Where is referred kidney pain
John Thompson
Updated on March 28, 2026
Pain from the kidneys is felt in the sides, or in the middle to upper back (most often under the ribs, to the right or left of the spine). The pain may also progress to other areas, such as the abdomen or groin.
Can kidney pain be referred?
Referred pain is when you feel pain in one part of your body caused by disease or an injury in another. It often occurs in problems with chest and belly organs. For example, an infection in your kidneys may cause pain in your back or sides.
What are the signs that something is wrong with your kidneys?
- You’re more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating. …
- You’re having trouble sleeping. …
- You have dry and itchy skin. …
- You feel the need to urinate more often. …
- You see blood in your urine. …
- Your urine is foamy. …
- You’re experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.
How do you know if it's muscle pain or kidney pain?
Musculoskeletal back pain is usually felt around the lumbar region, it may pain while muscles are touched. However musculoskeletal back pain can be felt all through the back as well. Radiation of pain – Kidney pain may radiate to the inner thigh or lower abdomen.How do I know if I have kidney flank pain?
Flank pain can be a sign of a kidney problem. But, since many organs are in this area, other causes are possible. If you have flank pain and fever, chills, blood in the urine, or frequent or urgent urination, then a kidney problem is the likely cause. It could be a sign of kidney stones.
What kidney pains feel like?
Kidney pain is usually a constant dull ache deep in your right or left flank, or both flanks, that often gets worse when someone gently hits the area. Only one kidney is usually affected in most conditions, so you typically feel pain on only one side of your back.
Is kidney pain felt in front or back?
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 (most often under the ribs, to the right or left of the spine).
What are the symptoms of stage 1 kidney disease?
- High blood pressure.
- Swelling in legs.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Abnormal urine test (protein in urine)
Does kidney pain get worse when you bend over?
Kidney stones can cause a person to experience excruciating pain that feels like spasms. This pain may also spread to the groin. However, if kidney pain worsens when a person bends over or lifts something, it may be the result of back muscle or bone problems rather than an issue affecting the kidney.
How can I check my kidneys at home?One of the best ways to test for CKD and assess kidney damage is a simple urine test which detects the presence of albumin. The smartphone app from Healthy.io enables lay users to conduct a urinalysis test at home and securely share results with their clinicians.
Article first time published onWhat drinks are bad for kidneys?
Sodas. According to the American Kidney Fund, a recent study suggests that drinking two or more carbonated sodas, diet or regular, each day may increase your risk for chronic kidney disease. Carbonated and energy drinks have both been linked to the formation of kidney stones.
How can you tell if lower back pain is kidney related?
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.
Is drinking a lot of water good for your kidneys?
Water helps the kidneys remove wastes from your blood in the form of urine. Water also helps keep your blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys, and deliver essential nutrients to them. But if you become dehydrated, then it is more difficult for this delivery system to work.
Where does your back hurt with a kidney infection?
The pain of kidney infection may be felt on the sides (flanks) and the back. Unlike the classical back pain due to muscle or bone involvement, which typically affects the lower back, kidney pain is felt higher up and at a greater depth.
Does kidney pain hurt with movement?
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 won’t get worse with movement or go away by itself without treatment. If you’re passing a kidney stone, the pain may fluctuate as the stone moves.
Can I have a kidney infection without fever?
If you do not have a fever or flank pain, but you do have pain with urination, you may have a bladder infection rather than a kidney infection. Your healthcare provider can help to determine your diagnosis. (See “Patient education: Urinary tract infections in adolescents and adults (Beyond the Basics)”.)
What causes kidney pain right side?
If you have pain in the area of your right kidney, it could be caused by a relatively common kidney problem, such as a urinary tract infection or kidney stone. Pain in the area of your right kidney might also be caused by a more uncommon condition such as renal vein thrombosis (RVT) or polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
What does a kidney tumor feel like?
A mass or lump in the abdomen, side, or back can also be a sign of kidney cancer. You might feel a hard thickening or bulging bump under your skin. But kidney lumps are hard to feel, especially in the early stages.
What should I do if my kidneys hurt?
- 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 (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, others).
- Stay hydrated.
How long can you have kidney disease without knowing?
2 out of 5 adults who have CKD don’t know they have severe chronic kidney disease. People with CKD can live for years without knowing, as it doesn’t always have the most clearly defined symptoms.
Can kidney heal itself?
If there aren’t any other problems, the kidneys may heal themselves. In most other cases, acute kidney failure can be treated if it’s caught early. It may involve changes to your diet, the use of medications, or even dialysis.
Is drinking water at night bad for kidneys?
Given the quantity of blood that filters through your kidneys on an hourly basis, those few extra cups are as insignificant to your kidneys as barnacles are to a battleship. So the best time to drink water is not at night. It’s when you are thirsty.
Is coffee bad for kidneys?
In summary, coffee is an acceptable beverage for kidney disease. If consumed in moderation it poses little risk for those with kidney disease. Additives to coffee such as milk and many creamers increase the potassium and phosphorus content of coffee.
What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?
Brown, red, or purple urine Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How? You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual, with dark-colored urine. Your urine may contain blood.
Are eggs bad for kidneys?
Although egg yolks are very nutritious, they contain high amounts of phosphorus, making egg whites a better choice for people following a renal diet. Egg whites provide a high quality, kidney-friendly source of protein.
Is beer good to flush kidneys?
Beer does not “flush out the kidneys”. Drinking any liquid will increase urine output but the kidneys will flush themselves out. They do not derive any particular help from the specific liquid that is taken.
Are bananas good for kidney?
Bananas are not bad for the kidneys unless the kidneys are damaged. Damaged kidneys build up potassium in the blood, resulting in serious heart problems. Potassium is present in bananas, other fruits and vegetables (such as potatoes, avocados and melons).
What organs can cause lower back pain?
As well, organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, colon, and uterus are located near your lower back. All of these can be responsible for pain in the left side of your lower back, so there are many potential causes. While many require treatment, most aren’t serious.
Can vitamin D damage kidneys?
Taking too much vitamin D can cause problems such as constipation and nausea and, in more serious cases, kidney stones and kidney damage.
How do doctors flush your kidneys?
Diuretics — to flush out the kidneys, increase urine flow, and rid the body of excess sodium. Blood pressure medications. Medicine to treat anemia. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate or insulin in dextrose to control high potassium levels.
Is lemon water good for kidneys?
Lemons contain citrate, which helps prevent calcium from building up and forming stones in your kidneys. Interestingly, the benefit doesn’t seem to be present in oranges, making lemon a unique tool in kidney stone prevention.