Kidney pain

Definition

Kidney pain is a pain sensation projected onto the kidney area. They are located in the flank region, which extends from the ribcage to the groin on the side of the abdominal wall. For this reason kidney pain is also called flank pain.

Kidney pain: Left, right, bilateral?

Kidney pain can occur on the left, right, or both sides, depending on which kidney is affected. However, since both kidneys, as a paired organ, perform the same tasks, the causes and nature of left-sided and right-sided kidney pain and right-sided kidney pain differ. It is usually caused by a colonization with bacteria, often it develops from a complicated urinary tract infection.

In addition to pain, fever and chills are often accompanying symptoms of inflammation of the renal pelvis. Also in the context of a cystitis, pain in the kidney area can occasionally occur, but in this case both kidneys are usually affected. Another cause of unilateral, for example left-sided kidney pain is renal colic.

This is caused by kidney stones. The stones can either be located in the kidney area or have already entered the urinary tract. This means that the pain can wander.

Thus, it can first be located in the area of the kidney, but later on it can radiate into the groin and flanks. However, pain in the kidney area is not always due to kidney disease, but can also have other causes. Left-sided kidney pain that occurs mainly during movement, for example, is rarely caused by actual kidney disease.

Here, muscle strains or diseases of the spine are more likely to be the cause. Even if kidney pain occurs when coughing, for example when having a cold, it is more likely to be caused by muscle tension. If unilateral kidney pain occurs during pregnancy, this can be an indication of urinary retention.

This means that on one side, the urine can no longer flow sufficiently from the kidney via the ureter. This can be caused, for example, by the significantly enlarged uterus pressing on the ureters. Often, however, kidney pain during pregnancy is a symptom that lasts only for a short time and does not pose any danger.

If kidney pain persists for a longer period of time during pregnancy, a doctor should be consulted. A rule of thumb can also be applied to non-pregnant women with kidney pain: If a kidney knocking pain exists, it is likely that the disease originates from the kidney. To test for kidney knocking pain, lightly tap the edge of the hand on the area where the left kidney is located. If the cause of the kidney pain is tension or a problem with the spine, the kidney is usually not knocking.