Kidney pain can be caused by conditions such as kidney stones, infections, or polycystic kidney disease. It is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Kidney stones and infections are common causes of kidney pain, while polycystic kidney disease can lead to a loss of kidney function. Properly functioning kidneys are necessary for life, so any persistent kidney pain should be reported to a doctor immediately.
Suffering from kidney pain can be a cause for concern for many patients. The reason for this type of pain can be due to conditions such as kidney stones or infections, or more serious health problems such as polycystic kidney, which can lead to an eventual loss of kidney function. It is important to see a doctor for any persistent kidney pain in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan.
Kidney stones are a common cause of kidney pain. This type of pain typically occurs when a stone gets stuck in the ureter, the tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder. This often blocks the flow of urine, causing pain as the kidney enlarges due to the accumulation of extra fluid. Kidney stones often cause severe pain that is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Most stones pass on their own, although surgery may be needed if there is a severe blockage or if the stone is too large to pass on its own.
A kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is another common cause of kidney pain. The infection often leads to swelling of the kidney and pain is felt when the kidney stretches due to this swelling. Fever and chills are often present along with kidney pain in case of infection. A kidney infection is typically treated with several days of taking oral antibiotics.
Polycystic kidney disease is the most common genetic kidney disease and often causes persistent kidney pain. Polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, tends to progress slowly over a period of several years and cause the kidneys to dramatically increase in size and fill with fluid-filled cysts. There is no treatment or cure for this disease, so the patient is kept as comfortable as possible with the use of pain medication until kidney function declines to the point where dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed.
Sometimes, the kidneys or bladder may start to spasm, leading to what feels like kidney pain. Spasms can be due to something as simple as a full bladder, although the reason for these involuntary contractions isn’t always known. On rare occasions, cancerous tumors can develop in the kidneys, causing pain. Properly functioning kidneys are necessary to maintain life, so it is extremely important to report any cases of persistent kidney pain to a doctor immediately.
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