The kidneys are organs that sit on both sides of the body, right below the rib cage. They rest against the back muscles, which can make it difficult to tell whether you’re experiencing kidney pain or back pain. However, you can distinguish one from the other by looking at where the pain is located, how severe the pain is, and what the accompanying signs are.
So what is the difference between back pain and kidney pain? Kidney pain often affects a higher area of the back compared to back problems which tend to occur on the lumbar spine. If your kidney has a problem, the pain won’t go away until it is resolved. On the other hand, back pain can lessen when you adjust the position of your body or if you rest for a couple of days. For a more accurate diagnosis and better treatment, you have to identify whether you are experiencing kidney pain or back pain in the first place.
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist, located on each side of the body right beside the spinal cord. This area is called the flank and it is located halfway between the bottom of the rib cage and the hip.
The kidneys serve an important function in the body. They are in charge of cleaning out water, toxins, acids, and waste from the blood by transforming these materials into urine so everything is flushed out of your system. Without the kidneys, nothing will maintain the levels of salt, water, and minerals like calcium in our blood. However, their role of filtering out waste makes the kidneys susceptible to infection or damage. Kidney stones are created when excess calcium, phosphorus, and oxalate accumulate, causing a kind of blockage, which manifests as a sharp and severe sting. An infection in the kidneys would feel more like a dull ache in the sides, back, or belly. The human back is made up of bones, muscles, and nerves. If damaged, the parts of this structural, musculoskeletal system can cause pain in the upper, middle, or lower areas of the back. Back pain is extremely common so it’s more likely you would suffer from back pain rather than kidney pain.
Causes of back pain vary. You could have simply hurt your muscles due to overuse, poor posture, or heavy lifting.
