Your kidneys are responsible for getting rid of waste and excess fluid from the bloodstream. These two important organs are located below your rib cage on both sides of your body. Because they rest so close to the spine and against the muscles of the back, it becomes difficult to tell when back pain is just that or related to the kidney, according to Medical News Today. It is important to identify the source of pain for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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Kidney pain
Kidney pain can be caused by several factors including urinary tract infections (UTIs), injury to the kidney, kidney infection and kidney stones. Most people who have experienced this pain describe it as a discomfort around the rib cage where the organs are located. It could also be a dull ache that you feel in your sides, stomach, groin, thigh or back. WebMD states:
Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it's felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage.
Signs that the pain you feel is related to your kidneys include bad and or metallic breath, muscle cramps, shortness of breath, and swollen legs, ankles and feet.
Back pain
Back pain is so common that the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the US estimates that around 80 percent of adults will experience lower back pain at least once in their lives. The cause of the pain can be determined by the other symptoms, the location of the pain and its severity, Medical News Today wrote.
Back pain can occur anywhere in the back. However, most people experience pain in their lower back. Straining a muscle or ligament in the back is a common cause of back pain.
Others include bad posture, muscle spasms/tensions, tumours, among others.
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