When Should You See A Doctor For Your Lower Back Pain
Most back pain caused by sprains or overuse tends to get better without treatment within a few weeks. Over-the-counter pain relievers and/or heat or cold application to the painful area can help decrease your back pain. Bed rest is not suggested.
However, there may be other causes that require attention and treatment.
When to see your doctor
Call your doctor if your back pain doesn’t get better after treating it at home for a week. It can mean there’s a bigger problem that the doctor needs to evaluate. You’ll also want to call your doctor if your back pain:
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Spreads down one or both of your legs, particularly if you have pain extending below your knee
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Is intense or constant, particularly when you lie down or at night
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Occurs with redness or swelling on your back
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Causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both of your legs
When is lower back pain an emergency?
While rushing to the emergency department is probably not something you want to do, you need to take back pain seriously left side, right side, or both.
When suffering from severe back pain, a visit to the ER is recommended. It could indicate a medical emergency. Some red-flag symptoms of back issues that may indicate an emergency are a combination of any of the following:
If you experience any of the above symptoms, visit the emergency room immediately or call 911 if you’re unable to get to the emergency room on your own.
Prevention Of Future Stones
Once your health care provider finds out why you are forming stones, he or she will give you tips on how to prevent them. This may include changing your diet and taking certain medications. There is no “one-size-fits-all” diet for preventing kidney stones. Everyone is different. Your diet may not be causing your stones to form. But there are dietary changes that you can make to stop stones from continuing to form.
Diet Changes
Drink enough fluids each day.
If you are not producing enough urine, your health care provider will recommend you drink at least 3 liters of liquid each day. This equals about 3 quarts . This is a great way to lower your risk of forming new stones. Remember to drink more to replace fluids lost when you sweat from exercise or in hot weather. All fluids count toward your fluid intake. But it’s best to drink mostly no-calorie or low-calorie drinks. This may mean limiting sugar-sweetened or alcoholic drinks.
Knowing how much you drink during the day can help you understand how much you need to drink to produce 2.5 liters of urine. Use a household measuring cup to measure how much liquid you drink for a day or two. Drink from bottles or cans with the fluid ounces listed on the label. Keep a log, and add up the ounces at the end of the day or 24-hour period. Use this total to be sure you are reaching your daily target urine amount of at least 85 ounces of urine daily.
Reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
Eat the recommended amount of calcium.
How To Distinguish Back Pain From Kidney Pain
As back pain is a common experience for many people, its easy to think that its just another ordinary ache that will go away on its own. However, your kidneys may be the organs that are actually causing you pain. It can be tricky to distinguish what exactly is causing your discomfort because of how close the pain areas are. Heres a quick guide to help you figure out if youre experiencing kidney pain or back pain:
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Do Kidney Stones Hurt Worse When Lying Down
In some cases, the symptoms may be very subtle and build up slowly. In other cases, they may come on suddenly, with no early warning signs. This pain can be severe and may lead to nausea or vomiting, or both. People often experience sharp, stabbing pain, and common measures such as rest or lying down do not relieve it.
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If youre experiencing severe symptoms of back pain, its best to consult with a doctor immediately.
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Conditions That Improve Or Worsen Kidney Pain
Moving around will not affect the pain. It likely wont provide relief, but it will not worsen the symptoms either. In most cases, nothing you do will get rid of the pain until your doctor or specialist properly treats your kidneys.
Kidney pain is also accompanied by several other symptoms, including nausea, feverishness, vomiting, dark urine, frequent need to urinate, or pain while urinating.
When Should You Go See Your Doctor About Back Or Kidney Pain
Back pain
Back pain can be incredibly frustrating, but the good news is: It usually gets better on its own. MCG doctors suggest avoiding aggravating movements and giving heat, ice, or anti-inflammatories a try. If it doesnt clear up within six to 12 weeks, go see your primary care doctor who can assist you in finding better treatment.If, however, you are experiencing back pain after traumatic accident or have other concerning symptoms, head over to urgent care for immediate treatment.
Kidney pain
If you suspect that you have a kidney issue, you should always schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Really anyone who has symptoms of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones should follow up with their physician to make that determination, says Santiago.
If you are pregnant and experiencing a significant fever, see emergency care to get evaluated right away, adds Santiago. Pregnant women are at a greater risk for complications so if primary care isnt available, urgent care is the best place to seek assistance.
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Why Can Pain Be Felt In One Part Of The Lower Back Left
It can be a little confusing when you experience pain on just one side of your lower back. The pain you’re feeling may be due to something minor whereby your body can rectify the problem on its own, or it may be an indication of something more serious.
