How does it feel when something is wrong with your kidneys?

 

Kidneys are the two bean-shaped organs located just below your ribcage, on either side of your spine. Whenever there is something wrong with your kidneys, you might feel some peculiar symptoms like pain, swelling or edema in legs, skin disorders like itchiness or dry skin, nausea, vomiting, variation in frequency and amount of urine, blood in urine muscle cramps, loss of appetite, shortness of breath etc. Some people might notice sudden weight loss. You may also find raised blood pressure. A raised blood pressure may be the cause or consequence of kidney disease. Kidney pain is one of the common causes of  Kidney diseases. Kidney pain or renal pain creates discomfort in or around your kidneys. Kidney pain is indicative of the fact that there is an issue somewhere in your urinary system, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem with your kidneys specifically.

How will you differentiate the pain in your kidneys?

Since the position of kidneys is towards the backside of the abdominal region, people often mistake kidney pain for back pain. It is not difficult to differentiate between kidney pain and back pain. There are some key differences between kidney pain and back pain.

Also Read : What can I do to keep my kidneys healthy?

Kidney pain vs back pain

If we closely observe the back pain then we find that back pain usually affects the middle of your back, over the spine, and most commonly in the lower back region. The most common cause of this type of pain is age related deterioration of bone density or in a few cases some kind of injury. If there are some spine-related problems, this can also be the cause of back pain and sometimes, it  radiates down your legs.

While the kidney pain is typically located higher on your back and the pain often feels deeper. Most of the time, kidney pain symptoms are observed under your ribs, to the right or left of your spine. Kidney pain in certain cases may radiate to your abdomen or groin region also. People at times suffering from hip pain confuse it with kidney pain. Hip pain is observed in the lower region of  your back while kidney pain is in the upper region.

Kidney pain is positionally higher and deeper in your body than the back pain. It is felt in the upper half of your back, not in the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it is felt on one or both sides and is usually under the rib cage. Kidney pain is often constant and probably won't go away with the shift in your body position.

It has been noticed that your back might lessen or worsen when you change your position.

The signs that differentiate your back pain from kidney pain.
Back pain symptoms:

•     May shoot down in one leg
•     Is dull and constant
•     May flare up with certain activities like lifting a box or bending over forward
•     One might feel relaxation upon resting.
•     It can be due to muscle aches

Kidney pain symptoms:

If you are suffering from kidney pain, you may experience different symptoms. A few most common kidney pain symptoms are:

•     A constant, dull pain in your back which might turn into stabbing pain(in case of kidney stone).
•     Pain on your sides, under your rib cage or in your abdominal region.
•     Severe or sharp wavy pain.
•     Pain that might spread to your groin area.
•     Kidney pain turns unbearable and is accompanied by nausea or vomiting, if the pain is due to kidney stones.

Causes and types of Kidney problems

Kidneys are a part of the urinary system. Kidney pain has many possible causes.

Kidney stones. Pain due to kidney stones is intense, sudden and stabbing pain. Kidney stones are small mineral deposits but can grow large enough to block a ureter. If the kidney pain is due to kidney stones, one might  feel sharp pain or cramps in their back or side. If the stone is small enough to pass through urine, there may be waves of pain.

Kidney infection. This is also known as pyelonephritis. It can create discomfort in one or both kidneys. Kidney infection may be painful in your back, on one or both sides under your ribs, or in your groin. In some cases you may also notice a fever.

Kidney swelling. Swelling in kidneys is known as hydronephrosis. It occurs when your kidneys are blocked. The blockage in your kidneys does not let urine drain its way. It leads to accumulation of fluids. It can happen in one or both kidneys and can be painful.

Kidney cysts. The presence of a simple kidney cyst is not felt until it grows larger, obstructing the kidney function. It is at times found during the imaging tests.  When it gets bigger in size, one might feel a dull pain in your sides or back, or feel pain in the upper part of your abdomen.

Polycystic kidney disease. This is a genetic disorder, it causes many cysts to grow in your kidneys. PKD may cause pain in your back or sides.

Kidney cancer. Tumour in your kidney may be silent in the early stage. As the cancer grows by time, one may notice pain in the sides of their abdomen, back, or belly. This pain does not change in intensity. 

How is kidney problems treated?

Kidney disease treatment depends on the problem causing it. For example, for kidney infections, your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. For kidney pain due to stones, one  may need a treatment to remove them.

What tests can help determine the cause of kidney disease?

In order to identify the root cause of the kidney disease, a number of tools are available to help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis:

•     Urinalysis: These tests are done to check for the presence of blood, WBCs, proteins and certain chemical compounds that are linked to various kidney disorders.
•     Imaging tests: X-rays or ultrasound or a CT (computed tomography) scans can provide images of the structure of the kidneys and urinary tract. It helps to identify the presence of stones and determine if there is any obstruction in urine flow.
•     Blood tests: Blood tests are done to analyse the concentration of creatinine, urea etc.

Ayurveda and Kidney Disorders

Improper nutrition, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle contributes to lifestyle disorders and also to kidney diseases. Moreover, for some people, high blood pressure and diabetes are known to worsen the situation.

Modern medicine systems and advanced medical equipment are helping doctors to treat the damage caused to kidneys. On the other hand, natural alternatives like yoga, pranayama, etc., are effective and simple to maintain kidney health.

Ayurvedic kidney disease treatment is an ancient system that uses natural ways to eradicate the root cause of the disease and rejuvenate the damaged body organ.

The condition results in a progressive decline of kidney function, consequently leads to accumulation of toxic waste products, excess water, and salts in the body. 

The treatment in ayurveda for kidney disease is based on three principles:

•     Treatment of the damaged kidneys
•     Treatment of the body tissues (dhatu)
•     Treating the known cause.

There are various advantages of using ayurvedic medicine for kidney disease. It helps the damaged kidney rejuvenation by:

•     Reducing the frequency of dialysis
•     Reversing the decreased functioning ability of kidneys partly or fully,
•     Decreasing the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases

Thus, kidney disease treatment in ayurveda has the potential for an important therapeutic contribution in all the stages of this condition.