HomeTopicsKidney Pain

Kidney Pain & Its Causes

Kidney pain, or renal pain, is usually centered in the lower back, just below the rib cage. The pain may spread to the sides, the abdomen, or down into the groin. In men, it may even radiate into the testicles.

Kidney pain may be a constant dull ache or it may be sharp and intermittent. Occasionally it may be accompanied by hematuria (blood in the urine). Diagnosing the cause of renal pain can be difficult as a number of kidney disorders can cause similar symptoms. These include kidney infection, kidney cysts, renal carcinoma and kidney stones. The kidneys are about two inches deep and lie just under the muscles in the back; this can make it difficult to differentiate between back and kidney pain.

The causes of renal pain accompanied by hematuria are due to abnormalities in the kidney tissues or structures. Understanding these structures is often helpful when discussing kidney pain symptoms with your doctor:

  • Nephrons are millions of tiny tubes in the kidneys responsible for filtering wastes and excess fluid from the body.
  • Ureters are long, thin tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
  • Bladder: The bladder stores urine until it is full, then excretes it through the urethra and out of the body.
This section is divided into multiple articles covering:
To research other kidney disease or health topics, please use the morefocus search box, or see the related topics listed to the left.
 
 
Share your thoughts...

Comment on this Article 

3 Comments(s)
Posted by Rudy
2 days from now. I have been having pain in back below my lowr back. I need to know why is causing this problem. Is not really in pain..just little bit. I am 30yrs old. Never had problems like this. Do you think is the alcohol is treat me bad. I also have sore throat and yesterday I couldn't talk very good..and now thanks god is doing ok. I never had any headache,fever,runny nose,pain chest,urine is ok,no muscle pain..Just the lower back.. I was telling my bf today. I am going to drinking alcohol. I been drinking since I was 21. Doctor: Do you think my kidney is affecting the alcohol,or sore thoat??
Posted by Rudy
sorry I was reading my comment and I forgot to put "STOP" on "I am going to stop drinking alcohol.
my mistake...
Posted by A Barnes
This is my 1st time exploring my kidney & bladder problems. I have bladder spasms,will put you to your knees with no warning. I also pass stones. I have been shuffled around from Dr. to Dr. SOOO Tired


Other Topics in this Section
Stumble  Reddit  Delicious  Google  Technorati  Furl 

 
Register | Sign-in
Kidney Failure
Kidney Pain
Kidney Stones
Kidney Health Survey  
Clinical Trials
Related Sites
Add to Google Homepage
RSS
Subscribe to RSS feed
Tell A Friend
Related Searches
Kidney Cleanse
Kidney Stones Disease
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer Research
Kidney Cancer Prevention
Lower Back Pain
Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
Bladder Infections
Kidney Transplants
Kidney Stones
Kidney Cancer Symptoms
Kidney Stones Diagnosis
Related Products and Services