Kidney is located under the ribs and at the back of the abdomen. Any dull aching pain on your back or on the sides can be kidney pain. But not all the time it is due to kidney pain. There can be thousands of reasons for getting a dull pain on your back or side. Any problem in your kidneys can cause symptoms of fever, painful urination, nausea and vomiting and flank pain. Kidneys are involved in removing unwanted waste products and excess of fluids from the body. These are vital functions of the body failing which your body gets accumulated with toxins leading to complications.
Formation of kidney stones and infections of urinary tract can affect the function of kidneys. Since kidneys are located in your back below the ribs kidney pain can be felt higher in the back region. It can be felt on the left side or right side and sometimes on both the sides. Your doctor would physically examine you and order for several tests for diagnosing any problem in the kidneys. Treatment for kidney pain depends on the underlying cause. Prognosis of kidney pain is good and most of the patients recover fully if treated early.
Kidney Pain Causes :
- Various factors can cause kidney pain. Toxins and other waste products are transported through tubes by the kidney. Any blockage in these tubes can affect the normal draining function of kidneys.
- Formation of stones in the kidney, kidney disease or infection can affect the kidney causing kidney pain. Pain can be felt on your back if there are any problems in your ribs or spine. Any disease or infection of liver can cause kidney pain. Condition like hernia can also cause pain on your back.
- Some of the serious causes of kidney pain include bleeding of kidneys, formation of blood clots in kidneys, cysts or tumor formation in kidneys and polycystic kidney disease.
- Kidney pain can be sudden/acute and even sharp. It often occurs when the stone from the kidney moves and reaches the ureter (a small tube) blocking the way of kidney drainage.
Functions :
- The main job of the kidneys is to flush out toxins and excess of fluid from the body in the form of urine and feces.
- Kidney plays a vital role in maintaining the right amount of certain salts like potassium. Kidney helps in controlling electrolyte metabolism of the body.
- Kidney is responsible for stimulating RBC to produce certain hormones. Further it helps in regulating blood pressure.