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What pain feels like a kidney stone but isn t?

The most common kidney stone signs and symptoms are like many other conditions or diseases. As a result, these kidney stone symptoms are often misdiagnosed or mistaken as other illness. Conditions that can be mistaken for kidney stones, sharing similar symptoms:

Appendicitis or lower back pain Urinary tract infection (UTI) Stomach flu or virus

The most prominent symptoms of kidney stones are severe abdominal or lower back pain. When patients visit the emergency room or their primary care doctor to discuss these symptoms, they can be mistaken as either appendicitis or general lower back pain.

Appendicitis is inflammation of a patient’s appendix, located in the lower right side of the abdomen. Some symptoms of appendicitis include sharp abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and migration of the pain to different parts of the lower abdomen. This is very similar to the symptoms presented by patients with kidney stones.

Other symptoms associated with kidney stones can be mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Patients who have kidney stones may experience blood in the urine (hematuria), foul-smelling urine, abdominal or pelvic pain, and frequent urination. Similarly, patients who have an active UTI will encounter lower abdominal pain, cloudy or bloody urine, and the persistent urge to urinate. Moreover, due to the sudden onset of abdominal pain that patients experience with kidney stones, patients with kidney stones can be mistaken for having the stomach flu or virus. Many patients will not know that they have a kidney stone until they experience the severe and sudden pain that is associated with having kidney stones.

What else can kidney stone pain be?

When this happens, the stones can block the flow of urine out of the kidneys. The main symptom is severe pain that starts and stops suddenly: Pain may be felt in the belly area or side of the back. Pain may move to the groin area (groin pain), testicles (testicle pain) in men, and labia (vaginal pain) in women.

How do I know if I have a kidney stone or something else?

Signs and symptoms of kidney stones can include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and blood in your urine.

Do kidney stones cause pain if they are not obstructing?

Small, nonobstructing renal stones are commonly not considered to be a potential source of the pain because they do not interfere with the flow of urine.

Do you feel kidney stone pain all the time?

Kidney Stone Signs and Symptoms are usually small. They may be as tiny as a grain of salt or as big as a corn kernel. The stones can be brown or yellow, and smooth or rough. Sometimes, you don’t notice any symptoms and never know that you had one. But other times, you’ll know. Pain is the most common symptom of kidney stones.

Flushing one out of your body as you pee can hurt, sometimes a lot. It’s the main sign that you might be taking in too many minerals and not enough fluids. You may not have symptoms until the stone starts to stir. It can move around inside your or into your ureter, the tube that connects your to your,

You may feel pain:

In your side or back, below your ribsIn your lower bellyIn your groin or testicles

The pain can shift around to different places in your body. This means the stone is making its way from your kidney through the ureter to your bladder. It might also hurt more when you pee. Your pain may range from mild to so strong that you go to the hospital.

Burning when you peeNeeding to pee more oftenTrouble peeingPassing only small amounts of urinePink, red, or brown blood in your urine (hematuria)Small stones in your peeCloudy or bad-smelling peeNausea and vomitingFever and chills

Surprisingly, the size of a kidney stone doesn’t match the degree of pain. Sometimes, smaller stones hurt the worst, while big stones just give you a dull ache. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney stones, you should:

Drink plenty of fluids to try to flush out the stone. Aim for 2 to 3 quarts a day. Water is best.Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.Ask your doctor about prescription medicines like nifedipine (Adamant, Procardia) or tamsulosin (Flomax) that relax your ureter to help stones pass through.

See your doctor right away if you have severe pain or signs of an infection or urinary blockage. : Kidney Stone Signs and Symptoms

What are the 3 early warning signs of kidney stones?

Pain in your back or side, blood in your urine and nausea/vomiting alongside the pain are symptoms of a kidney stone or stones. Most kidney stones are about the size of a chickpea, but they can also be as small as a grain of sand and as large as a golf ball.

How to tell the difference between muscle pain and kidney stone?

Where Is the Pain Located? – Pain due to kidney and renal stones is usually felt between the ribcage and the hips on one or both sides of the torso. Back pain that is due to a muscle or nerve issue is limited to the back, with some spreading to the upper buttocks as well.

How do I know if my pain is from my kidney?

What does kidney pain feel like? – Kidney pain often feels like a dull ache that gets worse if someone gently presses on that area. While it is more common to feel kidney pain on only one side, some health problems may affect both kidneys and cause pain on both sides of your back.

Can kidney pain be something else?

It’s often mistaken for back pain. Kidney pain can be caused by kidney stones, kidney infection, an injury or kidney cancer. Kidney pain treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Does kidney pain hurt with movement?

