How to distinguish renal pain from osteochondrosis. How to determine what hurts: kidneys or lower back

Very often we are faced with heaviness, pain and stiffness of movements in the back. Many perceive it as inflammation or a cold, but the problem can be much more serious.

Kidneys or back hurt, how to determine the cause at home is not clear. But general symptoms and prerequisites can give a hint, which we will discuss below.

Contacting the hospital

Recognize pain in the kidneys or understand that the lower back hurts from osteochondrosis without medical education almost impossible.

A number of tests are required, which include:

• radiography;
• Tomography;
• magnetic resonance therapy;
• Pressure measurement;

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If you came to the hospital earlier and were diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis, kidney failure, kidney stones or lumbar osteochondrosis, then the symptoms that appear indicate an exacerbation of the disease.

Causes of back pain

You can recognize pain in the kidneys and distinguish it from osteochondrosis by knowing the general symptoms and manifestations. It is inflammation in the spine and problems with internal organs that can be the main causes of pain.

If there are problems with the spine, it can be diagnosed:

1. Mycosis;
2. Rheumatism.

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When the cause lies in kidney disease, the diagnosis is made only by a doctor after a series of tests, a complete diagnosis.

Symptoms

You can find out that the kidney hurts or the intervertebral discs are inflamed, based on the general symptoms and manifestations.

Allocate and common manifestations that are inherent in osteochondrosis lumbar and kidney pathology

Who is most susceptible to kidney disease?

There is a risk group that is most susceptible to kidney disease. Therefore, they should first of all go for a routine examination, especially if the first symptoms of inflammation have already appeared.

These are usually those who suffer from:

• Diabetes;
• Infections and inflammation in the genitourinary system;
• A woman during pregnancy;
• Subject to a genetic factor;
• Reduced immunity;
• Transferring trauma and kidney surgery;
• Bad habits.

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Why does osteochondrosis develop?

There can be several reasons for the appearance of osteochondrosis, and hence back pain:

• Incorrect position during sleep;
• Great physical activity;
• Sedentary work at the computer;
• inflammation and infection;
• Pathology of the joints;
• Heredity;
• Diabetes;
• Hypothermia.

Typically, osteochondrosis affects patients aged 30-50 years, but athletes, pregnant women, and people over 60 years of age also suffer from osteochondrosis.

How to distinguish problems?

You can also distinguish the disease by symptoms at home, if you look closely at your state of health.

So, with osteochondrosis or arthritis, patients suffer from sharp pains and discomfort during physical exertion, there is a spasm and an improvement in the condition after using warming ointments.

If the patient has problems with the kidneys and internal organs, then there may not be pronounced back pain, they occur only in the advanced form of the disease or with a cold in the lower back, the discomfort does not go away even in the supine position.

Often with pyelonephritis and nephritis, pain can descend to the hip bones, give to the side or stomach.

Pain in the lower back is a common ailment that almost every person faces at different periods of life. Moreover, it is not immediately possible to understand what exactly hurts - the lower back, kidneys or some other organ.

According to statistics, in 90% of cases, such pain occurs due to problems with the spine. In 6% of cases, the kidneys are to blame, and only the remaining 4% are due to diseases of other organs. As you can see, the probability of making a mistake here is low. In addition, regardless of the cause of the pain, you should not joke with such an indisposition and try to “drown out” it with painkillers. It is better to consult a doctor and begin to fix the problem before the state of health worsens.

However, if you want to independently determine the cause of pain in the lower back, we will tell you about distinctive features problems with both organs.

1. Pain associated with diseases of the spine

First, let's talk about the most common causes of pain - pathologies of the spine. In this case, discomfort in the lower back may be associated with conditions such as:

• radiculitis;
• osteochondrosis;
• spinal hernia;
• spinal injury.

A patient who is faced with such ailments most often feels pain in the lower back, which appears after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. Such discomfort can occur after lifting weights, sudden movements of the body, and any other unusual effort.

If we talk about the nature of the pain, then depending on the existing disease, it can be pulling or vice versa sharp (shooting) pains that are localized in the middle of the lower back and can radiate to the leg or buttock. Tellingly, the pain syndrome intensifies during movement, and the muscles themselves often spasm, that is, it becomes difficult for a person to bend and unbend. In this case, he often freezes in an immovable position to relieve pain.

Special gels and ointments, which have a warming effect and anti-inflammatory effect, help to cope with such a malaise. With an exacerbation of the pain syndrome, experts recommend applying one of these remedies, then wrap the painful lower back with a woolen scarf and lie still for a while.

2. Pain associated with diseases of the urinary system

Discomfort or severe pain in the lower back may not be related to spinal problems, but provoked by the following diseases:

• pyelitis and pyelonephritis;
• hydronephrosis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• urolithiasis disease;
• nephroptosis.

The cause of pain in these cases may be hypothermia. Pain in this case occurs approximately 7–10 days after a cold or infectious disease. But most often, discomfort in the back causes an inflammatory process in the kidneys.

