WHAT IS FLANK PAIN?
Flank pain, also called kidney pain, is pain in your upper back or abdomen and sides.
Flank pain, often known as kidney pain, refers to discomfort in the upper back, abdomen, and sides.
FLANK PAIN CAUSES
Flank pain most commonly results from one of three causes: urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones, and musculoskeletal problems like a muscle strain or pinched nerve.
HOW TO PREVENT FLANK PAIN
The kidneys are your body’s filters. The waste from your kidneys travels out of your body through urine. One of the best ways to prevent common kidney problems is to drink plenty of water, which helps keep the filtering process running smoothly.
FLANK PAIN CAUSES: URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by bacteria that enters the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
SYMPTOMS OF A UTI
Pain in your lower back or abdomen may be a sign of a lower UTI, such as an infection in the bladder. Pain in the upper back and kidney area may be a sign of an upper UTI.
Other UTI symptoms include:
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Burning when you urinate
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
UTI TREATMENT
Dr. Nimeh or your primary care doctor can treat a UTI. You’ll be prescribed an antibiotic, and symptoms should clear up shortly after. For recurring or severe UTIs, Dr. Nimeh might perform a more extensive workup to make sure there isn’t an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.
FLANK PAIN CAUSES: KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones are crystals that form in your urine and build up in your kidneys. They cause severe pain.
SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones cause sudden, severe flank pain that can come in waves. The pain may also radiate down through the groin. The pain continues as the stone travels through the ureters, the bladder, and out the urethra if it’s small enough.
You may also experience:
- Blood in urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Painful urination
KIDNEY STONES TREATMENT
For small stones, you can take pain medications and drink lots of water until the stone passes. Your doctor may also prescribe a medication to help you pass the stone if you have trouble passing it on your own.
Large stones that cannot fit through the urinary tract need to be removed by surgery or lithotripsy, a procedure that breaks apart large stones into small pieces that can pass. You can check out our kidney stones page for more information.
FLANK PAIN CAUSES: MUSCULOSKELETAL PROBLEMS
Flank pain can sometimes be linked to a musculoskeletal issue. This could be the result of increased physical activity, a pinched nerve, or a muscular strain or tear caused by a fall or other trauma, lifting something too heavy, or repetitive motion.
Muscle pain is commonly described as a dull aching that gets worse with physical exertion, pressure, or motions that employ specific muscles, such as sneezing or laughing.
To treat the pain at home, use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and ice the area for about 20 minutes at a time every few hours. If the pain doesn’t go away or you notice swelling or redness along your sides, call your doctor or visit an urgent care center.
OTHER FLANK PAIN CAUSES
Flank pain can sometimes be caused by other, more serious conditions. These include:
- Bladder or kidney cancer
- Kidney disease
- Diverticulitis
- Gallbladder disease
- Appendicitis
- Blockage in the urinary tract
Flank pain can be tricky to diagnose and require a few different tests to pinpoint the problem. It’s always best to talk to your primary care doctor if you have unexplained pain that doesn’t go away. You should also call your doctor right away if you have signs of an infection, such as fever, fatigue, or body aches.