Don't Mistakenly Distinguish from Lumbago and Kidney Pain

Symptoms of lumbago and kidney pain are often swapped because of their proximity. Well before the wrong medicine, let's recognize further the difference between the two!

How to distinguish back pain and kidney pain

1. See the location of the pain
The location of back pain and kidney pain is often difficult to distinguish. However, kidney pain usually occurs in the area above your waist, which is around the middle back.

Meanwhile, back pain is more concentrated in the lower back, above the coccyx and buttocks area. Lumbago also generally feels on both sides of the waist.
2. From the pain
Pain due to kidney pain usually feels sharper if caused by kidney stones. If the cause is a kidney infection, the pain is more blunt.

Lumbago due to muscle aches feels dull and not deep. Lumbago caused by nerve pain also causes a burning sensation like burning.

Pain due to kidney pain will feel more severe and feels constant (permanent; not gone) than ordinary back pain. The pain can also get worse when you make certain movements. Lumbago is generally not like this.

3. Spread of pain
Another way to distinguish between back pain and kidney pain is from the location of its spread. Kidney pain can usually spread to the inner thighs or lower abdomen.

Meanwhile, the spread of low back pain is usually limited around the lower back if the pain is caused by muscle aches. When caused by nerve pain, back pain can spread to the legs.

4. From the accompanying symptoms
So you can distinguish between back pain and kidney pain, it is also necessary to observe other symptoms besides the pain itself.

Accompanying symptoms of kidney disease:

Fever and chills
Nausea and vomiting
Urine is darker
Pain when urinating
Experience a UTI
There is blood in the urine
A small pebble comes out of urine when urinating
Like suddenly wanting to pee

Accompanying symptoms of back pain:

The affected area looks swollen
Muscle cramps in the affected area
Numbness or weakness in one or both legs (if the pain is due to nerve pain, not muscle pain).

If you feel sure you hurt your back but also can't urinate or defecate you should immediately see a doctor. This could indicate the suppression of the spinal cord called cauda equina syndrome. Cauda equina syndrome can cause long-term damage to the spinal cord, so it must be treated immediately before it gets worse.

5. How to treat it
Pain due to kidney pain usually will not disappear even if you move. The pain will still be felt even if you are lying down, sitting, standing, or walking.

Conversely, back pain can subside or get worse with certain movements. For example when sitting or standing for a long time, usually the pain gets worse. If you change positions, for example by walking the pain can subside.