Kidney pain left
Due to the fact that the kidneys are arranged in pairs, it is possible that only one kidney is affected by a disease. Kidney pain on the left side can be caused by a bacterial inflammation of the renal pelvis or a stone, for example. Both of these, in turn, are promoted by alcohol consumption. A chronic inflammation of the kidney tissue due to alcohol is possible in the case of unilateral pain, but bilateral pain is more likely to occur. Furthermore, the cause of pain can also be the back if the pain radiates particularly to the left into the kidney area.
Diagnosis
The cause of kidney pain can generally only be clarified by a doctor, regardless of whether it occurs only after increased alcohol consumption or not. The doctor will conduct a detailed survey of the pain and possible other symptoms as well as a physical examination. If necessary, the urine is also examined for a possible urinary tract infection as a trigger.
A blood sample and a check of the kidney values (for example creatinine) may also be necessary to establish a diagnosis. A dilatation of the renal pelvis can, for example, be detected by ultrasound. In case of special questions, special examinations by a urologist are also advisable.
Treatment
If kidney pain occurs after excessive alcohol consumption, it is essential to drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages. Light physical activity can also be useful, especially if the pain is actually caused by the back and only radiates into the kidney region. Further therapy is then often not necessary.Alcohol should be avoided in the future or at least consumed in smaller quantities.
Duration
How long the kidney pain lasts after alcohol consumption varies greatly and depends on the cause. Often the pain gets better or disappears completely if you drink a lot of water, do some physical activity and your body breaks down the alcohol. If a kidney stone is the cause of the pain, in some cases it may resolve spontaneously and the pain disappears.
However, the pain may persist and the stone must be removed by a urologist. If there is an inflammation, a doctor should also be consulted, who will usually prescribe a suitable antibiotic, so that an improvement in the pain can be expected after two to three days.