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What Does It Mean When Your Kidneys Hurt

Treatment Of Kidney Infection

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Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream.

You may also need painkillers.

If you’re especially vulnerable to the effects of an infection , you may be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotics through a drip.

Most people who are diagnosed and treated promptly with antibiotics feel completely better after about 2 weeks.

People who are older or have underlying conditions may take longer to recover.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Adpkd

  • How will this disease make me feel?
  • Do I need any more tests?
  • Do I need to see a specialist?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • Do the treatments have side effects?
  • What do you expect for my case?
  • What can I do to keep my kidneys working?
  • If I have children, will they get the disease?
  • Do my children need to get a genetic test?

Complications Of Kidney Infections

Most kidney infections are treated successfully without complications, although some people may develop further problems.

Complications of a kidney infection are rare, but you’re more likely to develop them if you:

  • rapid heartbeat

Blood poisoning is a medical emergency that usually requires admission to a hospital intensive care unit while antibiotics are used to fight the infection.

If you’re taking certain medications for diabetes, such as metformin or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, they may be temporarily withdrawn until you recover. This is because they can cause kidney damage during an episode of blood poisoning.

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Coronavirus Might Target Kidney Cells

The virus itself infects the cells of the kidney. Kidney cells have receptors that enable the new coronavirus to attach to them, invade, and make copies of itself, potentially damaging those tissues. Similar receptors are found on cells of the lungs and heart, where the new coronavirus has been shown to cause injury.

What Are Dialysis And Hemodialysis

Kidney Pain In Back Location

Dialysis cleanses the body of waste products by body by use of filter systems. There are two types of dialysis, 1) hemodialysis and 2) peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis uses a machine filter called a dialyzer or artificial kidney to remove excess water and salt, to balance the other electrolytes in the body, and to remove waste products of metabolism. Blood is removed from the body and flows through tubing into the machine, where it passes next to a filter membrane. A specialized chemical solution flows on the other side of the membrane. The dialysate is formulated to draw impurities from the blood through the filter membrane. Blood and dialysate are never touched in the artificial kidney machine.

For this type of dialysis, access to the blood vessels needs to be surgically created so that large amounts of blood can flow into the machine and back to the body. Surgeons can build a fistula, a connection between a large artery and vein in the body, usually in the arm, that allows a large amount of blood to flow into the vein. This makes the vein swell or dilate, and its walls become thicker so that it can tolerate repeated needle sticks to attach tubing from the body to the machine. Since it takes many weeks or months for a fistula to mature enough to be used, significant planning is required if hemodialysis is to be considered as an option.

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Not All Kidney Pain Is Treatable With At

While these solutions may help relieve, or in some cases eliminate, mild kidney pain, they will not stop infections from spreading. When left untreated, even the occasional UTI can turn into something more severe, which is why its always in your best interest to contact your urologist when you are experiencing any type of pain in your kidneys.

Based on your symptoms, an in-office visit may not be required. Talk to your urologist and ask questions about the type of pain you are experiencing. They will be able to tell you if at-home remedies are possible, or if you need to schedule an appointment.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. And dont forget to download our Nutrition & Lifestyle Guide before you go for more health and wellness tips from our urological experts!

Imaging Tests For Kidney Disease

Tests that create various pictures or images may include:

  • x-rays to check the size of the kidneys and look for kidney stones
  • cystogram a bladder x-ray
  • voiding cystourethrogram where the bladder is x-rayed before and after urination
  • ultrasound sound waves are bounced off the kidneys to create a picture. Ultrasound may be used to check the size of the kidneys. Kidney stones and blood vessel blockages may be visible on ultrasound
  • computed tomography x-rays and digital computer technology are used to create an image of the urinary tract, including the kidneys
  • magnetic resonance imaging a strong magnetic field and radio waves are used to create a three-dimensional image of the urinary tract, including the kidneys.
  • radionuclide scan.

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Kidney Pain: Causes Why Kidneys Hurt And When To Seek Care

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Kidney pain can have many causes. It may be a sign of an infection, injury or another health problem, such as kidney stones. Because of where your kidneys are in your body, kidney pain is also often confused with back pain. Talk to your doctor to find out what is causing your kidney pain and to find the right treatment.

Who Will Be On My Health Care Team

What Does Pain In The Kidney Area Mean?

Youll have a whole team of trained health care providers to help you live well with kidney failure. The following people may be part of your health care team:

Nephrologist. A doctor who specializes in kidney health and oversees your treatment.

Dialysis nurse. A dialysis nurse will monitor your in-center dialysis and will see you monthly if youre doing home or peritoneal dialysis. The nurse will make sure youre taking your medicines correctly and help you find ways to lessen the side effects of dialysis. If you do home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, your dialysis nurse will teach you how to set up your treatment, take care of the equipment, and watch for infections or other problems.

