What Do Kidney Stone Symptoms Feel Like
Youâre probably already aware that passing a kidney stone can be incredibly painful. Perhaps youâve heard someone compare the pain to childbirth. Or maybe someone mentioned their experience with kidney stones completely recalibrated how they rate pain. Ouch.
But while the most-discussed kidney stone symptom is often the pain where itâs felt and how bad it can get itâs not the only symptom to be aware of.
âKidney stones are fairly common and often painful, but theyâre also treatable and even preventable,â says Dr. Chris Kannady, urologist at Houston Methodist. âIf you think you might have a kidney stone, itâs important to see your doctor as soon as possible since delaying care for a kidney stone can lead to serious complications.â
But, when all youâve heard about kidney stones is how much they hurt, how can you tell if your pain might be kidney stone pain?
How To Identify Kidney Pain
In some cases, back pain may subside when you move, while kidney pain tends to be a constant ache.
So if youre able to shift your body and the pain lessens or goes away, it may be back pain.
If you are experiencing lower back pain, you can probably rule out kidney pain.
The kidneys are located higher up in the back.
Kidney pain tends to be in the mid-to-upper back region on the sides, not in the center.
Still think your pain may be in your kidneys?
Here are some key symptoms and pain indicators you should look out for if you suspect you have a kidney issue.
Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting For People With Ckd
Lets take a closer look at some of the benefits of IF in people with CKD.
Weight loss
Obesity is a potent risk factor for the development of kidney disease. It also increases the risk of developing some of the major risk factors for CKD like diabetes and high blood pressure, and has a direct impact on the development of CKD and end-stage renal disease.
IF has been shown to boost metabolism and fat burning while preserving lean body mass , all of which can aid weight loss.
Cardiovascular health
People with CKD are at a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease , in fact, people with CKD are more likely to die from CVD than from their kidney disease.
IF improves multiple indicators of cardiovascular health including lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, lowering glucose and insulin and reducing insulin resistance. In addition, intermittent fasting reduces markers of inflammation and oxidative stress that are associated with atherosclerosis .
CKD is associated with an increase in atherosclerosis which begins in the early stages of kidney disease, not only does it reduce blood flow to the kidneys which contributes to kidney damage, but it also contributes to high blood pressure- another cause of kidney damage.
Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
There are several different types of intermittent fasting.
Alternate Day Fasting- perhaps the most restrictive of the IF protocols. The plan alternates fast days with feast days allowing normal dietary intake.
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How Do I Know If Its Kidney Pain
It can be hard to distinguish between kidney pain and back pain.
Back pain is more common than kidney pain. In general, back pain will be related to your muscles, occurs lower in your back, and causes a consistent ache.
If its kidney pain, itll likely be higher, near your ribs. You may feel waves of severe pain and possibly have a fever. The pain may also be stronger on one side.
What Is Kidney Pain
Kidney pain is discomfort that comes from the area where your kidneys are. It’s often described as a dull ache, you feel in your sides, back, or belly. But pain in these areas isn’t always a sign of a kidney issue. It’s easy to mistake kidney pain for ordinary back pain. But there are some differences in how kidney pain feels and where it’s located compared to back pain.
Kidney pain has many possible causes, and some could be serious. It’s important to let your doctor know if you notice pain that you think may be coming from one or both of these organs.
Where are your kidneys?
Your kidneys are two small organs shaped like beans. You have one on each side of your body. They’re each about the size of your fist. They’re below your rib cage on both sides of your spinal cord.
Your kidneys have important jobs. They clean out water, acids, and waste from your blood. They make urine so your body flushes out the waste. If they’re diseased or damaged in some way, they can’t do their work to maintain a healthy balance of salts, minerals like calcium, and water in your blood.
Your kidneys also make hormones that help you manage your blood pressure, keep your bones strong, and make red blood cells.
So it’s important to watch for any signs of kidney disease or damage, like pain.
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Are There Tests To Diagnose The Cause Of Kidney Pain
If you experience kidney pain, your healthcare provider typically will order lab tests to check for abnormalities in your blood or urine. Imaging tests will also be used to visualize the kidneys indirectly.
