Kidney Pain: Know the Conditions That Lead to it

Lower abdomen pain is quite common and is often associated with backache. But, did you know that it could also happen because of kidney disorders? Kidney pain is mostly the first symptom that is observed in case of kidney disorder. This pain is often sharp, persistent and is usually experienced around spine, hips, lower and upper abdomen

Conditions that cause kidney pain:

Kidney pain could be because of kidney disorder, infection or injury. The most common causes are:

1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Any infection of the urinary tract, kidneys, uterus or bladder is considered to be UTI. UTIs are very common and if not treated can lead to kidney damage.

2. Kidney Stones: Kidney stones are made from minerals. They are hard, crystal-like structure, which are often found in the kidney or urinary tract. During the process of elimination from the body, they pass through the urinary tract. This movement causes a lot of pain.

3. Polycystic kidney: It is a genetic disorder, in which clusters of cysts develop within your kidneys, resulting in their enlargement. This impacts the functioning of kidneys and is often painful.

4. Accident or trauma: Any kind of internal injury or accident can lead to kidney pain. If the injury is severe, it can result in kidney damage as well.

Common tests to determine the cause of  kidney pain

To diagnose the reason of pain, first your doctor will physically examine your condition. This is followed by a few other tests to know the exact reason. The recommended tests are:

• Blood test

• Urine analysis (includes a routine urine test and urine culture)

• X-ray of the abdomen

• Ultrasound of the abdomen

• CT scan and MRI of the abdomen

Lower abdomen pain should not be taken lightly, it could be because of kidney disorders like urinary tract infection, kidney stones etc. Your doctor will be able to guide you the best, depending upon the cause of pain.