Symptom

Kidney Pain

Overview | Possible Causes | Care and Treatment | HOME REMEDies | When to Call the Doctor | References

Kidney Pain

Overview

People often mistake kidney pain as back pain.

Unlike back pain, which usually occurs in the lower back, kidney pain is deeper and higher up the back. The kidneys can be found underneath the ribcage, on each side of the spine. Pain from the kidneys is felt in the sides, or in the middle to upper back (most often under the ribs, to the right or left of the spine). The pain may also progress to other areas, such as the abdomen or groin.

Kidney pain is a result of swelling or blockage in the kidneys or urinary tract. Other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or painful urination are clues that the pain is a result of a kidney problem.

Possible Causes

Because the kidneys filter the blood, form urine, and pass it out of the body through tubes called ureters, problems in any of these areas could result in pain. Some of the more common causes of kidney pain include:

Kidney stones: Kidney stones form from the buildup of minerals or chemical wastes inside the body. Stones may be as small as a grain of sand or larger than a pearl. If they are small they may pass out of the body. However, larger stones may get stuck in the urinary tract and prevent urine from passing. In either case, intense pain can result.
Urinary tract infection: An infection anywhere along the urinary tract caused by bacteria left behind after urination. Symptoms may include fever, painful urination, cloudy urine, and general fatigue.
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis): A kidney infection occurs when bacteria from a bladder infection has spread to the kidneys. People with diabetes or who have a blockage in the urinary tract are more likely to get a kidney infection. In chronic cases, some problem in the urinary tract causes urine to flow backwards from the bladder up to the kidneys, resulting in repeated infections and possibly permanent kidney damage.
Polycystic kidney disease: An inherited condition in which fluid-filled sacs (cysts) develop inside the kidneys. As the cysts expand, the kidneys become enlarged and may eventually lose their ability to function.
Injury or trauma: Any strong impact or blunt force to the kidney area (such as in contact sports or an accident) may cause a laceration or other physical damage to the kidneys. Such incidents may also cause a disruption of normal blood flow to the kidneys. Acute (sudden) kidney failure may result from kidney trauma.
Kidney (renal) cancer: Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. It usually affects people in their 60s or 70s, rarely appearing in those under the age of 50. If they occur at all, symptoms include blood in the urine, a persistent pain in the back or side just below the ribs, and a lump or swelling in the side.

Care & Treatment

Treatment of kidney pain depends on what condition is causing it. In order to pinpoint a cause, a number of tools are available to help your doctor make a diagnosis:

Urinalysis: Checks for the presence of blood, excess white blood cells (which would point to an infection), proteins, and certain chemicals that are linked to various kidney disorders.
Imaging tests: Ultrasound or a CT (computed tomography) scan provides an image of the physical structure of the kidneys and urinary tract, sees if stones are present, and helps determine if blood flow is adequate.

Home Remedies

Now that we’ve discussed what might be causing your kidney pain, let’s dive into the 10 ways you can alleviate this type of pain at home.

For Urinary Tract Infections

Since three of the most common causes of kidney discomfort (UTI, bladder infection and kidney infection) occur in the urinary tract, here are some remedies to relieve pain in the kidneys related to the urinary tract:

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key to relieving pain in the kidneys since water will help flush bacteria out of the body. Plus, staying hydrated will help clear out the urinary tract as a whole and work to eliminate any possible infections.

2. Drink Cranberry Juice

While not scientifically proven, cranberry juice is known to be a remedy for urinary tract infections. If you choose to alternate between cranberry juice and water, be sure to choose a cranberry juice that isn’t packed full of additional sweeteners. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is always the best way to go!

3. Take Probiotics

It’s no secret that probiotics are beneficial for you, especially when it comes to fighting bacteria and kidney pain. Studies show that probiotics can improve kidney function and assist in processing waste too.

4. Drink Parsley Juice

While the thought of drinking parsley juice likely doesn’t sound appealing, it can increase urination and help flush out bacteria. Parsley juice is a nutrient-dense diuretic, which can aid in increasing the frequency of urination.

5. Take a Warm Epsom Salt Bath

A warm bath filled with Epsom salts will help relax you while relieving intense kidney pain. While it won’t eliminate pain long-term, it can help ease the discomfort.

6. Apply Heat

Heat therapy can be very useful for kidney pain reduction as well. Place a heating pad on the affected area for around 20 minutes at a time for successful pain reduction.

7. Use Non-Aspirin Pain Killers

Non-aspirin pain killers such as Ibuprofen, Motrin and Advil can help reduce pain in the kidneys, too. If you are experiencing a fever with kidney discomfort, take Tylenol to relieve the pain and potentially break the fever.

For Kidney Stones

While most of the remedies above will help ease kidney stone pain as well, there are more specific solutions for kidney stones, such as:

1. Monitor Your Alcohol Consumption

Interestingly enough, alcohol- specifically wine- can be useful for preventing kidney stones and providing pain relief. The antioxidants in wine are beneficial for kidney health and the extra fluid intake will help flush any stones out of your system as long as they’re passable.

However, you don’t want to drink only alcohol. Limit your libation intake to 350 ml of beer or 150 ml of wine per day in addition to water.

2. Add Citrus To Your Water

Lemon juice contains citrate, which is known to prevent calcium stones from forming and break apart existing stones. Adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to your water will help work against kidney stones and flush them out of your system.

Plus, as we mentioned earlier, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water will help relieve kidney discomfort.

3. Choose Acidic Beverages

Basil, celery and pomegranate juices are known to fight kidney stones and relieve pain in the kidneys as well. Each contain antioxidants which will improve your kidney health and flush toxins out of your kidneys.

However, these types of juices aren’t for everyone so we suggest asking your urologist before drinking basil, celery or pomegranate juice.

Not All Kidney Pain is Treatable With At-Home Remedies

While these solutions may help relieve, or in some cases eliminate, mild kidney pain, they will not stop infections from spreading. When left untreated, even the occasional UTI can turn into something more severe, which is why it’s always in your best interest to contact your doctor when you are experiencing any type of pain in your kidneys.

Based on your symptoms, an in-office visit may not be required. Talk to your doctor and ask questions about the type of pain you are experiencing. They will be able to tell you if at-home remedies are possible, or if you need to schedule an appointment.