Other specialist procedures may directly visualize the kidneys or obtain tissue samples via a biopsy if cancer is suspected.
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.
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How Many Kidney Stones Can You Have At A Time
If youâve been lucky enough to never develop a kidney stone, understanding the signs and symptoms of one can help prevent pain, discomfort long-.
You have two kidneys.
your family suffers from kidney-related ailment. There are several diseases and conditions the kidneys can get affected from: Infection Stone Cyst Chronic kidney.
In addition to this, one of the most pivotal factors to have driven the fortunes of this business space is the escalating numbers of patients affected with kidney stones disease. As per reliable.
Notably, a urinalysis test and urine culture can also tell doctors whether you also have an infection, which is a potentially life-threatening complication in combination with a kidney stone.
Kidney stones are a painful, unpleasant urological condition that many adults will experience at some point in their life. While some people might experience the passage of just one or two stones, others will experience kidney stones many times throughout adulthood. Getting the facts about kidney stone formation, passage, and prevention will help you understand this common occurrence. If you.
Can kidney stone pain last for hours? Overall, one-third of patients have a relatively rapid onset and reach peak pain in 30 minutes or less. Untreated, the pain may last for 4 to 12 hours, but most patients have presented to the emergency room by the time the pain becomes continuous, usually by two hours into the colic.
Having bloody urine or a hard time going.
Sudden Urge To Urinate
If you find yourself suddenly needing to urinate or needing to urinate more frequently than normal, it may be a sign that a kidney stone has reached the lower portion of your urinary tract. Like cloudy urine, increased urgency is also associated with urinary tract infections, although with kidney stones, urgency can be present even without an infection.
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Where Is Kidney Stone Pain Located
The sharp pain associated with a kidney stone moves as the stone progresses through your urinary tract. The most common places to feel pain are in your:
- Lower abdomen or groin
- Along one side of your body, below your ribs
However, while pain is certainly the most noticeable symptoms of kidney stones, it’s not always the earliest sign or even the most telling sign, for that matter.
“The pain associated with a kidney stone typically isn’t felt until after its already formed and is passing through your urinary tract,” explains Dr. Kannady. “In addition, due to differences in anatomy, men and women describe kidney stone pain slightly differently. Not to mention that pain itself is relative and everyone has a different threshold for it.”
Plus, the intensity of the pain isn’t necessarily a measure of how problematic the kidney stone might be or become. Smaller stones that are likely to pass on their own can still be very painful. And not every kidney stone that requires medical intervention comes with gut-wrenching pain.
“Any time you’re experiencing pain, it’s important to see your doctor. But if you’re experiencing pain, even if it’s only mind, in combination with the kidney stone symptoms above and, in particular, if you have a fever or severe trouble urinating it’s definitely important to see your doctor,” warns Dr. Kannady.
Which Type Of Intermittent Fasting Is The Best
Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD and the number of people with diabetes worldwide continues to increase. Managing blood sugar levels is one of the key treatment strategies to prevent and reduce kidney damage in people with diabetes.
There have been multiple studies on people with pre-diabetes and diabetes that have shown that TRE is able to improve the function of the pancreas, improve insulin sensitivity and to decrease blood sugar levels.
In people with elevated fasting glucose and/or HbA1c, TRE has shown an improvement in glucose levels and a significant reduction in HbA1c, independent of a change in weight.
Inflammation and Oxidative stress
Inflammation and oxidative damage from free radicals are key factors in both the development and the progression of CKD. TRE has been shown to lower blood levels of key inflammatory markers such as CRP, IL-6 and TNF-a as well as decreasing markers of oxidative damage.
This isnt just beneficial for kidney disease, but all other conditions related to inflammation and oxidative stress including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Cellular repair
When we fast, the cells in the body initiate a cellular waste removal process called autophagy. This involves the cells breaking down and metabolising broken and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside cells over time. Think of it like taking out the trash.
More energy for healing
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But What If I Dont Need To Lose Weight
IF has typically been touted in the media as a weight loss strategy so it makes sense that people who dont want/need to lose weight might think its not for them. Hopefully you can now see that the benefits of IF extend way beyond weight loss, its a strategy to improve overall metabolic health as well as to prevent and treat chronic diseases.
