication is unacceptable, since the kidneys are a vital organ responsible for many processes. Even folk remedies are allowed to be taken only after consulting a doctor.
Diagnostics
Pain in the kidney area is an alarming symptom that should not be ignored. You should visit a urologist, nephrologist or other specialist in this field as soon as possible for an examination. Upon examination, the doctor performs palpation in the abdomen, listens to complaints, and then gives a referral for a laboratory test.
As a rule, the examination consists of the following:
- Ultrasound diagnostics and MRI of the kidneys;
- urography or angiography;
- blood and urine for research.
Based on the results of the tests, the final diagnosis is made, and the optimal treatment regimen is selected.
Treatment of pain in the kidney area
The treatment regimen depends on which disease develops. A mild degree of the inflammatory process can be cured at home, it is enough to take those medicines that were prescribed by the attending physician. These are anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics and diuretics. To relieve pain and fever, antipyretics and painkillers are needed.
To relieve the inflammatory process, Verapamil, Norfloxacin and others can be prescribed. If such drugs are not effective, others are prescribed - Amoxicillin, Cefazolin.
With urolithiasis, those drugs are needed that can dissolve urates - Urodan. After taking it, the acidity of urine decreases, stones and sand can come out naturally.
The following medications may be prescribed to relieve swelling:
- Furagin;
- Furosemide.
As a supplement, it is necessary to take drugs to improve blood circulation in the kidneys, as well as vitamin complexes to increase immunity.
Proper nutrition
Regardless of which disease is being treated, the patient must adhere to a diet that will reduce the protein component. It is not recommended to eat a lot of salt, because of it, edema appears, and fluid is retained in the body. You can add salt to ready-made dishes, but slightly.
The following foods should be excluded from the diet:
- alcohol;
- smoked and fatty meat;
- sausages and semi-finished products;
- coffee and cocoa;
- fatty sauces, spices, ketchups.
Drinking regime should be enhanced. A person should drink at least two liters of water, fruit drink, compote or mineral water without gas per day. If desired, you can drink a decoction of wild rose. Doctors do not advise drinking carbonated drinks.
The best option is a plant-based diet. You should eat more fruits, fresh vegetables, low-fat dairy products. You can eat lean fish and meat, but sometimes in small quantities.
In some cases, doctors take the so-called expectant tactics, its duration depends on the patient's condition. So, for example, malformations of the kidneys do not require treatment, but only if they are not accompanied by any diseases.
It should be remembered that adequate treatment of kidney diseases can only be carried out by the attending physician after the cause of such a condition is clarified. Therapy should begin as soon as possible, otherwise complications cannot be avoided.
Frequently asked questions to the doctor
Attending doctor
Which doctor should be consulted for kidney diseases?
Kidney specialists are called differently, it all depends on whether surgery is needed or not. So, for example, if conservative therapy is enough, it is enough to be examined by a nephrologist. A doctor who deals with surgical procedures is a urologist. With the development of malignant tumors, an oncologist is needed.
Pain in the kidneys - it is with such a complaint that patients go to the doctor at the initial visit. This syndrome can signal problems in the urinary system, but in some cases, pain is a consequence of a developing pathology in the spleen, spinal column, liver, intestines, and ureter.
The nature of the pain
Many are sure that pain concentrated in the pelvic area is evidence of pathologies in the urinary system. But in fact, the kidneys are located much higher - under the ribs of the lower row, in the upper part of the lower back.
The considered pain syndrome can be variable. The patient may describe the pain as pulling, aching, paroxysmal, girdle, constant, stabbing. This description can help the doctor to differentiate the syndrome, to suggest a particular pathology.
Causes of kidney pain
Until the end of a complete examination, it is impossible to indicate the exact cause of pain in the kidneys - too many factors can add up to a specific clinical picture. Some pathologies have an absolutely identical nature of pain - the doctor will use modern diagnostic methods - ultrasound, computed tomography, laboratory study of blood / urine tests and others.
Dr. Malysheva tells in detail about the possible causes of pain in the kidneys:
nephrolithiasis
Acute pain in the area of the anatomical location of the kidneys can be caused by the presence of kidney stones. For quite a long time, the stones do not bother, sometimes the patient does not even know about the existing problem. Pain occurs due to:
- stone movement along the ureter and wounds with sharp edges of the mucosa;
- accumulation of urine in the renal pelvis due to obstructed outflow of fluid;
- inflammatory process in the walls of the kidneys;
- spasmodic ureter, if the stone is located in it.
Pain in the kidneys due to the presence of stones in them is always accompanied by a slight increase in temperature (up to subfebrile levels), the presence of blood in the excreted urine (especially often in case of injury by the sharp edges of the mucosal stone) and a deterioration in general well-being.
note: if the stone blocks the way out of urine, then there is no outflow of urine - signs of intoxication (poisoning) of the body will appear very quickly in the form of dizziness, weakness, diarrhea (diarrhea), nausea and vomiting that occur regardless of food intake.