Pain in this case are accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms, such as:

• painful and frequent urination;
• discoloration of urine (it becomes colorless or dark, may contain impurities of blood, mucus or sediment-like substances);
• sweating, chills and high fever;
• morning puffiness (which disappears in the evening);
• headaches (due to high blood pressure);
• increased fatigue, weakness and drowsiness (appearing in the morning);
• loss of appetite;
• vomiting and nausea.

As for the nature of pain in kidney pathologies, it differs significantly from pain in pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. As a rule, it is aching (dull) pain caused by developing inflammation, or sharp, piercing pain, provoked by renal colic. At the same time, pain sensations are constantly present, regardless of the change in body position. Another feature - spinal pain, as a rule, is not felt in the center, but to the right or left of the spine under the ribs. Sometimes such pains can radiate to the groin, lower abdomen, inside thighs and even the genitals.

Unlike vertebral pains, it is impossible to warm up painful kidneys! That is why, until the doctor establishes an accurate diagnosis, do not rush to use warming preparations and apply heating pads.

3. Pain associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

It is impossible not to say that pain in the lumbar region has another reason. Even considering the fact that the organs digestive tract located in abdominal cavity, some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can radiate to the lower back. In particular, such pains are characteristic of pancreatitis, i.e. inflammation of the pancreas.

In the case of such a disease, a person develops nausea and indomitable vomiting. In addition, he suffers from diarrhea with droplets of fat and undigested pieces of food in stool Oh. When a blood test is done, the doctor discovers increased content glucose. The nature of the pain in pancreatitis can be described as girdle, which cover the upper abdomen, left side and left back.

If the patient suffers from cholelithiasis or cholecystitis, he can also feel pain in the lower back, to which pain in the right hypochondrium is added, as well as nausea, general malaise and an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. Sometimes, discoloration of feces and yellowness of the skin are added to these signs.

4. Pain caused by pathologies of the genital area

The above diseases are far from the only ones that cause pain in the back. This should also include the pathology of the genital area, and depending on the gender, ailments also differ.

Back pain in a woman

Having complained about such ailments to a gynecologist, the fair sex can hear that they were caused by:

• gynecological diseases - aching pains in the lower abdomen, which can "give" to the lower back on one or both sides. Such discomfort is often combined with problems of the intimate sphere and the menstrual cycle;
• pregnancy - a painful sensation in the lower back often appears in the fifth month of bearing a child, when the load on the body increases. However, if such pains rapidly increase and are accompanied by vaginal discharge, it is worth sounding the alarm (often this indicates detachment or rupture of the placenta);
• menopause - in this case, unpleasant pain in the lumbar region is caused by a violation of blood circulation in the small pelvis.

Back pain in a man

If we talk about men, then their lumbar pain can be caused by such problems of the genital area as:

• prostatitis - often combined with pain in the anus, weakness, weakness and fever;
• epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis) - may be accompanied by swelling of the scrotum, pain in the groin and fever;
• professional activity (cold, difficult conditions labor).

Of the other reasons why lumbar pain occurs in both sexes, it is worth highlighting: myositis (inflammation in the muscles), the development of adhesions after abdominal surgery, tumors various etiologies and even obesity of the last degree.

In any case, the appearance of such unpleasant sensations should not be ignored. "Suppressing" pain with analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is also detrimental to health. By doing so, you run the risk of wasting valuable time and allowing disease to develop in the body. That is why, at the first pain, hurry to see a doctor who will help identify the cause of the pain and prescribe an adequate treatment.

Back pain is a common ailment. Many people are in no hurry to go to the doctor and self-medicate. When we do, we harm ourselves. After all, a warming ointment will be powerless if the body goes inflammatory processes. Today we will talk about how to determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt?

Contact a specialist

Did you know that in cases of low back pain, even doctors sometimes make an accurate diagnosis far from immediately? In order to identify the disease, tests are needed, x-rays and ultrasound. Therefore, if you feel unpleasant symptoms, go through a comprehensive examination. After all, in order to neutralize the "enemy", you need to know him in person. If the diagnosis has already been made, doctors recommend regular (once every six months) maintenance therapy. After all, diseases such as arthritis or osteochondrosis are not fully cured. If the diagnosis has already been made, the patient can understand for himself whether the kidneys or the back hurt. How to define it, we will tell further.

Two conditional groups

The causes of pain in the lumbar region are usually classified into two conditional groups: those associated with a violation of the functions of the spine and with the pathology of internal organs. The first group includes osteochondrosis with neurological manifestations, protrusion of the intervertebral discs, spondylarthrosis, intervertebral hernia, fractures and curvature of the vertebrae. The second group includes the formation of tumors in this area, rheumatoid arthritis, diseases gastrointestinal tract, pelvis, and kidneys. All these ailments are of a different nature, therefore, treatment is indicated depending on the exact diagnosis.

