Kidney Pain: Location, What It Feels Like, And More

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhere do you feel kidney pain, and what does it feel like?

Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Zia Sherrell, MPH — Updated on June 14, 2024

Location
What it feels like
Causes
Back pain
Groin pain
Passing urine
Other symptoms
Seeing a doctor
Summary

If a person feels pain in their side or experiences tenderness around their lower back, it could indicate kidney issues. Kidney pain may be dull and constant or sudden and sharp.

Kidney pain may point to conditions such as kidney infections or kidney stones, among others. These conditions can affect how well the kidneys function, so it is essential to seek medical advice for kidney pain.

This article will discuss where in the body someone may feel kidney pain and what it might feel like. It will also explore the possible causes of kidney pain and when to contact a doctor.

Where do you feel kidney pain?

a person is bending over forward and showing their back to the camera — Erik Von Weber/Getty Images

A person may feel kidney pain under the lower part of their rib cage. They may feel it on either their right or left side, or they may experience it on both sides at the same time.

Kidney pain may also come from the middle or upper part of a person’s back. They may also feel pain relating to the kidneys anywhere in the urinary system, such as the bladder.

What does kidney pain feel like?

Kidney pain may feel like a constant, dull pain or ache. Alternatively, it may be excruciating and sharp.

If a doctor gently presses on or taps the person’s flank area, the pain may worsen.

What the pain feels like will likely depend on its cause. Also, individuals may feel and respond to kidney pain differently.

Causes

If someone is experiencing kidney pain, it may indicate a problem with one or both of their kidneys.

There are various reasons that someone may have kidney pain, including:

A urinary tract infection (UTI): If bacteria enter part of the urinary tract system, including the bladder or urethra, a person may develop a UTI. If they do not seek treatment for the UTI, the infection may spread to the kidneys.
A kidney infection: A kidney infection can be extremely painful. Doctors call this condition pyelonephritis when it affects one or both kidneys.
Kidney stones: Urine contains minerals that, at high levels, can form stones in the kidneys. If the stones stay in the kidneys, the person may not experience kidney pain. However, as the kidney stones pass into the tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder, it can cause pain or block the flow of urine.
Renal vein thrombosis: This is a rare condition wherein a blood clot lodges in one of the veins that carry blood from the kidneys. Symptoms may appear gradually or suddenly.
Hydronephrosis: If the flow of urine becomes blocked with a stone, blood clot, or scarring, the urine may back up and cause the kidneys to swell. Hydronephrosis can affect one or both kidneys.
Kidney cancer: Cancer can form in the kidneys if the cells begin to grow abnormally. Various cancers can affect the kidneys of both adults and children.

Pain in the back

If a person experiences pain in their mid to upper back, it could indicate that there is something wrong with their kidneys.

Kidney pain in the back may be a constant ache, or it may be sharp and sudden. Some people may describe it as a “stabbing” pain.

A kidney infection may have started with a UTI.

The most common causes of kidney pain that radiates to the back are infections and kidney stones.

Kidney stones can cause a person to experience excruciating pain that feels like spasms. This pain may also spread to the groin.

However, if kidney pain worsens when a person bends over or lifts something, it may be the result of back muscle or bone problems rather than an issue affecting the kidney.

Learn how to tell the difference between back pain and kidney.

Pain in the groin

A person may also feel kidney disease or other kidney condition-related pain in their groin. This may happen because pain can radiate to areas of the body other than where it originates.

Males may feel kidney-related pain in their testicles.

However, if testicular pain is accompanied by enlargement, redness, or changes to the scrotal skin, the problem might be a primary issue with the testicle. If this is the case, they should seek medical advice.

Read about some other symptoms of testicular cancer.

Pain while passing urine

If a person experiences a stinging or burning pain while urinating, they may have a urine or bladder infection.

Some other symptoms of infection include:

wanting to pass urine very often
pain at the bottom of the abdomen
foul smelling urine
cloudy urine

Bacteria in the bladder can cause kidney infections.

A person with any of these symptoms should contact a doctor.

Other symptoms

A person may experience a range of other symptoms in addition to kidney pain, including:

pain or itching while urinating
cloudy urine
bloody urine
smelly urine
an urge to pass urine frequently
pain in the lower abdomen
pain in the groin
nausea and vomiting
fever
chills

When to contact a doctor

A person who is experiencing kidney pain should contact a doctor as soon as possible to find out what is causing it.

People must contact a doctor to diagnose and treat kidney pain. Receiving the correct treatment ensures that the kidneys do not become damaged, which can lead to kidney failure.

Doctors may order tests such as urine tests, which can help them identify any infections, or cytology, which can help them identify cancer cells in the urine. They may also order imaging tests, such as CT or ultrasound scans.

Sepsis

Kidney infections can lead to a severe and potentially life threatening condition called sepsis.

If a person is experiencing the following symptoms, they need emergency medical care:

fever
chills
shortness of breath
low blood pressure
a rapid heart rate
clamminess
extreme pain

Without the correct treatment, kidney infections can become chronic and cause permanent kidney damage.

Summary

Kidney pain can occur on either or both sides of the spine, below the ribs. Some people may also experience pain in the lower groin.

Pain in the kidneys may be an indication that something is wrong with these essential organs. Various conditions can cause kidney pain, including infections, kidney stones, and cancer.

People with kidney pain must consult a doctor. Even minor UTIs can spread to the kidneys and lead to sepsis or kidney damage.

Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Pain / Anesthetics
Urology / Nephrology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

About sepsis. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/about/index.html
Hydronephrosis. (n.d.).https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/hydronephrosis
Kidney pain: Causes, why kidneys hurt, and when to seek care. (2022).https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-problems/kidney-pain.html
Mazhar HR, et al. (2023). Renal vein thrombosis.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536971/
Pain in kidney or urine diseases. (2022).https://www.kidney.org.uk/pain-in-kidney-or-urine-diseases
What are kidney stones? (n.d.).https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/k/kidney-stones
What is kidney cancer? (2024).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/about/what-is-kidney-cancer.html

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Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Zia Sherrell, MPH — Updated on June 14, 2024

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Kidney Pain: Location, What It Feels Like, And More

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Where do you feel kidney pain?

What does kidney pain feel like?

Causes

Pain in the back

Pain in the groin

Pain while passing urine

Other symptoms

When to contact a doctor

Sepsis

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

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