Transplant coordinator. A specially trained nurse who will be your point of contact, arrange your appointments, and teach you what to do before and after the transplant.

Renal dietitian. A renal dietitian is trained to help people with kidney failure. Your dietitian will help you make choices about what to eat and drink to help your treatment work better so youll feel better.

Social worker. Dialysis clinics and transplant centers have a social worker who works with people who have ESRD. Your renal social worker can help you find answers to problems such as

  • keeping a job or changing jobs
  • getting help paying for treatments
  • finding services to help with transportation or chores around the house
  • finding counseling services to deal with family problems

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Who’s At Risk Of Acute Kidney Injury

You’re more likely to get AKI if:

  • you’re aged 65 or over
  • you already have a kidney problem, such as chronic kidney disease
  • you have a long-term disease, such as heart failure, liver disease or diabetes
  • you’re dehydrated or unable to maintain your fluid intake independently
  • you have a blockage in your urinary tract
  • you have a severe infection or
  • you’re taking certain medicines, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen, or blood pressure medicines, such as ACE inhibitors or diuretics diuretics help the kidneys get rid of extra fluid from the body, but may become less helpful when a person is dehydrated or suffering from a severe illness
  • you’re given aminoglycosides a type of antibiotic that’s usually only given in hospital these medicines are only likely to increase the risk of AKI if you’re dehydrated or ill

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Can You Have Pain In Just One Kidney

Only one kidney is usually affected in most conditions, so you typically feel pain on only one side of your back. If both kidneys are affected, the pain will be on both sides. Symptoms that may accompany kidney pain include: blood in your urine.

What should I do if my kidneys hurt?

Lifestyle and home remedies

  • Apply heat. Place a heating pad on your abdomen, back or side to ease pain.
  • Use pain medicine. For fever or discomfort, take a nonaspirin pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen .
  • Can kidney pain go away on its own?

    Kidney pain is usually sharp if you have a kidney stone and a dull ache if you have an infection. Most often it will be constant. It wont get worse with movement or go away by itself without treatment.

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    How Is Kidney Disease Treated

    How kidney disease is treated depends on the particular problem and what’s causing it:

    • Kidney infections are treated with .
    • Medicines to decrease may help with nephritis and nephrotic syndrome.
    • Medicines can treat high blood pressure or help the kidneys make extra pee if fluid or swelling is causing a kidney problem.
    • A person might need to eat a special diet that limits salt or other things.

    Occasionally, if medicines and other treatments don’t work, the kidneys can stop working well. They may not clear enough of the body’s waste products and excess water. In that case, a person might need dialysis. This process uses an artificial filtering system to do the job of the kidneys when they can’t.

    Some people who need dialysis on a permanent basis might be candidates for a kidney transplant. This means they get a donated kidney from another person. Someone who gets a transplanted kidney no longer needs dialysis to clean the blood of waste products and remove excess water. The donated, healthy kidney takes over the job.

    What Are The Causes Of Kidney Pain In The Morning

    Because your kidneys are connected to your ureters and your bladder, any problem with these areas can lead to discomfort or pain.

    Common factors that could cause kidney pain in the morning include:

    • Kidney stones: These form from a buildup of minerals and compounds over time. Stones start small but can become much larger . While small stones can be extracted from your body naturally, larger stones can get stuck in your urinary tract and block urine from passing as it should. As a result, severe kidney pain can occur.

    • Kidney infection: Also known as pyelonephritis, this condition occurs when your kidneys become infected. When this happens, other symptoms are common, including fever, chills, back pain, nausea, and vomiting.

    • Urinary tract infection : This condition occurs when any part of your urinary system becomes infected, including your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. In most cases, UTIs affect your lower urinary tract, which includes your bladder and urethra.

    • Kidney cancer: The most common type is renal cell carcinoma. It typically develops in people in their 60s and 70s. It can cause symptoms such as blood in your urine, a lump on your side, and pain.

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    What Causes Hydronephrosis

    Hydronephrosis diagnosed in pregnancy is usually mild. Its thought to be caused by an increase in the amount of urine your baby produces in the later stages of pregnancy.

    In more severe cases, it may be caused by a blockage in the flow of urine from the kidneys to the bladder, backflow of urine from the bladder to the kidneys, or a blockage in the flow of urine out of the bladder.

    In adults, hydronephrosis is commonly caused by:

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    Drink Plenty Of Liquids

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    Drinking plenty of liquids, particularly water, will help to wash bacteria from your bladder and urinary tract.

    Drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extracts may also help prevent urinary tract infections . However, you should avoid cranberry juice or extracts if you’re taking warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots. Cranberry juice can make the effects of warfarin more potent, so there’s a risk of excessive bleeding.