Symptoms of inflammatory processes

If the pain is sudden and you need immediate relief of symptoms before going to the doctor, experts give simple recommendations. How to determine whether the kidneys or back hurt? Most often, sharp, stabbing and sharp pain indicates rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammatory processes in the kidneys manifest themselves in a different way. Pay close attention to your condition throughout the day. So, pyelonephritis may not be accompanied by a sharp pain in the lumbar region and have hidden symptoms (deterioration of well-being, impaired urination, the appearance of heaviness in the kidney area).

At acute inflammation often there is an increase in body temperature. This is accompanied by swelling on the face, legs and arms, as well as increased blood pressure. If you do not know how to distinguish the kidneys, then observe the sensations in a state of calm. With inflammation, heaviness in the lower back does not disappear anywhere even when lying down or in a dream. If you wake up in the middle of the night and feel all the same unpleasant symptoms, do not hesitate to visit a doctor until the disease has passed into chronic stage. Do not self-administer diuretics. Usually these funds are effective only in complex therapy.

Kidney disease: who is at risk

Today we are talking about how to determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt. As you know, inflammatory processes in the body do not occur out of the blue. This state must be preceded by certain prerequisites. For example, diabetics are primarily at risk for people with “problem” kidneys. At diabetes of the second type, it is the kidneys that take the main blow. Therefore, people suffering from this disease need to take a urine and blood test every three months.

In case of suspicion of inflammation, the therapist refers the patient for a more detailed examination to a nephrologist. In the presence of a diagnosis of "diabetes mellitus", patients need to control the state of swelling of the legs and arms, as well as monitor blood pressure. It must be remembered that kidney damage in diabetes mellitus can develop into kidney failure. Also, persons with untreated caries, tonsillitis and those who suffer from a cold on their feet are also susceptible to inflammatory processes in the body. In other cases, the kidneys suffer due to injury, compression or hypothermia.

difference in symptoms

If you don't know what hurts you, lower back or kidneys, how to determine the cause without visiting a doctor? To do this, you need to imagine where the internal organ is located, as well as be aware of the differences in the pathogenesis of inflammation and lumbar osteochondrosis. If we compare the main symptoms of ailments, we can distinguish clear differences. As we have already said, pain in the kidneys manifests itself at rest, and especially at night. While osteochondrosis makes itself felt during or after physical activity. Thus, you can pre-diagnose yourself.

How to determine if the kidneys or back hurt if the inflammation in the body has not developed into chronic form? In this case, observe your condition while doing homework. When bending or lifting weights, osteochondrosis immediately makes itself felt. And here strong pain rare in kidney disease. For example, when, against the background of an inflammatory process, a person's lower back was blown out. In most cases, inflammation occurs without pronounced pain symptoms. Often, with kidney disease, pain may not be felt in the lower back itself, but shifts slightly higher or descends to the hip joints.

Important information

If you have suspected inflammation of the kidneys, you should undergo an appropriate examination. You already know how to tell if your kidneys or back hurt. However, inflammatory processes can change the structure internal organ. So, the membranes of the vascular plexuses of the kidney can be affected, and the tissue itself can be deformed. In pyelonephritis, on the contrary, the organ often increases in size. Of course, the patient will not be able to feel the state of the internal organ by touch. Ultrasound will provide the necessary and accurate information. Remember that 80 percent of cases of kidney disease occur without pronounced pain symptoms.

Change in urination

Today we are talking about what to do in case, or spin. How to determine inflammation by the nature of urination? In this case, any deviation from the norm should alert you. Kidney disease is accompanied not only by frequent urination and urinary incontinence. The color of the discharge may change, impurities appear in them, or they become rare (which is most often accompanied by swelling).

Features of treatment

After the patient passes the appropriate tests, makes an ultrasound, x-ray of the lumbar (in case of suspected osteochondrosis or arthritis), the doctor prescribes a therapeutic course of treatment. When examining a patient, doctors tap the lumbar region with the edge of the palm. If at the same time the patient feels internal pain, this clearly indicates inflammatory processes in the kidney area. In addition to the prescribed medications, doctors prescribe a regimen, rest and gentle exercise. It is important to review the diet, exclude salty and spicy, dairy products, and also adjust fluid intake. A decoction of corn silk. Now you can determine for yourself what hurts you, lower back or kidneys. We have described in detail the causes and nature of pain. We emphasize once again that you should not self-medicate and delay going to the doctor.

The cause of pain in the back and lower back are diseases of the spine, internal organs, muscle infringement. This leads to frequent stress, physical activity, violations hormonal background associated pathologies. It is impossible to self-diagnose the disease. Only a doctor on the basis of anamnesis, laboratory, instrumental research can make a definitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Characteristics of pain in the back and lower back

Lower back pain can be of a different nature. Patients cannot move freely, unbend. The symptom appears with hypothermia of the muscles, the presence of degenerative processes, osteochondrosis. Given the localization, a preliminary diagnosis can be made.