Glomerulonephritis
The inflammatory process, which is localized in the renal glomeruli and tubules, always develops acutely. Renal pain bilateral, acute and constant will be a characteristic feature of this pathology. Join the pain:
- high level of puffiness of the face in the morning;
- a significant increase in blood pressure;
- reduction in the amount of urine excreted;
- the presence of blood in the urine.
You can learn more about it by watching this video:
Pyelonephritis
This is an infectious disease, which is characterized by aching, dull and constant pain in the kidney area - it can be localized on one side (depending on which kidney the pathology develops in) or be bilateral. note: if pyelonephritis develops against the background of urolithiasis, then the pain will be variable: dull / aching is replaced by acute pain attacks.
In addition to pain, with the infectious process under consideration, there are:
- swelling of the face in the morning;
- hyperthermia (increased body temperature);
- feverish state;
- nausea and vomiting - only with acute development of the process and severe course.
Very often, pyelonephritis occurs in women during pregnancy. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the kidneys
A disease that occurs against the background of a general atherosclerotic condition of the blood vessels. It is characterized by intermittent, non-intense, aching pain against the background of steadily elevated blood pressure.
Benign kidney tumors
Pain in benign tumors appear only with the active growth of the neoplasm and are characterized by low intensity, rather reminiscent of discomfort and pulling sensations in the lower back.
The only thing that can be accompanied by pain in benign neoplasms in the kidneys is a violation of the outflow of urine.
Thrombosis of the artery of the kidneys
A condition requiring urgent professional help. The patient complains of acute, powerful pain in the lower back, which can be girdle in nature. An acute attack of pain of such intensity that the patient may lose consciousness. In addition, the following symptoms are present:
- sudden, without visible prerequisites, increase in blood pressure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- spontaneous hyperthermia (fever);
- lack of urine.
hydronephrosis
With this pathology, pain is dull and aching in nature, can be localized in the lower back or side, accompanied by frequent relapses of inflammatory / infectious diseases.
Malignant tumor of the kidneys (cancer)
The pain syndrome is not the main one in the development of a malignant tumor in the kidneys, but it is present: weak, intermittent, aching. Pain in kidney cancer occurs against the background of developing anemia, increased fatigue, blood in the urine, and prolonged hyperthermia.
Cystic formations of the kidneys
Pain during the formation of a cyst (or several) in the kidneys will be weak and periodic - often patients pay attention to it only during exacerbation.
Reflux vesicoureteral
The essence of the pathology - urine from the bladder is thrown back into the renal pelvis. The patient will complain of aching, dull, constant pain in the lower back. It is always accompanied by swelling of the face in the morning, hyperthermia (fever) and general weakness.
Congenital kidney malformations
Most often, this pathology does not give a pain syndrome, but in some cases, patients notice pulling / aching pain during urination and immediately after it.
The causes of pain in the kidneys in this case will be:
- incorrect anatomical location of the kidney - the ureter is compressed, the outflow of urine is difficult;
- compression of the vessels of the kidney.
Injuries
Pain in the kidneys always occurs when they are injured:
- kidney injury - the pain will be short-term and not intense, of a dull nature;
- kidney rupture - an acute pain syndrome occurs, it is joined by a radical decrease in blood pressure, the formation of a hematoma in the area of impact, the presence of blood in the urine;
- severe injury - the pain is acute, powerful, accompanied by internal hemorrhage: the patient loses consciousness.
Tuberculosis of the kidneys
The disease is characterized by pain in the kidneys of a stabbing nature, which is present almost constantly - in some cases it serves as a violation of night sleep. Characteristic pain is necessarily accompanied by the presence of atypical impurities in the urine - first blood, then pus.
Kidney pain during pregnancy
Some women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy complain of pulling, aching pain in the lower back and the anatomical location of the kidneys. This may be due to pressure on the paired organs of the enlarged uterus, exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis (if it was diagnosed before conception) or urolithiasis. The nature of the pain can be different - for example, with urolithiasis, it will be acute and completely mimic renal colic.
"False" pain in the kidneys - causes
Even if the patient complains of obvious pain in the kidneys, this cannot be the basis for assuming the development of pathology in the urinary system. Simulate pain in the kidneys can:
- osteochondrosis of the spine - refers to the lumbar;
- herniated disc;
- injury to nearby organs - for example, a broken rib, bruise or severe injury to the liver / spleen;
- diseases of the prostate gland - adenoma or prostatitis;
- acute appendicitis.
Treating kidney pain with medicines
What to do if the kidneys hurt? Pain in the area of the location of the kidneys can be stopped by antispasmodics, but the decision to prescribe drugs should be made by a specialist after examining / examining the patient. Antispasmodics will only bring relief for a short time - to get the full effect of getting rid of pain, you will need to prescribe a course of treatment for the cause of their occurrence.
Pain in the kidneys is too abstract a symptom that may indicate the development of various pathologies. When it appears, you should seek medical help - the causes of the pain syndrome can be either minor inflammatory processes or kidney injury, or serious problems. note