The kidneys are paired organs located toward the back of your body, partially protected by your lower ribs. Your left kidney is slightly higher than your right. Pain from the kidneys tends to occur in the flanks or in the lower back just under the ribs, although it can extend into the groin and testicles. Pain from muscle strain, arthritis, and some spinal conditions can easily be mistaken for kidney pain
Kidney pain is caused by infection, inflammation, injury or enlargement of the kidney, or by conditions that block the flow of urine out of the kidney. Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and kidney stones are the most common causes of kidney pain. Pyelonephritis is often accompanied by other symptoms of urinary tract infection, such as burning with urination, frequent or urgent need to urinate, bloody urine, fever, and nausea with or without vomiting. Kidney stones may also cause bloody urine, fever, and nausea with or without vomiting; however, the pain tends to come and go in waves.
The kidneys are two organs whose major functions are to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body and produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production, acid regulation and influence calcium, and electrolyte metabolism.
The excess waste products and excess fluid are removed when the kidneys produce urine that is excreted from the body. In addition the kidneys play an important role in regulation of the body salt, potassium, and acid content. The kidneys also produce hormones that stimulate red blood cells to be produced, that help regulate blood pressure and help control calcium and electrolyte metabolism in the body.
Symptoms of Kidney Pain
Possible Symptoms of kidney pain include
Bleeding in your kidney (hemorrhage)
Blood clots in kidney veins (renal vein thrombosis)
Urinary tract infection
Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries leading to the kidneys)
Horseshoe kidney, a condition present at birth in which the two kidneys are fused together
Kidney cancer or kidney tumor
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
Kidney swelling due to a backup of urine (hydronephrosis)
However, it's possible to have one of these conditions and experience few symptoms, including kidney pain.
Kidney Pain Treatments
The emergency department, intravenous fluids may be provided to help with hydration and to allow the administration of medications to control pain and nausea. Ketorolac (Toradol), an injectable anti-inflammatory drug, and narcotics may be used for pain control, with the goal being to relieve suffering and not necessarily to make the patient pain free. Nausea and/or vomiting may be treated with anti-emetic medications like ondansetron (Zofran), promethazine (Phenergan), or droperidol (Inapsine).
The decision to send a patient home will depend upon the response to medication. If the pain is intractable (hard to control) or if vomiting persists, then admission to the hospital is necessary. Also, if an infection is associated with the stone, then admission to the hospital will be considered.
Pain control at home follows the lead of the hospital the best treatment. Over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen is used as an anti-inflammatory medication, and narcotic pain pills may be provided. Anti-nausea medication may be prescribed either by mouth or by suppository. Tamsulosin (Flomax, a drug used to help urination in men with an enlarged prostate gland) may be used to help the stone pass from the ureter into the bladder.
Kidney pain is caused by infection, inflammation, injury or enlargement of the kidney, or by conditions that block the flow of urine out of the kidney. Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and kidney stones are the most common causes of kidney pain. Pyelonephritis is often accompanied by other symptoms of urinary tract infection, such as burning with urination, frequent or urgent need to urinate, bloody urine, fever, and nausea with or without vomiting. Kidney stones may also cause bloody urine, fever, and nausea with or without vomiting; however, the pain tends to come and go in waves.
The kidneys are two organs whose major functions are to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body and produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production, acid regulation and influence calcium, and electrolyte metabolism.
The excess waste products and excess fluid are removed when the kidneys produce urine that is excreted from the body. In addition the kidneys play an important role in regulation of the body salt, potassium, and acid content. The kidneys also produce hormones that stimulate red blood cells to be produced, that help regulate blood pressure and help control calcium and electrolyte metabolism in the body.
Symptoms of Kidney Pain
Possible Symptoms of kidney pain include
Bleeding in your kidney (hemorrhage)
Blood clots in kidney veins (renal vein thrombosis)
Urinary tract infection
Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries leading to the kidneys)
Horseshoe kidney, a condition present at birth in which the two kidneys are fused together
Kidney cancer or kidney tumor
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
Kidney swelling due to a backup of urine (hydronephrosis)
However, it's possible to have one of these conditions and experience few symptoms, including kidney pain.
Kidney Pain Treatments
The emergency department, intravenous fluids may be provided to help with hydration and to allow the administration of medications to control pain and nausea. Ketorolac (Toradol), an injectable anti-inflammatory drug, and narcotics may be used for pain control, with the goal being to relieve suffering and not necessarily to make the patient pain free. Nausea and/or vomiting may be treated with anti-emetic medications like ondansetron (Zofran), promethazine (Phenergan), or droperidol (Inapsine).
The decision to send a patient home will depend upon the response to medication. If the pain is intractable (hard to control) or if vomiting persists, then admission to the hospital is necessary. Also, if an infection is associated with the stone, then admission to the hospital will be considered.
Pain control at home follows the lead of the hospital the best treatment. Over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen is used as an anti-inflammatory medication, and narcotic pain pills may be provided. Anti-nausea medication may be prescribed either by mouth or by suppository. Tamsulosin (Flomax, a drug used to help urination in men with an enlarged prostate gland) may be used to help the stone pass from the ureter into the bladder.