The following pathologies lead to the appearance of pain in the lower back:

• sacroiliitis;
• pyelonephritis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's disease);
• amyloidosis;
• scoliosis, pathological lordosis and kyphosis;
• intervertebral hernia vertebral department;
• trauma;
• retrocecal location of appendicitis.

You can find out the pathology localized in the lumbar region by the following signs:

• soreness when turning the torso to the sides, bending over, in the supine position;
• discomfort after lifting weights, walking for a long time or staying in a certain position for a long time;
• the appearance of acute pain, forcing to take a forced position, not to move;
• increased pain at night;
• irradiation of pain in the thigh, buttock;
• relief of symptoms after the use of corsets, warming ointments.

Back pain can be caused by:

• intervertebral hernia;
• radiculitis;
• osteochondrosis.

Most characteristic symptom Pathologies of the back are constant sharp pains that increase with movement and are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature. On palpation of the longest muscle of the back, there is an increase in pain.

Back pain also appears with age - in men after 35 years, at this time the load on the spine increases. In men who are exposed to regular physical activity, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine develops.

Disruption of the digestive tract, for example, pancreatitis, also leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms in the back. With the latter, girdle pains appear that capture the epigastric region and part of the back. There is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, there is a decrease in blood glucose levels.

Pain may occur throughout the back or on one side. For example, sacroiliitis (sciatica) causes left-sided or right-sided back pain. With infringement of the sciatic nerve, pain and numbness of the limbs occurs on one side. You can not self-medicate, if symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Manifestations of kidney disease

Pain in the kidneys is predominantly unilateral. It is most often affected precisely, due to anatomical features.

Violations of the normal functioning of the kidneys lead to the appearance of a pulling, stabbing, aching pain. It is localized below the shoulder blades, in the area under the ribs above the pelvis, gives to the lower abdomen, groin and genital area, thighs.

You can understand what is taking place by the following symptoms:

Pain can be caused by the following pathologies:

• glomerulonephritis;
• tumor diseases of the kidneys;
• nephroptosis;
• hydronephrosis;
• pyelonephritis;
• urolithiasis disease;
• thrombosis of the renal artery;
• malignant tumors of the kidneys, ureter;
• atherosclerosis of the renal arteries.

Not always the appearance of pain below the shoulder blade indicates the presence of renal pathology. Sometimes such a symptom is provoked by diseases of nearby organs.

At urolithiasis there is a sharp pain in the back, extending to the genitals. Soreness does not depend on a change in body position. To provoke the development of pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis can cystitis, if inflammation with Bladder passes to the kidneys.

Painful feelings in the lower back, discomfort in men can be caused by pathologies of the genitourinary organs.

Excessive consumption of alcohol, beer increases the risk of developing kidney disease.

Comparison of pathologies

Knowing the characteristic manifestations of diseases of the kidneys and the lumbar spine, it is possible to correctly differentiate. There are a number of symptoms that suggest a particular pathology:

Pathologies of the back are characterized by muscle spasm in the affected area, burning, redness. When there is a feeling of heaviness, unilateral localization is characteristic, Pasternatsky's syndrome is positive. You can check its availability at home.

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Back pain is a common ailment. Many people are in no hurry to go to the doctor and self-medicate. By jumping to conclusions, we harm ourselves. After all, a warming ointment will be powerless if inflammatory processes are going on in the body. Today we will talk about how to determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt?

Did you know that in cases of low back pain, even doctors sometimes make an accurate diagnosis far from immediately? In order to identify the disease, tests, x-rays and ultrasound are necessary. Therefore, if you feel unpleasant symptoms, go through a comprehensive examination. After all, in order to neutralize the "enemy", you need to know him in person. If the diagnosis has already been made, doctors recommend regular (once every six months) maintenance therapy. After all, diseases such as arthritis or osteochondrosis are not fully cured. If the diagnosis has already been made, the patient can understand for himself whether the kidneys or the back hurt. How to define it, we will tell further.

Two conditional groups

The causes of pain in the lumbar region are usually classified into two conditional groups: those associated with a violation of the functions of the spine and with the pathology of internal organs. The first group includes osteochondrosis with neurological manifestations, protrusion of the intervertebral discs, spondylarthrosis, intervertebral hernia, fractures and curvature of the vertebrae. The second group includes inflammatory diseases of the spine, the formation of tumors in this area, rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pelvis, and kidneys. All these ailments are of a different nature, therefore, treatment is indicated depending on the exact diagnosis.

Symptoms of inflammatory processes

If the pain is sudden and you need immediate relief of symptoms before going to the doctor, experts give simple recommendations. How to determine whether the kidneys or back hurt? Most often, sharp, stabbing and sharp pain indicates rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammatory processes in the kidneys manifest themselves in a different way. Pay close attention to your condition throughout the day. So, pyelonephritis may not be accompanied by a sharp pain in the lumbar region and have hidden symptoms (deterioration of well-being, impaired urination, the appearance of heaviness in the kidney area).

