Sometimes flank pain is felt in the boneless area between the belly button and the lumbar area, the flanks on the right and left sides.
What is flank pain?
Flank pain is pain on one or both sides between the belly button area and the kidney/lumbar area. Flank pain is pain on one or both sides between the belly button area and the kidney/lumbar area. Flank pain can be dull, but it can also be tearing or colicky as in gallstones or kidney stones. Many nerves, blood vessels and muscles run through this area of the body. Pain from other organ areas can also manifest as flank pain.
Causes
There are very different causes of flank pain. One of the most common for flank pain is renal pelvic inflammatory disease, in which sufferers experience severe, colicky flank pain in the kidney area. It usually starts with a harmless bladder infection that spreads if left untreated. Kidney and ureteral stones can also cause severe colic because they get stuck in the ureter and block it. A less common cause of flank pain is kidney cancer. It is insidious and causes severe discomfort only in advanced stages. Other causes of flank pain can be tension in the back muscles due to improper movement, or spinal problems such as scoliosis, poor posture or herniated discs. Accidents and injuries can also cause flank pain. Nerves that are constricted by strong tension in the area can also be the cause of flank pain. More harmless is side stitching after exertion in the flanks. Radiating pain from other organ areas such as the intestines, liver, gall bladder and pancreas can make itself felt unpleasantly as flank pain. And shingles (herpes zoster) can also cause severe flank pain.
Diseases with this symptom
- Scoliosis
- Renal colic
- Biliary colic
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Kidney cancer
- Intestinal colic
- Kidney stones
- Renal pelvic inflammation
- Herniated disc
- Shingles
- Cystitis
Diagnosis and course
The diagnosis of flank pain always belongs in the hands of a doctor, preferably a general practitioner or internist. First, a medical history is taken to find out the cause of the flank pain, when and how often it occurs, other complaints and any previous diseases. Then the patient is examined in detail. During this process, the doctor taps the kidney area to determine whether or not the kidneys are pain-free. An ultrasound image can visually visualize this area and show any changes. In cases of flank pain, a blood and urine test is also always useful. If these examinations do not reveal any findings, other imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans, etc., may be used if necessary. can provide information about the cause of the flank pain. Or an examination of other organs that could be the cause may be performed. If left untreated, flank pain can lead to serious complications, such as kidney stones blocking the ureters, causing urinary retention and severe inflammation, including sepsis (blood poisoning), or ureteral rupture. Similarly, liver, gall bladder, pancreas can cause severe inflammation, sometimes life-threatening.
When should you go to the doctor?
The term flank pain refers to stabbing, dull or cramping painful sensations occurring on the side of the upper body. Flank pain may or may not be bilateral. If flank pain disappears quickly and does not return, the cause of the episode can be assumed to be harmless. However, if they persist, an immediate visit to the doctor is urgently recommended. In the case of flank pain, a doctor should definitely be consulted to determine the cause. It is best for the affected person to visit his or her family doctor first. He or she will ask for a description of the type of flank pain and the place where it occurs. With further questions in his anamnesis the family doctor circles possible causes, in order to decide afterwards on the referral to a specialist. Patients with flank pain are mainly referred to general practitioners, internists or urologists, occasionally also to orthopedists or gynecologists.Common causes of flank pain are kidney stones and cystitis. Furthermore, the musculoskeletal system or a disease of the female reproductive organs can be causative for flank pain. Due to the serious nature of the possible diseases that can underlie flank pain, it is quickly understandable how important an early visit to the doctor is in this case. As varied as the causes of flank pain are, so are the treatments. Modern diagnostic methods such as ultrasound or computer tomography play a prominent role in the diagnosis. Some conditions may also require hospitalization for surgical intervention.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of flank pain depends on the specific cause. A harmless side stitch is improved by taking a rest. Renal pelvic inflammation as the cause of flank pain is treated with antibiotics to allow the inflammation to subside and prevent complications. Treatment for a ureteral or kidney stone is pain medication, plenty of fluids and exercise, or the stone is crushed by shock waves. A kidney cancer usually requires surgical treatment. For colicky flank pain caused by gallstones, a doctor will advise removal of the bile, as it can cause recurrent discomfort. Flank pain due to other inflammatory conditions is also treated with antibiotics and by taking it easy. If spinal problems are the cause of flank pain, an orthopedist should be consulted to determine the cause.
Outlook and prognosis
The subsequent course of flank pain depends largely on the cause of the pain. In some cases, it is an inflammation of the kidneys or bladder. Likewise, ureteral stones and kidney stones may be responsible for flank pain. This pain is very uncomfortable for the patient and leads to complete restriction of movement. However, flank pain can also be caused by an incorrect sitting posture or by a herniated disc and must then be treated accordingly. It is advisable to always consult a doctor in case of flank pain in order to exclude complications and serious diseases. Treatment is always causal and in most cases leads to a positive course of the disease. If inflammation is involved, it is usually treated with the help of antibiotics. The pain itself can be limited for a short time with painkillers, and the patient must also take plenty of fluids. In the case of cancer, surgery is performed, although it cannot be predicted whether the patient will be completely healthy after the removal or whether the cancer has spread further. In case of physical discomfort, therapy or physiotherapy is usually performed.
Prevention
Prevention of flank pain is again based on the cause of the pain. A bladder inflammation should be treated and cured, so you can usually avoid a kidney pelvis inflammation. Sufficient clothing in the cold season helps to avoid flank pain due to cold. If kidney stones or gallstones are suspected, a doctor should be consulted to clarify the cause of the flank pain and initiate appropriate therapy. Spinal problems can be countered by avoiding incorrect posture, if necessary have this treated by an orthopedist. Pain due to inflammatory diseases also belongs immediately in the hands of a doctor to prevent the inflammation from spreading.
This is what you can do yourself
Flank pain should always be clarified first by a doctor. Depending on the cause, various home remedies and measures can be used concomitantly. Flank pain as a result of kidney problems can be relieved by drinking plenty of fluids. In the case of kidney stones or inflammation of the renal pelvis, green tea helps, which protects the urinary system and relieves pain in the flank. Applications with fresh lemons and flax seeds also dissolve kidney stones. In case of severe pain in the lower back, a warm bath with anti-inflammatory medicinal herbs helps. In addition, the painful area should be kept warm with a poultice or a cherry pit pillow. If the flank pain is due to a bacterial disease of the kidneys, antibiotics and homeopathic preparations will help. In the case of severe kidney disease, dialysis is often the only remedy. This is usually accompanied by bed rest, warmth and a healthy diet.Diuretic home remedies such as nettle tea, field horsetail tea or dandelion tea help with acute flank pain. In addition, it is important to prevent the discomfort by taking in sufficient fluids and keeping the diet as low in salt as possible. Flank pain due to back and spinal problems can be treated with the help of physiotherapy or yoga, as well as heat and cold therapies.