Studies in normal weight individuals have demonstrated all of the benefits of IF Ive already discussed without the weight loss, so the health benefits dont come from weight loss alone. This also shows that provided you maintain an adequate caloric intake IF can be implemented without any associated weight loss.
Is It Kidney Pain Or Back Pain
Because of where your kidneys are in your body, it is easy to confuse kidney pain and back pain. How can you tell the difference?
Kidney pain:
- Can happen on one or both sides
- Likely will not go away when you shift your body or rest
Back pain:
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What Procedures And Tests Diagnose Kidney Diseases
The doctor usually will do a history and physical examination. Initial tests usually consist of a complete blood count , kidney function , urine test, and when appropriate, a pregnancy test. A lacerated kidney may be suspected if the person has experienced a traumatic injury to the lower back.
If kidney stones are suspected, a CT exam or renal ultrasound is done an abdominal X-ray may be ordered but has been replaced in general by ultrasound and CT. As patients with kidney stones often need repeat X-ray studies or have repeat episodes of kidney stones, ultrasound with its lack of radiation is a good study to consider. Abdominal/pelvic CTs with contrast or magnetic resonance imaging and aortogram may be ordered to further define or differentiate underlying kidney and nonrenal causes of flank pain. Such studies are routinely performed if a kidney is suspected to be damaged by a traumatic event .
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:
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.
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What Should I Do If My Kidneys Hurt
If you have kidney pain that doesnt go away, the first thing you should do is call your healthcare provider to schedule an appointment or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms such as uncontrolled pain, severe nausea or vomiting, fevers or chills, or an inability to pee. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to ease discomfort:
- Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will help flush bacteria from your urinary tracts. Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
- Use heat. Place a heating pad on your back, abdomen or side to help reduce kidney pain.
- Take pain relievers. To ease fever or discomfort, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen .
Who Is At Risk For Kidney Stones
Anyone may develop a kidney stone, but people with certain diseases and conditions or those who are taking certain medications are more susceptible to their development. Urinary tract stones are more common in men than in women. Most urinary stones develop in people 20 to 49 years of age, and those who are prone to multiple attacks of kidney stones usually develop their first stones during the second or third decade of life. People who have already had more than one kidney stone are prone to developing further stones.
In residents of industrialized countries, kidney stones are more common than stones in the bladder. The opposite is true for residents of developing areas of the world, where bladder stones are the most common. This difference is believed to be related to dietary factors. People who live in the southern or southwestern regions of the U.S. have a higher rate of kidney stone formation, possibly due to inadequate water intake leading to dehydration than those living in other areas. Over the last few decades, the percentage of people with kidney stones in the U.S. has been increasing, most likely related to the obesity epidemic.
A family history of kidney stones is also a risk factor for developing kidney stones. Kidney stones are more common in Asians and Caucasians than in Native Americans, Africans, or African Americans.
Uric acid kidney stones are more common in people with chronically elevated uric acid levels in their blood .
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Research And Statistics: How Many People Get Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are becoming more and more common. In the late 1970s, roughly 3.8 percent of the U.S. population were affected by kidney stones. By the late 2000s, this number jumped to 8.8 percent. Now 1 in 10 people are expected to have a kidney stone at some point in their lives.
Research based on data collected from 2007 to 2014 that was published in November 2018 in the Journal of Clinical Urology found that men older than 60 had the highest prevalence of kidney stones among all age groups during this time period, followed by men between ages 40 and 59 . While the prevalence of kidney stones among men older than 60 remained stable during this time period, prevalence of kidney stones in women ages 20 to 39 nearly doubled between 2007 and 2013 . When the researchers analyzed the data by race, though, they found that kidney stone incidence among non-Hispanic white women did not increase at all, but non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women saw a significant increase, suggesting that those minority populations accounted for the increase in kidney stone incidence among women. More research is needed to figure out why, but the study authors suggest higher rates of obesity among non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women compared with non-Hispanic white women may be part of the explanation.