Kidneys & Abdominal Pain

Kidneys connect to the ureters, urethra and bladder, filtering out excess fluids and wastes through urine production. The kidneys are located low within the abdominal cavity, causing pain in the abdomen when infected, inflamed or malfunctioning.

• Abdominal pain may signify kidney complications.

Significance

• Pyelonephritis is a serious kidney infection resulting from bacteria infiltrating blocked urine due to a bladder or urinary tract infection. Symptoms include sudden or ongoing abdominal pain, urinary discomfort, vomiting, chills and dizziness.

Effects

• Sharp and sudden pain beginning in the lower back may indicate a kidney stone, with abdominal, groin and urinary cramp-like pangs occurring as the stone moves further down the urinary tract.

Potential

• While polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is considered a mild hereditary condition causing painless cysts of fluid to grow on the kidneys, at times it presents symptoms of dull aching in the back, sides and abdomen.

Considerations

• Symptoms of abdominal pain may indicate a kidney disorder or infection, necessitating medical attention. Kidney problems are diagnosed through urine samples, kidney scans, X-rays, ultrasounds and biopsies.

Prevention/Solution

• Abdominal pain can be reduced through pain relievers and heating pads, whereas kidney infections or malfunctioning kidneys causing pain may require increased fluids, antibiotics, invasive surgery, dialysis or prolonged hospitalization, depending on the severity of the kidney damage.