Unilateral or one-sided back pain is a relatively common problem. When you experience pain on either side of your back, left or right, it may stem from issues with the organs in your pelvic, abdominal, or mid-back area. The pain may indicate inflammation, irritation, or infection.
The organs that are typically associated with this type of back pain can include:
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Abdominal aorta
Many abdominal or pelvic structure problems can occur and lead to one-sided back pain. Below you’ll learn which internal organs can cause you to experience lower back pain whether it’s on the left side or the right side.
How Can You Tell The Difference Between Kidney And Back Pain
When it comes to differentiating between the two, you want to look at two factors: the location of the pain and the type of sensations youre experiencing.
Location
Pain that is related to a pulled muscle, ligament strain, or disc damage, can be anywhere up and down your back, but it tends to be around the lower spine . Reason being: This area bears most of our weight as we go about our daily activities, rendering it more vulnerable to injury, tightness, and muscle fatigue. If theres a nerve issue, the pain may also radiate down to your butt or to one of your legs or feet, as well.
Kidney pain, on the other hand, manifests around the middle of your back and to either side of the spine. This is called the flank area. If you reach around and put your hand naturally where your waist is, its right about there, says Dr. Rajan.
Type of pain
Back pain can range from a sharp burning sensation to a dull ache. You may also experience numbness or tingling in your legs. The key thing to notice about back pain, though, is that it often flares up or lessens depending on how you move, according to Cheyenne Santiago, M.S.N., R.N., and managing editor at MCG.
Kidney pain is also often accompanied by other symptoms. So, if you also:
- Notice your pee looks bloody, dark, or cloudy
- Find that your urine smells funkier than usual
- Have pain when urinating
youll want to have your primary care physician examine your kidney function.
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Pressure Or Pain In The Lower Back
In some cases, a stone may become stuck in the ureter. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. A blockage here causes urine to back up in the kidney, resulting in pressure and pain sensations in the lower back. These symptoms may occur on the left or right side, depending on which kidney is affected.
According to the University of Chicago, pain or pressure are usually the first signs of a kidney stone. In some cases, the symptoms may be very subtle and build up slowly. In other cases, they may come on suddenly, with no early warning signs. This pain can be severe and may lead to nausea or vomiting, or both. People often experience sharp, stabbing pain, and common measures such as rest or lying down do not relieve it.
Physical Therapy For Treating Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain needs to be evaluated by a doctor in order to find out whether an internal organ is causing it, or exactly what the source of the pain is. Imaging studies and other tests will reveal the cause of your symptoms.
Lower back pain can be relieved without medication or surgery by employing physical therapy. Here at Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness, our experienced medical team provides superior and individualized physical therapy programs for our patients. Our licensed and skilled physical therapists will work with you to relieve your lower back pain and to make your body stronger and more flexible.
If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with us, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at 284-7192 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We proudly serve Austin, Round Rock, Manor, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Bee Caves, and Hutto and we look forward to helping you enjoy less back pain and more living!
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How To Tell If Its Kidney Pain Or Back Pain
Your kidneys are located just below the ribcage, with each kidney positioned on either side of your spine. Kidneys help to filter toxins and extra fluids from the body to ensure the rest of your body works normally. Common causes of kidney pain include UTIs, kidney infections, and kidney stones. Because your kidneys rest against your back muscles, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate kidney pain from back pain. To help you distinguish between the two, were breaking down the signs and symptoms of how to tell if its back pain or kidney pain.
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When To Seek Urgent Medical Attention
You should seek urgent medical attention if:
- you have a high temperature of 38C or over and symptoms of kidney infection/a kidney stone
- you have an episode of shivering or shaking and symptoms of kidney infection/a kidney stone
- the pain gets worse, particularly if it’s a sudden, severe pain
Contact your GP immediately if you experience any of the symptoms above. If your GP isn’t available, contact the GP out of hours service.
You may be admitted to the hospital if:
- you are dehydrated and cannot take fluids due to vomiting
- there is uncertainty about the diagnosis
- you dont respond to treatment within one hour , or there is sudden and recurring severe pain
If you dont need admission to hospital, you will likely be referred to a urologist for investigation, to be seen as soon as possible.
This is so investigations can be done to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the likelihood of your body passing it when you go to the toilet .
A urologist is a specialist in treating urinary problems.
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How Long Do Kidney Stones Last
A stone that’s smaller than 4 mm may pass within one to two weeks. A stone that’s larger than 4 mm could take about two to three weeks to completely pass. Once the stone reaches the bladder, it typically passes within a few days, but may take longer, especially in an older man with a large prostate.