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    How Is Kidney Pain Treated

    The treatment for kidney pain depends on what is causing it. Be sure to call your doctor if you have any kidney pain. Your doctor may do:

    • A urine test to check for signs of infection
    • Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, to see if your kidneys are injured

    Once you know what is causing your pain, your doctor can work with you to find the right treatment.

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    Causes Of Acute Kidney Injury

    Most cases of AKI are caused by reduced blood flow to the kidneys, usually in someone who’s already unwell with another health condition.

    This reduced blood flow could be caused by:

    • low blood volume after bleeding, excessive vomiting or diarrhoea, or severe dehydration
    • the heart pumping out less blood than normal as a result of heart failure, liver failure or
    • certain medicines that reduce blood pressure or blood flow to the kidneys, such as ACE inhibitors, certain diuretics or NSAIDs

    AKI can also be caused by a problem with the kidney itself, such as inflammation of the filters in the kidney , the blood vessels , or other structures in the kidney.

    This may be caused by a reaction to some medicines, infections or the liquid dye used in some types of X-rays.

    It may sometimes be the result of a blockage affecting the drainage of the kidneys, such as:

    A doctor may suspect AKI if you:

    • are in an “at risk” group and suddenly fall ill
    • get symptoms of AKI

    AKI is usually diagnosed with a blood test to measure your levels of creatinine, a chemical waste product produced by the muscles.

    If there’s a lot of creatinine in your blood, it means your kidneys are not working as well as they should.

    You may also be asked to give a pee sample.

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    Symptoms Of Kidney Endometriosis

    Kidney endometriosis can be asymptomatic for several years. Doctors may discover it by chance while they are evaluating a patient for other conditions.

    If a woman who has undergone surgery to treat endometriosis has ongoing urinary problems, it may suggest the presence of urinary tract or kidney endometriosis.

    The following symptoms may suggest that a woman may have kidney endometriosis:

    • pain in the lower back that co-occurs with a monthly menstrual cycle. That pain can also extend down through the legs.
    • blood in the urine that co-occurs with the menstrual cycle
    • difficulty urinating
    • recurrent urinary tract infections

    Values Must Be Tracked

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    When your veterinarian has confirmed a diagnosis of kidney disease, he will discuss treatment options. To place less stress on the wearing kidneys, your veterinarian may prescribe a diet that is low in protein, sodium and phosphorus. He might prescribe medications to help maintain your dogs present values, and suggest fluid therapy to help keep your dog hydrated. Your vet will run periodic blood chemistry panels and urinalyses to track the kidney values so adjustments in treatment may be made to address any changes as they arise. He may also monitor your dogs blood pressure, which can elevate as a result of kidney disease. Kidney disease is a degenerative condition, meaning that there is no cure. The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease and preserve your companions quality of life for as long as possible.

    References

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    Kidney Stones And Pain

    Kidney stones or renal calculus can cause much pain and discomfort, especially when the warning signs are ignored. If a stone has grown to at least 3 millimeters it can block the ureter and cause even more pain, usually in the lower back, right or left flank, or groin. The pain can last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes . Unfortunately, kidney stones can be recurring, but understanding the warning signs may help individuals avoid a great deal of pain and suffering.

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    Diagnosis Of Kidney Disease

    Early diagnosis and optimal management can often prevent kidney damage from becoming worse and reduce the risk of kidney failure.

    Chronic kidney disease often has very few symptoms, or only general symptoms, such as tiredness, headaches and feeling sick. The doctor may begin by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical examination.

    The diagnostic tests for kidney disease chosen by your doctor depend on factors including your symptoms, age, medical history, lifestyle and general health. Tests for kidney disease include:

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    Several Signs Never To Ignore

    Understanding warning signs is vital for quick diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones. Below is a list of symptoms that kidney stone patients may experience. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical help.

  • Severe pain Pain that prevents patients from finding a comfortable position, including severe pain in the lower back, abdomen or groin. If pain is not relieved by changing positions, it could be a kidney stone. Depending on its size, the stone may be lodged somewhere between the kidney and bladder. The pain can come in waves, be a stabbing pain or throbbing pain. Pain can last as little as 20 minutes or as long as an hour . If the pain does not abate, go to the emergency room.
  • Nausea and vomiting If the pain is so severe that it is causes nausea and/or vomiting, the patient should go to an emergency room as soon as possible. Oftentimes described as the worst pain of their lives, patients with kidney stones should not hesitate to seek treatment.
  • Fever and chills Fever and chills most often happen when an infection has set in. Again, it is important to seek immediate help to lower the chances of developing sepsis.
  • Difficult and painful urination Blockage in the ureter can cause difficulty in passing urine. If urine cannot pass, it can cause an infection. The stone may also be in the urethra, the tube that passes urine from the bladder outside the body.
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