In acute inflammation, an increase in body temperature is often noted. This is accompanied by swelling on the face, legs and arms, as well as an increase in blood pressure. If you don't know how to tell the difference between back pain and kidney pain, then observe how it feels when you are calm. With inflammation, heaviness in the lower back does not disappear anywhere even when lying down or in a dream. If you wake up in the middle of the night and feel all the same unpleasant symptoms, do not hesitate to visit a doctor until the disease has passed into a chronic stage. Do not self-administer diuretics. Usually these funds are effective only in complex therapy.

Kidney disease: who is at risk

Today we are talking about how to determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt. As you know, inflammatory processes in the body do not occur out of the blue. This state must be preceded by certain prerequisites. For example, diabetics are primarily at risk for people with “problem” kidneys. In type 2 diabetes, it is the kidneys that bear the brunt. Therefore, people suffering from this disease need to take a urine and blood test every three months.

In case of suspicion of inflammation, the therapist refers the patient for a more detailed examination to a nephrologist. In the presence of a diagnosis of "diabetes mellitus", patients need to control the state of swelling of the legs and arms, as well as monitor blood pressure. It must be remembered that kidney damage in diabetes can develop into kidney failure. Also, persons with untreated caries, tonsillitis and those who suffer from a cold on their feet are also susceptible to inflammatory processes in the body. In other cases, the kidneys suffer due to injury, compression or hypothermia.

difference in symptoms

If you don't know what hurts you, lower back or kidneys, how to determine the cause without visiting a doctor? To do this, you need to imagine where the internal organ is located, as well as be aware of the differences in the pathogenesis of inflammation and lumbar osteochondrosis. If we compare the main symptoms of ailments, we can distinguish clear differences. As we have already said, pain in the kidneys manifests itself at rest, and especially at night. While osteochondrosis makes itself felt during or after exercise. Thus, you can pre-diagnose yourself.

How to determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt if the inflammation in the body has not developed into a chronic form? In this case, observe your condition while doing homework. When bending or lifting weights, osteochondrosis immediately makes itself felt. But severe pain in kidney disease is rare. For example, when, against the background of an inflammatory process, a person's lower back was blown out. In most cases, inflammation occurs without pronounced pain symptoms. Often, with kidney disease, pain may not be felt in the lower back itself, but shifts slightly higher or descends to the hip joints.

Important information

If you have suspected inflammation of the kidneys, you should undergo an appropriate examination. You already know how to tell if your kidneys or back hurt. However, inflammatory processes can change the structure of the internal organ. So, the membranes of the vascular plexuses of the kidney can be affected, and the tissue itself can be deformed. In pyelonephritis, on the contrary, the organ often increases in size. Of course, the patient will not be able to feel the state of the internal organ by touch. Ultrasound will provide the necessary and accurate information. Remember that 80 percent of cases of kidney disease occur without pronounced pain symptoms.

Change in urination

Today we are talking about what to do if the kidneys or back hurt. How to determine inflammation by the nature of urination? In this case, any deviation from the norm should alert you. Kidney disease is accompanied not only by frequent urination and urinary incontinence. The color of the discharge may change, impurities appear in them, or they become rare (which is most often accompanied by swelling).

Features of treatment

After the patient passes the appropriate tests, makes an ultrasound, x-ray of the lumbar (in case of suspected osteochondrosis or arthritis), the doctor prescribes a therapeutic course of treatment. When examining a patient, doctors tap the lumbar region with the edge of the palm. If at the same time the patient feels internal pain, this clearly indicates inflammatory processes in the kidney area. In addition to the prescribed medications, doctors prescribe a regimen, rest and gentle exercise. It is important to review the diet, exclude salty and spicy, dairy products, and also adjust fluid intake. A decoction of corn stigmas will help to quickly cope with pain (while following a diet). Now you can determine for yourself what hurts you, lower back or kidneys. We have described in detail the causes and nature of pain. We emphasize once again that you should not self-medicate and delay going to the doctor.

How to determine whether the kidneys or back hurt? Many people face such a problem when they cannot pinpoint the source of pain. Most often this happens if the pain is concentrated in the lumbar region of the back. How to find out what is the cause of the disease?

Characteristics of pain in the spinal column or back muscles

The pain is mainly concentrated in the lumbar region. Most often it is caused by back diseases such as:

• osteochondrosis in all its forms;
• radiculitis.

Pain can also occur for other reasons. They can be given in the back with the following diseases:

• aortic aneurysm;
• inflammation in the pelvic organs;
• the occurrence of an ulcer duodenum or gastrointestinal tract;
• pancreatitis.

Lower back pain can most often be sharp, sharp, pulling, “shooting”. You need to know that if the spine is to blame, then the pain is usually concentrated in the middle of the lower back. In doing so, she can move to her feet.

The development of pain in the lower back can occur due to the presence of a person in uncomfortable positions. This happens when lifting various heavy objects, making a sudden movement, being at work, while sleeping.

