Your Indianapolis Chiropractor

You can get back pain for a variety of reasons. In fact, there are dozens of possible causes. Typically, there’s nerve damage in the spine, or an injury to the interconnected network of muscles, tendons and ligaments in the back. However, sometimes your pain is coming from a different source all together.

Your discomfort may actually be the result of a kidney problem. It could be a kidney infection, kidney stone, or some other kidney disorder. Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone will tell you it’s some of the worst pain they’ve ever experienced.

How can you tell you’re dealing with a kidney problem and not nerve or muscle damage?

Your first clue - and one of your best - is the location of your pain. Kidney pain usually happens in the “flank” region, which is just below the bottom of your rib cage.

Many times, pain from kidney disorders is described as “acute.” In other words, it comes on fast and it comes on strong.

Kidney stones often trigger back pain as they move down the urinary tract. When a kidney stone becomes lodged in a ureter, obstructing the flow of urine, it can cause extreme pain.

Discolored urine is another symptom of a kidney problem. When you notice that your urine is darker than normal, it could indicate the presence of blood. This is definitely a good reason to talk to your doctor.

People with kidney problems - or other urinary tract disorders - usually feel the need to urinate a lot. But most of the time, very little urine is produced.

It’s not unusual to feel a burning or stinging sensation when urinating.

Kidney stones don’t always have to be removed through surgery or shock wave treatment. They sometimes pass out of the body on their own dueing urination. This is more likely to take place if you drink a lot of water. In most cases, your back pain will stop as soon as you pass the stone.

Fortunately, while kidney stones can cause a great deal of pain, they’re not considered a threat to life.

But a kidney infection, left untreated, can lead to kidney damage and even kidney failure. Therefore, if you even suspect your back pain is coming from a kidney infection, it’s best to call a doctor right away.

Need more articles on related subjects? Click on renal failure. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host with a special interest in topics related to kidney health. You can read more of his articles about kidney disorders at http://www.kidney-problem.org.