Kidney Pain

Kidney pain (renal pain) is discomfort near your kidneys — two bean-shaped organs that sit behind your stomach and under your rib cage. You feel kidney pain under your ribs on one or both sides of your spine. It can be a deep pain that radiates to other areas, like your groin.

Kidney pain doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with your kidneys. But it can mean that there’s an issue somewhere in your urinary system.

What does kidney pain feel like?

People with kidney pain may feel it in different ways. Some of the most common kidney pain symptoms include:

• A constant, dull ache in your back
• Pain in your sides (flank pain), under your rib cage or in your abdomen
• Severe or sharp pain that comes in waves
• Pain that spreads to your groin area

You might have other symptoms along with kidney pain, like nausea and vomiting, pain when you pee (dysuria) or fever. Infections or kidney stones often cause these additional symptoms.

What are the most common causes of kidney pain?

Your kidneys are connected to your bladder and ureters (the tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder). Problems with any of these areas can cause pain and discomfort. Possible causes of kidney pain include:

• Kidney stones: Clumps of hardened minerals, salts and acids pass through and sometimes get stuck in your urinary tract.
• Urinary retention: Your bladder can stretch painfully when you can’t empty it.
• Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR): In this condition, pee flows backward from your bladder to your ureters or kidneys.
• Ureteropelvic junction obstruction: A blockage where your ureter attaches to your kidney can cause kidney swelling and damage.
• Ureteral stricture: Narrowing of your ureter on one or both sides can prevent pee from passing through as easily as it should.
• Kidney infection (pyelonephritis): Bacteria in your kidneys can cause swelling (inflammation).
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): PKD is a genetic condition you’re born with. Cysts from PKD can expand and enlarge your kidneys.
• Injury or trauma: Impact from contact sports, accidents or other blunt force trauma may cause damage to your kidneys.
• Kidney (renal) cancer: They often don’t cause any symptoms in the early stages, but kidney tumors can sometimes cause pain and blood in your pee.

What tests can help determine the cause of kidney pain?

To find the cause of your pain, your provider might use:

• Urinalysis: Your provider looks at your pee and tests it for bacteria, blood, proteins and other substances.
• Imaging tests: An ultrasound, CT scan or an MRI of your kidneys and urinary tract allow your provider to look for kidney stones or anatomical differences that could be causing pain.

How is kidney pain treated?

Kidney pain treatment depends on the cause. Some treatments could include:

• Antibiotics to treat infections
• Procedures to break up and/or remove kidney stones
• Dialysis to filter your blood if your kidneys aren’t working properly
• Surgery if you have a blockage, narrowing or another issue that prevents pee from flowing properly

How do I make my kidney pain go away?

If you have kidney pain that doesn’t go away, call your healthcare provider. Go to the emergency room for severe symptoms. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to ease discomfort:

• Stay hydrated: Drinking lots of water (but don’t overdo it) helps reduce your risk if you have kidney stones. Avoid alcohol.
• Relieve pain: Over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen (Tylenol®), can relieve discomfort temporarily (unless you have known liver damage and shouldn’t take acetaminophen).

Ask your provider if it’s OK to take ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or other NSAIDS, since they can cause kidney damage in some people.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

See your provider or go to the ER if you have persistent kidney pain or if you have back pain along with any of the following symptoms:

• Unmanaged pain
• Inability to pee
• Fever or chills
• Severe nausea or vomiting (especially if you can’t keep anything down)
• Pain when you pee
• Blood in your pee
• A repeated, urgent need to pee that’s unusual for you
• A general feeling of illness or low energy that won’t go away

What can be mistaken for kidney pain?

People often mistake back pain for kidney pain. But there are some key differences between kidney pain and how it feels compared to back pain.

Back pain usually affects the middle of your back, over your spine. Many people experience back pain in their lower back. Spine-related issues can also sometimes cause back pain to radiate down your legs. Kidney pain is typically located in your side (flank), and it often feels deeper.

Hip pain can also be confused with kidney pain, but hip pain is lower down on your back.