Time – The timeline is another way to distinguish back pain from kidney pain. Back pain can come and go and can be triggered by certain movements like bending over or sitting up. Pain associated with the kidneys on the other hand generally remains dull and stable and is usually not changed with movement.

Can I test myself for kidney stones?

How do I know if I have a kidney stone? – It is not always possible to self-diagnose a kidney stone, though certain signs and symptoms may point to the likelihood that you have a stone. Keep in mind, kidney stones may cause virtually no symptoms early on.

Pain in the back or flank, typically on one side only Lower abdominal pain Blood in the urine Constant need to urinate Difficulty voiding Painful urination Nausea or vomiting Fever, chills, or sweating

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you may be attempting to pass a kidney stone. The only way to determine with certainty whether or not you have a stone, where in the urinary tract the stone currently is, and whether it has a high probability of passing on its own is to obtain a diagnosis from a medical professional using imaging studies and other diagnostic tools.

How long can kidney stone pain last?

Typically, the pain fluctuates in severity but does not go away completely without treatment. Waves of severe pain, known as renal colic, usually last 20 to 60 minutes. Pain can occur in the flank (the side, between the ribs and the hip) or the lower abdomen, and the pain can move toward the groin.

Would kidney stone show up in urine test?

Lab tests – Urine tests can show whether your urine contains high levels of minerals that form kidney stones. Urine and blood tests can also help a health care professional find out what type of kidney stones you have. Urinalysis. Urinalysis involves a health care professional testing your urine sample.

You will collect a urine sample at a doctor’s office or at a lab, and a health care professional will test the sample. Urinalysis can show whether your urine has blood in it and minerals that can form kidney stones. White blood cells and bacteria in the urine mean you may have a urinary tract infection,

Blood tests. A health care professional may take a blood sample from you and send the sample to a lab to test. The blood test can show if you have high levels of certain minerals in your blood that can lead to kidney stones.

How do they rule out kidney stones?

Typically a urinalysis (testing of a urine sample), an abdominal x-ray, a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or an ultrasound will be done to complete the diagnosis.

What dissolves kidney stones fast?

What Dissolves Kidney Stones Fast? Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which helps dissolve kidney stones. In addition to flushing out the kidneys, apple cider vinegar can also decrease any pain caused by the stones. In addition, water and lemon juice can help flush the stones and prevent future kidney stones.

What is the best position to pass a kidney stone?

What Is the Best Position to Lay With Kidney Stones? It Depends – When you have a kidney stone, the priority is to pass it as soon as possible to eliminate the pain. Research indicates that the best position to lay with kidney stones is on the side with the pain. In other words, if the stone is in your left ureter, lie on your left side; if it’s in the right ureter, lie on the right. Doctors have found that lying on the side with the affected kidney can help increase blood flow, which helps push the stone out of the ureter. Other ways to manage the pain of a kidney stone include:

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen. Taking prescription alpha-blockers to relax the muscles in the ureter and reduce pain. Drinking plenty of water. As a general rule, you need to drink at least two liters of water per day to produce enough urine to reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. If kidney stones form, aim to drink 3-4 liters of water to pass them.

Can stress cause kidney stones?

Can stress cause kidney stones? – Especially when combined with chronic dehydration, stress can trigger the formation of kidney stones. Stress overall can affect your kidneys. Stress can result in high blood pressure and high blood sugar, which can both affect the health of your heart and the kidneys.

How to tell the difference between muscle pain and kidney stone?

Where Is the Pain Located? – Pain due to kidney and renal stones is usually felt between the ribcage and the hips on one or both sides of the torso. Back pain that is due to a muscle or nerve issue is limited to the back, with some spreading to the upper buttocks as well.

Can muscle pain mimic kidney stone pain?

Type of pain: Kidney pain comes from a deeper place than the muscles. This means it usually doesn’t get worse with lifting, twisting, or bending like muscle pain does. Sometimes kidney pain feels dull and constant. Other times it comes in waves.

Is it a kidney stone or diverticulitis?

Not all kidney stone pain is the same. For example, the location of pain can change as the stone moves from the kidney to the bladder, says Lieske. When a stone is moving into the ureter, people may feel pain in their flank, or side, or their back, he says.

Notably, if the stone is stuck where the kidney connects to the ureter, the pain can be severe, says Ralph V. Clayman, MD, a urology professor at the University of California in Irvine. On a scale of 1 to 10, “pain can be a 10,” he says. “There is no position in which the person is comfortable.” This type of pain has a tendency to come and go in 10- to 30-minute cycles.

It can also radiate to the groin area and the front of the thigh, he adds. Once the stone has moved down to the part of the ureter closer to the bladder, a person tends to have pain in the abdomen or groin, says Lieske. Men sometimes feel pain at the tip of their penis.

