Many patients confuse kidney pain with back pain, failing to seek the right treatment and care. While the symptoms can overlap, we will discuss some common differences between the two – back pain and kidney pain.
How Are Kidney and Back Pain Different?
While both conditions may show similar symptoms, here is how you can differentiate between them:
Location
The first and often the most important thing to consider is the pain location. Back pain can occur anywhere in the back area, including the lower, middle, or upper back. Back pain can also radiate to other parts of the body, i.e., arms and legs.
However, kidney pain is more situated. It can be felt in the flank region just below the rib cage. It often occurs on the side of the body and is unlikely to radiate across other parts.
Causes
The causes of back and kidney pain are very different. Back pain causes might include muscle strains, poor posture, and injury. Kidney pain is caused by infection, urinary stones, or other chronic kidney illnesses. If you have a history of kidney issues, it is important to consult a doctor to rule out any complications.
Types of Back and Kidney Pain
Back pain is of two major types: acute and chronic. Acute back pain is characterized by an injury or muscle strain through overuse. It is severe at the start but goes away within due time if proper medical care is taken. Other things that may help with acute back pain are rest, exercise, and physical therapy.
On the other hand, chronic back pain is persistent and lasts for months and even years. A herniated disc, sciatica, or arthritis causes this pain. If you have any symptoms, Dr. Raza can promptly diagnose and provide recovery options.
Kidney pain is sharp and located at the sides of your lower back. It does not travel through your back. Moreover, it is accompanied by nausea and fever, which is not the case with back pain.
Pain Radiation
As discussed earlier, back pain tends to radiate or move to other parts of the back and even legs. For instance, if you are diagnosed with a herniated disc, it may cause sciatica, leading to sharp and shooting pain that travels down one leg.
On the other hand, kidney pain is located in one area. It does not travel across the entire back or legs, for that matter.
How To Relieve Back and Kidney Pain?
Kidney and back pain are two completely different conditions. Hence, each needs a different treatment route and medical care. Here is how you can manage both according to your symptoms:
Managing Back Pain
Once your underlying cause has been diagnosed, doctors are likely to put you on pain-relieving medications. This, paired with physical therapy, including strengthening exercises, massage, heat therapy, and stretching, can significantly improve mobility.
Managing Kidney Pain
Kidney pain is typically treated with medications prescribed by your doctor. Other complicated symptoms might necessitate surgery to restore its function.
Final Words
Back and kidney pain exhibit similar symptoms but are entirely different based on the following categories: location, cause, type of pain, and pain radiation. Back pain can move to the entire back area while kidney pain is situated. Underlying conditions like physical injury or muscle strain can cause back pain. However, kidney pain is caused by infection or chronic issues.
Do not confuse back pain with the kidney – let our doctors at Genesis Pain Clinic assess you. We provide quick diagnosis, effective pain-relieving treatments, and long-term care options for back pain. Call us at (913) 871-9888 for additional queries.