If a person has osteochondrosis or sciatica, then the pain syndrome increases dramatically when making movements, since the functionality of the lumbar region in this case is impaired by spasm of muscle structures. It is also possible to distinguish pain in the back from damage to the kidneys as follows: the use of warming or anti-inflammatory drugs (ointments) can drastically reduce or completely remove pain shock in the dorsal part, and such measures do not help with kidney diseases. Soreness in the back can also be eliminated by wearing an orthopedic belt, which will be useless in diseases of the kidney structures.

Signs of kidney pain

Knowing the symptoms of diseases of the kidney structures, in which pain can be concentrated in the lower back, will help to accurately determine whether the kidneys or the back hurt. The most common types of such ailments are pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, but there is also urolithiasis, which most often causes so-called colic.

Pain in the kidneys can occur with hypothermia, which causes inflammation of the organ. Glomerulonephritis most often occurs after a person has suffered the flu, tonsillitis, or any other colds. How to determine by common signs that the kidney hurts, and not the back? To do this, pay attention to the following signs of the disease:

1. The patient's health deteriorates sharply. He becomes lethargic, sleepy, quickly gets tired, he develops weakness.
2. A person complains of pain in the head, his blood pressure in the arteries rises.
3. On the lower leg and face, the patient develops swelling in the morning, which disappears in the evening.
4. The patient has an elevated body temperature, chills, and severe sweating develops.
5. A person is sick, he loses his appetite, vomiting is possible.
6. Painful and frequent urination occurs.
7. Pain does not depend on the position of the body.
8. The color of the urine changes in intensity. It may become brighter or, conversely, discolored. In the urinary fluid appears blood, sediment, mucus.

If a person has the above symptoms, then it is urgent to take him to the doctor, since self-medication is dangerous in case of kidney disease.

If the kidney hurts, then the pain can be concentrated on the right or left side of the spine, and most often the pain is localized slightly below the ribs. In this case, pain shock can move to the following zones:

• groin and lateral planes of the abdomen;
• ureter (along its course);
• genital external organs;
• on the legs - the plane of the thighs on the inside.

What are the differences?

How to find out if your back or kidneys hurt? First of all, this can be done by the nature of the pain sensation. If a person has hepatic colic, then the pain syndrome will be acute, paroxysmal in nature, since with urolithiasis, the ureter and vessels are blocked with stones, which causes a partial, and sometimes complete impossibility of outflow of urinary fluid. The stone, with its sharp edges, injures the mucous structures, which causes spasm and irritation of the nerve processes on the walls of the bladder.

If the kidney is inflamed, then it sharply increases in size, and its tissue swells. The stretching of the nerve processes begins, which are very numerous in the kidneys, and this causes their irritation and pain. Pain sensations in this case are dull, aching in nature and are concentrated in the right or left side of the lower back. At the same time, the pain syndrome is not as pronounced as with typical back pain or with urolithiasis.

The doctor can determine which of the organs is suffering by tapping the edge of his palm on the patient's lower back. If the whole thing is in diseased kidneys, then such tapping causes a dull soreness in the patient, which comes from inside the body. In cases where it is impossible to accurately classify the source of pain, doctors use the following methods differential diagnosis:

1. X-ray with osteochondrosis shows changes in the spine.
2. General laboratory analysis blood in diseases of the back does not give any changes, and in case of kidney ailments it will reveal anemia, leukocytosis, etc.
3. Urinalysis will clearly identify kidney disease due to the presence in the fluid advanced level salts, bacteria, etc.
4. Ultrasound of the renal structures will reveal kidney stones and an increase in the size of the organ.

With inflammation of the kidneys, it is better not to warm the lower back with therapeutic ointments or a heating pad, as this will cause increased soreness.

If, when using heat, the ailment receded, then the back is to blame. In any case, with the development of the disease, it is best to immediately go for an examination to the doctor, and after the diagnosis, begin treatment for the disease.

Pain in the lower back, radiating to the leg, characteristic of lumbar sciatica, can also be a symptom of kidney disease. It is important to correctly identify the cause pain, because the choice of treatment will depend on this. It is possible to distinguish radiculopathy from renal pain by the characteristics of the clinic and the presence of additional symptoms, but the final reliable diagnosis can only be established after receiving the results of an additional study.

Renal colic and lumbar sciatica

In both cases, the pain is very strong and occurs acutely against the background of complete well-being, it can spread to the groin area and leg, respectively, to the side of the lesion. With renal colic, pain is cramping with constantly increasing intensity, it is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and in addition to the groin and legs, it can spread to the lower abdomen. The intensity of the pain does not depend on the position of the body, however, when you try to urinate, it intensifies.

