Kidney Pain vs Lower Back Pain

Kidney Pain vs. Lower Back Pain

Pain in your midsection can be tricky to figure out, especially when it is hard to tell if it is your kidneys or your lower back acting up. I had a patient recently at Chambers Medical Group following a motor vehicle accident (MVA), mention that maybe their back pain was from the kidneys and wanted to know where those were located for reference. It can be quite confusing as back pain can come from just daily wear-and-tear and kidney pain can feel very similar, but they are different problems with different causes. Dr. Aaron Workman, a patient favorite at Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical care programs in Kentucky, breaks it down so you can figure out what is nagging you and when to get help.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is such a common issue as we age that almost everyone will experience it. It is that ache or stiffness right above your hips, often linked in with the spine, muscles, or ligaments. Maybe you lifted something heavy, sat too long hunched over a screen, or got jolted in an MVA. It can feel sharp, dull, or like a tight band across your back and sometimes it radiates down your legs, like with sciatica. I have had patients assume it is their kidneys, but when we test their range of motion or press on the spine, the culprit is usually musculoskeletal of nature.

Kidney Pain

Kidney pain has its own story. It sits higher and deeper, usually under your ribs on one or both sides of your spine, closer to your flanks. It is not so much about movement, but the problem brewing on the inside. Your kidneys filter waste and keep your fluids balanced, but when they are not functioning correctly, they will let you know. This can manifest from infections, kidney stones and from trauma. The pain is often steady, deep, unrelenting, and not only felt with twisting or bending like back pain. It can show up with fever, nausea, or cloudy/bloody/burning urine. These are all red flags the problem is not just back pain.

Main Differences

The best place to start figuring this out is the location of pain. Lower back pain stays close to the spine and waistline. Kidney pain is up higher, almost like it is tucked under your ribcage. Does it only hurt with movement? Back pain often flares when you shift or stretch, while kidney pain will persist if you are still or moving. Then there are the red flags. Kidney problems may also bring fever, chills, or urinary changes. Back pain will tend to stick with stiffness, pain or tingling into the legs.

Recent injuries and activities can also help in diagnosis. Lower back pain is usually from overdoing it, poor posture, a bad lift, or even the forces the back receives from an MVA. Kidney pain is a more internal issue and typically results from infections, stones scraping their way out, or even blunt trauma from an accident jarring the organ. Stress fractures or disc issues will not really feel like kidney symptoms, but a kidney stone can trick you into thinking your back is the problem until the other signs kick in.

If you are hurting, this is not something to make a guess on, just get checked out. For the typical non-traumatic back pain, a little rest, moist heat, or a trip to your primary care doctor may help get you going again. Kidney pain is not a wait and see type of issue. If you have a fever or blood in your urine, it could be much more serious. For an easier diagnosis, pay attention to where it hurts, how it feels, and what else feels off, then get it looked at. Whether it is your spine or your kidneys, knowing the difference can save you a lot of grief and maybe a trip to the ER.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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