Lower Left Back Pain From Internal Organs Causes And Treatments
Sometimes, dull aches or sharp pains in your lower left back can be caused by problems with organs in your abdominal area. The lower left part of your back includes the left kidney, which is located towards your back, just below the rib cage.
Part of your stomach, intestines, and colon are also located on the left side of your abdomen and, usually, if you have any digestive problems, the digestive-related pain may also to be felt on the lower left side of your back.
Women also have part of their reproductive system on the left side of their body. For example, ovarian cyst on the left ovary can also be a source of pain in women in the lower part of their back.
What Color Is Urine When Your Kidneys Are Failing
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
What Can I Do For Low Back Pain At Home
If your lower back pain has just started, the best thing you can do is start a log. Record your symptoms, times, dates and which activities trigger the pain or make it worse or better. Take this information to your family physician if the pain doesnt resolve on its own. It will make diagnosing the cause much easier.
Once you know which motion or position causes your lower back pain, try to avoid it and see if you get better. Icing the painful spot can also help. And so can over-the-counter pain relievers that help reduce inflammation. Just remember that pain killers treat only the symptom pain and not its cause.
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Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
A person with kidney stones experiences sudden and painful flank pain. The pain usually comes in waves and radiates to the groin. The pain continues until the stone leaves the body. If the stone is small enough, it will leave when a person urinates. Larger stones require surgical removal. Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Pain when Urinating
If experiencing potential kidney stones, a trip to the doctor to ensure the stones can pass through the urinary tract is necessary.
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When To Contact A Doctor
A person who is experiencing kidney pain should contact a doctor as soon as possible to find out what is causing it.
People must contact a doctor to diagnose and treat kidney pain. Receiving the correct treatment ensures that the kidneys do not become damaged, which can lead to kidney failure.
Doctors may order tests such as:
- urine tests, which can help them identify any infections
- imaging tests, such as CT or ultrasound scans
- cytology, which can help them identify cancer cells in the urine
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Getting A Medical Diagnosis
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Lower Back Pain On The Right Side: What It Means
Lower back pain can have several potential causes, including muscle strains, trauma or injury to your back, spine problems, and degenerative disc disease.
However, if youve confirmed from your doctor or you know it yourself that these arent the causes of your back pain, it means your internal organs are the source of your pain.
Your several important organs like intestines, appendix, kidneys, and ovaries are located more toward your back. Your back muscles also receive some of the nerve ending from these organs. So, the problem in these organs is often felt as back pain.
Listed below are a few organ issues that can cause back pain on the right side.
- Appendicitis
- Kidney stones in the right kidney
- Gallstones
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How To Know If Back Pain Is From Your Kidneys
Common causes of kidney pain are mainly urinary tract infections, kidney infections and kidney stones. However, there are many other causes of kidney pain, including penetrating and blunt trauma that can result in a lacerated kidney.
If the pain is coming from your kidney, it will have these features:
You’re Eating Too Much Salt
Your kidneys can also suffer if your electrolytes are out of balance. Sodium and potassium are constantly in competition with each other, and if you are consuming too much salt then these minerals will be out of kilter. As we know, our kidneys are responsible for maintaining a balance between electrolytes, so are forced to work extra hard if you have too much salt in your diet.
Unfortunately, its all too easy to have a high salt diet these days, as processed and packaged foods are in abundance while fresh vegetables and fruits are found on fewer and fewer plates. Your kidneys can easily become overwhelmed by too much salt, and your cells can become swollen as they absorb water to try to dilute the high salt levels in your body. As a result, your body can become dehydrated and swollen.
So, although you might be drinking what you think is a sufficient amount of water, if you are consuming too much salt then this can alter your fluid balance and cause achy kidneys. Plus, you may not even be aware that your diet contains more salt than it should! Salt can be found in various supermarket products, not to mention that many of us add even more salt at the dinner table. The recommended daily salt intake for adults is 6g, and we should all make the effort to check the salt content of the foods were eating. You might be surprised at how much salt is in your food!
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Types Of Back Pain And Kidney Pain
Back pain is classified into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain anatomically. It can be acute if it lasts for less than 4 weeks, sub acute if lasting for 4 to 12 weeks and chronic if present for more than 12 weeks.
Kidney pain is usually very severe and if caused due to kidney stones are known as colic which indicates its wave like occurrence as opposed to steady pain. Pain due to kidney infection is indicated by pain in flank area. All types of kidney pain are usually accompanied with fever, nausea and vomiting.
What Is The Difference Between Back Pain & Kidney Pain
Because your kidneys are located below your ribcage and towards your back, it can be difficult to tell whether the pain youre experiencing is back pain or kidney pain.
Since back pain is so common, its easy for people who are actually experiencing kidney issues to brush the pain off as normal back pain.
This can be dangerous, especially if the underlying cause of kidney pain is a condition that requires immediate medical treatment.
Your symptoms can help you determine whether youre experiencing back or kidney pain.
The type of pain and its severity can also help you understand the source of your pain.
In this guide, Ill break down the causes of back and kidney pain, and provide you with tips for identifying the source of your pain. Ill also tell you when its best to talk to your doctor.
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The Back Pain Can Be Symptoms Of Stage 3a Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease
We have heard so many stories of people losing their life to Chronic Kidney Disease. In most cases, you will find that they did not know about the failure until the very end. Here, hence you will find the different aspects of Stage 3A Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease. One must have knowledge of different stages and this will only help you to tackle the problem safely.
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What Exactly Are Kidney Stones
Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi,are solid deposits or clumps formed by the accumulation of dissolved minerals like calcium oxalate and struvite in the inner lining of the kidneys. The size of these stones vary and these can be as large as a golf ball. Smaller stones usually go unnoticed and pass out of the body along with the urine whereas larger stones can get stuck in the urinary tract and need to be removed surgically. Treatment for kidney stones is offered at all the leading urology hospitals in Mumbai.