It is worth paying attention to the condition of the coccygeal zone - is there pain or not - if so, then this is sciatica

Pain in lumbar radiculopathy increases with any muscle tension in the affected area, while at rest, on the contrary, it is somewhat weakened. A person reflexively restricts movement, avoiding tension in the back muscles. The pain can spread along the branches of the strangulated root to the thigh, lower leg, foot and toes, but does not cover the genitals and lower abdomen, is not accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

Radiculopathy and pain in inflammatory kidney disease

Unlike acute pain in renal colic, inflammation of the kidneys (pyelo- and glomerulonephritis) causes dull, aching, pulling pain in the lumbar region. It is she who is most often mistaken for sciatica and is tried to be treated with home remedies, although the differences are obvious. Pain in sciatica is acute and very intense, it makes you reflexively limit movement and avoid muscle tension.

Pain in pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis does not depend on the position of the body or physical activity. Inflammatory kidney disease is characterized by an increase in body temperature and worsening general condition, as well as a change in color, smell and daily amount of urine. The use of warming and analgesic ointments does not relieve pain.

Clinical examination, laboratory and instrumental studies

For lower back pain of unknown origin, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner. Based on the symptoms, the history of the disease and simple clinical tests, he can determine the cause of the disease with a high probability.

the onset of the disease with radiculopathy is preceded by excessive physical exertion or postural tension, pain occurs abruptly. Inflammatory diseases of the kidneys can be triggered by hypothermia, an attack with urolithiasis can provoke drinking and food with a diuretic effect; for kidney disease, a positive symptom of Pasternatsky's tapping is characteristic: when tapping the edge of the palm on the back at the level of the lower edge of the 12th rib, the pain in the lower back increases. In addition, with kidney damage, painful palpation of the lower abdomen. With radiculopathy, this does not happen; body temperature in pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis rises to 37.7-38.5 ° C, with radiculopathy and urolithiasis it is within the normal range. Renal colic is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure.

Help distinguish radiculopathy from kidney pain additional methods examinations:

indicators of the general analysis of urine at lumbar sciatica usually within the normal range. Pyelonephritis is characterized by the presence of a large number of leukocytes, with glomerulonephritis - erythrocytes and protein. With renal colic, the amount of urine is very small, fresh erythrocytes, a small amount of leukocytes, epithelial cells and protein are found in its composition; general analysis blood allows you to identify systemic signs of inflammation in glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis: an increase in the number of leukocytes and an increase in ESR; Ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal cavity is informative for renal colic: an increase in the size of the kidney, the number, size and localization of renal calculi are detected; If there are serious suspicions of the kidneys, then it is definitely worth doing an ultrasound scan of the lumbar region is prescribed to detect gross changes in the spine, it is more accurate CT scan or MRI.

Few people are unfamiliar with the feeling of pain in the lumbar region. Traditionally, this condition is associated with problems of the spine or spinal muscles, but many people do not even suspect how anatomically rich and complex the lumbar region is. Therefore, pain in it can be a symptom of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and urinary systems, and many others.

Most often, one has to distinguish between the two most common causes of lower back pain - diseases musculoskeletal system and kidney disease.

common cause back pain are sciatica or osteochondrosis of the spine. These are diseases of the musculoskeletal system, so their feature will be increase or change in the nature of pain when moving or changing the position of the body. This is also its difference from pain in kidney pathology - it is more or less constant and does not change with movement. Second important feature lower back pain in kidney disease is the presence of concomitant symptoms:

increased blood pressure and body temperature, the presence of edema on the hands, legs, face (an important characteristic of these edema is their presence in the morning after waking up and disappearing during the day), changes in urination (it can become frequent and painful, or vice versa rare, up to its complete disappearance) and urine (sediment can be determined in it, its color, quantity can change).

In addition to kidney symptoms arise signs general intoxication body:

lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, depressed mood, loss of appetite.

You also need to understand that no disease occurs on its own, it is always preceded by some provoking events. Lower back pain in diseases of the musculoskeletal system occurs after physical exertion on the spine (lifting weights, prolonged standing position), sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

For kidney disease the same provoking factors are:

general hypothermia, recent sore throat, inflammatory diseases of the genital organs.

Pain in kidney disease is localized on one or both sides of the spinal column and can radiate to the groin area, inner thighs, and to the anterior abdominal wall. Characteristics of low back pain in kidney disease depends on the nature pathological process. With urolithiasis the onset of the so-called renal colic is possible - this occurs when a small stone enters the ureter. The muscles in the wall of the ureter try to push it forward and at the same time contract spasmically, causing a strong sharp pain radiating to the area of ​​the external genital organs. In this case, the stone blocks the outflow of urine from the kidney, it stretches and causes less severe, dull pain in the lower back. At inflammatory diseases kidney(glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis) the nature of the pain is different - it is aching, constant, localized on the sides of the spine. Pain syndrome not as strong as with radiculitis or osteochondrosis of the spine.

For that, to finally find out the cause of pain in the lumbar region you can gently tap on the back slightly below the edge of the costal arch with the edge of the palm of your hand - in case of inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, such tapping will cause a dull pain that radiates down the abdomen. It is extremely important to distinguish the cause of pain in the lumbar region, since the treatment tactics depend on it.

