In many cases it is not easy to distinguish kidney pain from back pain, especially when it occurs for the first time and a person is not yet able to assess the pain correctly. In addition, kidney pain sometimes leads to secondary back pain, so that both types of pain exist in parallel. It is therefore important that a physician always conducts a detailed interview (anamnesis) and physical examination of a patient if kidney or back pain is suspected, in order to distinguish the two from each other, so that dangerous diseases cannot be overlooked and an adequate therapy can follow.
With various diseases of the kidneys, kidney pain is particularly noticeable in the flank area. This term refers to the area to the left and right of the spine between the 11th to 12th thoracic vertebrae and the 3rd to 4th lumbar vertebrae. There the kidneys lie in the depth.
However, pain that has arisen there can also radiate into surrounding body regions, especially often into the surrounding back. Classically, complaints emanating from the kidneys are dull. In contrast to back pain, it is not permanent but only occurs in phases and is not dependent on movement.
Accompanying symptoms such as tiredness, poor performance, headaches, fever or vomiting are also indicative, as is a change in excretion behavior (for example, unusually rare or frequent urination, foaming or bloody urine). In some cases, however, pain emanating from the kidneys can also be acute and colicky. It is also important to note that chronic kidney problems lead to reflex syndromes that affect the back. Thus, already existing functional limitations of the spine can be intensified or even new complaints can arise. These are most likely to include tension in the lower spine, but also disorders of the costal joints or blockages of the lower thoracic spine and the entire lumbar spine.
How can I distinguish kidney and back pain?
Kidney pain is quite specific in contrast to abdominal pain, for example. This means that pain in the flank or kidney area also usually indicates a disease of the kidneys. The affected area is located on the lateral trunk between the bony palpable structures of the costal arch and iliac crest.
Back pain may radiate there and sometimes it is not easy to distinguish between them. Kidney pain can often be triggered by a light blow to the flank with the edge of the hand. Back pain often impairs movement and can lead to a bent posture.
This is rather unusual for kidney pain. The causes of back pain are usually harmless. The most common are muscle tension and signs of wear and tear (also known as degenerative changes). The doctor can usually reliably distinguish between kidney pain and back pain through a specific physical examination and take appropriate further steps.