There are certain risk factors that can increase your vulnerability to developing kidney stones. These include:
·A family or personal history of kidney stone. If you have already had kidney stones in the past, there are slightly raised chances of developing them in future as well.
·Dehydration too can increase the risks of kidney stones which is the reason why people living in warm areas are at a higher risk of developing these.
·Excess intake of proteins, salt and sugar can elevate the levels of calcium in your kidneys thereby increasing the risks of kidney stones.
·Obese people too fall in the risk category.
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What Causes A Kidney Infection
The commonest cause of kidney infection is the bacteria called E coli . The mode of infection is ascending of the germ from the anogenital area.
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters , urinary bladder, and the urethra . These bacteria can enter the urinary tract via the urethra. The infection can occur during sexual intercourse or because of poor hygiene habits after bowel movements. On entering the urethra, the bacteria can migrate upwards to infect the bladder and the kidneys . Although pyelonephritis is rarer than cystitis, it is a serious condition and needs prompt medical management. Kidney infections can even occur in the absence of a bladder infection. This may be seen in conditions, such as kidney stones , and with weak immunity, such as diabetes and HIV.
What Is Kidney Pain
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 . 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.
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Kidney Pain Vs Back Pain
It’s easy to confuse kidney pain for just back pain. How do you know the difference?
Location. It could be your kidney and not your back if you feel it higher on your back. Back problems usually affect your lower back.
Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it’s felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage.
It’s often constant. It probably won’t go away when you shift your body. With your back, it might lessen when you adjust your position.
Signs that it’s your back
Back pain:
- Shoots down one leg
- Is more likely to be stabbing than dull and constant
- Gets worse or flares up when you do certain activities, like lifting a box or bending over
- When you rest or lie down, back pain may ease up
- Might also be muscle aches
Other symptoms to watch for
Depending on the cause of the pain, you could have other symptoms too. If you have these signs, contact your doctor. You could have a serious kidney problem:
- Fever
- Body aches
- Tiredness
Also, if you recently had a urinary tract infection , call your doctor. If you have blood in your urine, or if your pain is sudden and unbearable even without signs of blood in your pee, get medical care right away.
You Have Low Levels Of Potassium
On the other hand, while we tend to consume too much salt in our diets, we also tend to be lacking in potassium, a mineral which helps with fluid balance. Whats more, not only do the kidneys hold onto salt and water, they also release vital potassium when the balance between these minerals isnt quite right. Therefore, as well as reducing your salt intake, its equally as important to up your intake of potassium to avoid overwhelming your kidneys as they struggle to maintain equilibrium.
To help avoid back pain caused by troubled kidneys, you can make sure to incorporate lots of fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet. White and sweet potatoes are both great sources of potassium, as well as bananas, kiwi fruits and oranges.
Top tip:Balance Mineral Drink is a refreshing strawberry drink that contains a sensible dose of potassium, plus other minerals like vitamin D, magnesium and zinc. It can be added to water for a refreshing strawberry drink, or included in your favourite fruit smoothie. Keeping your potassium levels topped up will help to keep your kidneys ticking over, and avoid troubling back pain.
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Raleigh Adult Medicine: Compassionate Internal Medicine Doctors In Raleigh Nc
Its sometimes difficult to tell the difference between back pain and kidney pain. Often, there are subtle cues that can be easy to overlook. Thats why we want to help you alleviate your pain, regardless of whether the source is your kidneys or another condition.
Contact us for an appointment today.
For more than 20 years, Raleigh Adult Medicine has served as the Triangle areas premier internal medicine provider. We tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
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Your Body Is Struggling With Big Evening Meals
There are other reasons for sweating during the night besides menopause and a heavy duvet. If you are overweight you may find that you sweat a lot during the night, and as a result wake up dehydrated and achy.
Eating large, stodgy meals in the evening will force your body to work harder to metabolise your foods. On top of this, eating shortly before bed means that your body will be working hard and sweating while you sleep, which once again will leave you dehydrated come morning.
A similar process will take place after drinking alcohol: 6 pints on a Saturday night, for example, will push your body into overdrive and make it work hard while you sleep. Not only does alcohol act as a diuretic and make you pee more during a night out, metabolising excess amounts of alcohol overnight will also put pressure on your system and cause you to sweat.
Top tip: Aim to stop eating a couple of hours before you go to bed, to avoid forcing your body to work overtime to metabolise large amounts of food while you sleep. This will help you to avoid discomfort and sweating during the night, which in turn will ensure that your body isnt dehydrated come the morning.
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When Its Not Usually The Kidneys:
- Dull or sharp pain in the low back is more likely due to a muscle pull, spinal issue, such as sciatica, or an injury. Kidney pain is usually felt higher up in the back and very rarely that low. If you are experiencing dull low back pain and it doesnt seem to be improving, a visit to your primary care physician should be scheduled.
- Pain that increases after certain activities, especially vigorous activities are typically related to injury and or strain as well. While dehydration is very problematic for your kidneys, the acute pain you may experience during activity is likely not from the kidneys themselves. However, this is a great time to remind you that the kidneys need water. Staying hydrated means that your urine is a pale straw color. If it is any darker, you are dehydrated.
- The pain goes away when you rest. The most common cause of kidney pain is from kidney stones, and this will not improve when you lie down and rest. Similarly, any symptoms of kidney inflammation or kidney failure will not let up with rest.
Of course, symptoms can vary between patients and conditions, so if you believe the pain to be unusual, contact a qualified medical professional to get the right diagnosis.