An injury to the back muscles can impact the function and pain levels in a variety of muscles down the backside of the body, including the gluteus muscles. If you are having widespread pain, weakness, or numbness, especially down into your legs, it is important to get medical care immediately. [1] X Research source
Pain in other areas of the back, such as the upper back, is not caused by the kidneys.
If you only have abdominal pain with no back pain, that is not likely to be related to the kidneys.
Most causes of kidney pain, including urinary tract infections and kidney stones, will not stop hurting on their own without treatment. The back muscles, on the other hand, can heal themselves and the pain can go away. Some kidney stones can pass through your body on their own without treatment. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cedars Sinai Hospital Website of one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source However, it is still important to get the cause of your kidney pain evaluated by a doctor.
If you stood or sat for an unusually long time recently that could cause back pain. Also, if you have an existing injury to your back it is likely that new pain is related to that previous injury.
Your urine may also be cloudy or dark if the pain is coming from your kidneys. You may also feel an intense need to urinate when you are having kidney problems, such as kidney stones. [8] X Research source
This numbness can even go all the way down to the toes in extreme cases.
Call your doctor’s office and describe your symptoms to the office staff. They will then suggest an appointment time for you to be seen. Treating pain with an over-the-counter pain medication is a good temporary solution if you are in a lot of distress. However, you should get medical care for long-term pain so that there is a chance that the problem can be solved instead of simply masked with medication.
Whether the doctor suspects a serious problem in the back, such as a slipped disc, or a problem with the kidneys, they will order imaging to be done. This can be in the form of an X-ray, ultrasound, spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a computed tomography (CT) scan. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If the doctor suspects a problem with your kidneys, they will order a variety of blood and urine tests to look for abnormalities in your blood cell counts and your protein counts, among other things.
If you are having kidney pain due to kidney stones, a common cause of kidney pain, your doctor will prescribe medication for pain and discuss surgical options with you if the stones are large and won’t pass. [11] X Research source If you have a pulled back muscle, a common cause of back pain, your doctor will likely talk to you about pain management, care for the muscles, and physical therapy options. [12] X Research source