What Color Are Kidney Stones When Passed
Kidney stones may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or brown. A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way. A kidney stone that gets stuck can block your flow of urine, causing severe pain or bleeding.
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Can Kidney Stone Cause Chest Pain
Can Kidney Stones Cause Pain In Your Hip Jul 13, 2013 · Pain problem is common among kidney failure patients and it may occur in many parts of patients body like lower back, abdomen and even hip. For your husband, he may experience hip pain due to the following several factors: 1. Kidney stone: Hip pain occurs when kidney stone stuck in kidney or
North country residents can now visit a kidney specialist at the EJ Noble Professional Building in Canton. St. Lawrence.
New Kidney Stone Program at AHNs Allegheny Valley Hospital Provides Advanced Care 24/7 for Painful ConditionThey can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl, said Dr. Bagga. Stones located in the kidney dont usually cause a problem.
were sent home with pain medication to tide them.
Can Kidney Stones Cause Dull Abdominal Pain Aug 13, 2018 · Kidney stones Kidney infection Kidney cysts Pain location: Starts as a dull pain and continues to be a sharp stinging or burning pain as the stones move. This pain will come and go in waves: Remains as a dull ache and is usually confused with back pain.
It largely varies depending on the cancer may have spread to the main bronchus lung lining, chest.
can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney.
Health is the key to longevity and vitality. Today, the high cost of medical care has led to individuals finding ways of.
There are some over-the-counter painkillers that can fight kidney pain.
It can cause.
Symptom Of Kidney Stone: Radiating Pain
Although you may have pain at the blockage point, you can also get pain radiating into other areas, Dr. Zhao says. For example, if a stone is obstructing the tube out of your bladder, you may have generalized pain in the lower abdomen or groin, including the testicles.
You can also get pain with urination, if the stones are lodged in the urethra.
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Three Phases Of Pain In More Detail
The Physiology
No discussion regarding ureteral obstruction would be complete without the work of E. Darracott Vaughan, who characterized the physiology of urinary obstruction in the 1970s.
Assuming two functional kidneys, the physiologic effects of acute unilateral ureteral obstruction can be marked by three distinct phases.
In phase one, the effects of the inflammatory cascade described above cause a progressive rise in renal blood flow and renal pelvis and ureteral pressure. This phase lasts for approximately one to one and a half hours. This is the portion where the afferent arteriole the faucet is maximally opened.
Phase two is marked by efferent arteriolar vasoconstriction which causes a decrease in overall renal blood flow but an increase in ureteral pressure for up to five hours. The faucet is opened and the end clamp is tightened.
Phase three is marked by a further decrease in renal blood flow to the affected kidney and ultimately decreased ureteral pressure. The end clamp is progressively tightened so blood flow to the kidney is reduced enough that filtration and urine production begin to fall, and pressure with it.
Measurements of ureteral pressure and renal blood flow after onset of acute unilateral ureteral obstruction.
The Symptoms
It is easy to conjecture how these three distinct phases correlate clinically to the symptoms experienced during an acute episode of colic.
When To See A Doctor
Once youve determined whether your pain is coming from your back or your kidneys, consider seeing your doctor for evaluation and treatment.
You should always be seen if you think you have a kidney infection or kidney stone.
You might be able to treat acute back pain thats mild without seeing your doctor, but if it doesnt get better, is more than mild pain, or spreads, you should see your doctor.
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What Can You Expect When You See Your Doctor About Kidney Pain
If youre going to see the doctor about regular musculoskeletal back soreness, your M.D. is most likely going to perform a physical exam to figure out whats causing the problem. And if they think its a more serious issue, they may order an ultrasound or some other type of imaging.
A kidney evaluation may involve more testing, however.
First, theyll ask you about your symptoms and if youve had any history of kidney problems in the past or family members with kidney disease. Then they will palpate the area over your kidneys and check your blood pressure and your temperature.
After that, theyll ask you to pee in a cup. This is called a urinalysis. With this test, your doctor is looking to see whether or not they see microscopic blood or smaller crystals. And depending on how sick you are, they may also order some blood tests to check for other signs of infection and see how well the kidneys are actually doing to clear toxins, says Dr. Rajan.
If your doctor is very concerned, they might do an ultrasound to look at the structure of your kidneys and check for stones.
Physicians often prescribe antibiotics for UTIs, and in the case of a small kidney stone, they may just recommend drinking more water and taking pain meds until the stone passes. But more serious or complicated conditions could require other procedures, so its important to see your doc to receive the proper assessment and treatment.
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