Also interesting: You will be amazed at their effectiveness! 8 poses that are the best prevention of sciatica

6 signs that point to kidney problems

In addition, there were often cases when people, without understanding, took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for sciatica with inflammation of the kidneys. This led to severe poisoning with these drugs, since they are excreted by the kidneys, and in this case their function was impaired. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of kidney pathology, immediately consult a doctor. published by econet.ru

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet

Lower back pain

Many people have experienced pain in the lumbar region. It is not always possible to immediately understand whether the lower back or kidneys hurt.

The lower back can hurt for many reasons:

sciatica, osteochondrosis, cholelithiasis, aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, stomach or duodenal ulcer, kidney disease, inflammation in the pelvic cavity.

Pain in the lumbar region can be a symptom of many diseases, of which 90% of cases are problems with the spine and back muscles, about 6% are kidney diseases, and only the remaining 4% are diseases of other internal organs.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PAIN IN DISEASES OF THE SPINE AND BACK MUSCLES

The pain can be pulling or sharp, “shooting”, when it is impossible to even straighten your back. With problems with the spine, pain is often localized in the middle of the lower back. It can radiate to the lower extremities.

Pain in osteochondrosis and sciatica usually increases during movement. Mobility in the lumbar region is limited due to muscle spasm. Pain sensations decrease after rubbing warming and anti-inflammatory ointments or gels into the lower back. Also, back pain can be relieved by wearing a warming or special orthopedic belt.

SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASES

To understand what hurts you, you need to know what symptoms of kidney disease can accompany lower back pain. The most common inflammatory diseases of the kidneys are glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. Also, lower back pain can be a manifestation of urolithiasis, the main symptom of which is the so-called renal colic.

It is necessary to remember what caused the onset of pain in the lower back. If shortly before that you wet your feet or got cold, then this indicates inflammation of the kidneys. If the onset of symptoms was preceded by heavy physical work, an unusual load on the back, or you simply slept in an uncomfortable position, then most likely you are concerned about the spine or psoas muscles. Glomerulonephritis can be assumed when a couple of weeks before the onset of pain in the lumbar region, you had a sore throat, flu or other colds.

So how can you tell if your kidneys are hurting? To do this, pay attention to the following symptoms:

deterioration of health: lethargy, drowsiness, fatigue, weakness; an increase in blood pressure, and as a result, headache; the appearance of edema on the face, legs, which are usually noticeable in the morning, and smooth out in the evening; fever, chills, sweating; nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting; frequent or painful urination; the intensity of pain does not depend on the position of the body.

Urine can also change: it becomes saturated or colorless, contains blood, mucus or sediment. These symptoms speak in favor of kidney disease.

The localization of pain is very important. Many do not know where the kidneys hurt and what is the characteristic of the pain. At kidney disease the pain bothers more often on one side - to the left or right of the spine. It is localized just below the ribs and can radiate to the following areas:

on the lateral surface of the abdomen and groin; along the ureter; external genitalia; on the inner thighs.

Characteristics of pain in kidney pathology

Acute paroxysmal pain is characteristic of renal colic. Painful sensations in urolithiasis associated with blockage urinary tract calculus and obstruction of the outflow of urine. Arise increased peristalsis and spasm of the ureters, in addition, a stone with sharp edges injures and irritates the nerve endings in the wall of the urinary tract. These changes are what cause the pain.

The pain caused by inflammation of the kidneys is of a different nature. Inflamed kidneys increase in volume, their tissue swells. As a result, the renal capsule is stretched, in which there are many nerve endings. When the membrane is stretched, these endings are irritated, which leads to the appearance of painful sensations. for pyelonephritis and glo Merulonephritis is characterized by dull aching sensations in the right or left lumbar region. With these diseases, the pain is not very pronounced, unlike urolithiasis and diseases of the spine.

Diagnostic studies

An experienced specialist knows what symptoms are most characteristic of kidney disease. To distinguish renal pathology from back pain, the doctor performs the following technique: with the edge of the palm taps on the lumbar region. With kidney disease, tapping is accompanied by the appearance of a dull internal pain.

The most significant studies for differential diagnosis are the following:

x-ray of the lumbar spine (with osteochondrosis and sciatica, there are characteristic changes in the spine - osteophytes, intervertebral hernia, etc.); complete blood count (with diseases of the spine, there are usually no changes, with kidney disease - leukocytosis, anemia, increase in ESR); general urine analysis (increased or reduced relative density of urine, hematuria, leukocyturia, bacteriuria, high salt content indicate kidney disease); Ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal cavity (an increase in the volume of the kidneys, the presence of stones in them).

Important:

if you find that back pain, which is accompanied by these symptoms, then do not self-medicate and consult a doctor immediately; with inflammation of the kidneys, you can not warm the lower back, therefore do not apply a heating pad and do not apply ointment before consulting a specialist.

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