3 ) As the stone moves down the ureter, it can also mimic the pain of other conditions, says Dr. Clayman. For example, if the kidney stone is on the right side of the body, it may feel like appendicitis or inflammation of the appendix, If the stone is on the left side, people may mistake the pain for diverticulitis, inflammation, or an infection within the small or large intestine, he says.

And as the kidney stone migrates into the bladder, symptoms can be similar to a urinary tract infection, says Clayman. People may experience painful urination, along with frequent urination, and the urgent need to urinate, he adds. Fortunately, from this point, the stone can usually pass from the bladder out the urethra, which is typically twice the diameter of the ureter, says Clayman.

How do I know if its a kidney stone or just back pain?

Kidney pain is discomfort that comes from the area where your kidneys are. It’s often described as a dull ache, you feel in your sides, back, or belly. But pain in these areas isn’t always a sign of a kidney issue. It’s easy to mistake kidney pain for ordinary back pain,

1. But there are some differences in how kidney pain feels and where it’s located compared to back pain.
2. Idney pain has many possible causes, and some could be serious.
3. It’s important to let your doctor know if you notice pain that you think may be coming from one or both of these organs.
4. Where are your kidneys? Your kidneys are two small organs shaped like beans.

You have one on each side of your body. They’re each about the size of your fist. They’re below your rib cage on both sides of your spinal cord. Your kidneys have important jobs. They clean out water, acids, and waste from your blood, They make urine so your body flushes out the waste.

• If they’re diseased or damaged in some way, they can’t do their work to maintain a healthy balance of salts, minerals like calcium, and water in your blood.
• Your kidneys also make hormones that help you manage your blood pressure, keep your bones strong, and make red blood cells.
• So it’s important to watch for any signs of kidney disease or damage, like pain.

Kidney pain symptoms include:

A dull ache that’s usually constantPain under your rib cage or in your bellyPain in your side; usually only one side, but sometimes both hurtSharp or severe pain that may come in wavesPain that can spread to your groin area or belly

Other symptoms that can happen with kidney pain The symptoms of your kidney pain depend on its cause. With kidney pain you may also have:

Fever Vomiting Pain when you pee Cloudy urine Blood in your urine

Kidney pain has many possible causes. These organs are connected to others like your bladder and ureters, where you store and get rid of urine. Kidney stones, Intense, sudden, stabbing pain may be a kidney stone, These are mineral deposits that can grow large enough to block a ureter, a tube that connects your kidney and bladder.

1. If that happens, you’ll feel sharp pain or cramps in your back or side.
2. It can also spread out to your groin.
3. As you try to pee out the stone, you might feel waves of pain.
4. Idney infection.
5. Also called pyelonephritis, this infection could cause discomfort in one or both kidneys.
6. You may feel pain in your back, in your side or both sides under your ribs, or in your groin.

You’ll also have a fever, Urinary tract infections also cause discomfort in this organ. Kidney swelling. This condition, called hydronephrosis, can happen if your kidneys are blocked. Your urine can’t drain the way it should and builds up in your kidneys.

1. This can happen in one or both kidneys and sometimes it causes pain.
2. Idney cysts.
3. You may not feel a simple kidney cyst until it grows larger.
4. Once it gets big, you might feel a dull pain in your side or back, or feel pain in the upper part of your belly.
5. Polycystic kidney disease,
6. This genetic disease causes many cysts to grow in your kidneys.

They may cause you to feel a pain in your back or side. Kidney cancer, Tumors in your kidney may not cause any discomfort early on. As the cancer gets worse, you may notice pain in your side, back, or belly that doesn’t come and go or get less intense.

Benign kidney tumor or mass. A renal mass is a noncancerous tumor or growth. It feels like pain in your flank, between your ribs and your hips on your side. You’ll also have low back pain on one side of your body that lingers. Renal vein thrombosis. A blood clot can form in one of the veins in your kidney.

It causes severe, ongoing pain in your flank or side. You may feel spasms of pain at times too. The area around the affected kidney between your rib cage and spine could feel sore. Kidney injury. Many contact sports or vigorous activities like football, boxing, horseback riding, or soccer could put you at risk for a kidney injury.

1. If this happens, the discomfort might be in either side of your belly or low back.
2. It could range from mild to very strong, depending on how badly you’re injured.
3. It’s easy to confuse kidney pain for just back pain.
4. How do you know the difference? Location.
5. It could be your kidney and not your back if you feel it higher on your back.

Back problems usually affect your lower back. 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.

Shoots down one legIs more likely to be stabbing than dull and constantGets worse or flares up when you do certain activities, like lifting a box or bending overWhen you rest or lie down, back pain may ease upMight also be muscle aches

Other symptoms to watch for Depending on the cause of the pain, you could have other symptoms too. If you have these signs, contact your doctor. You could have a serious kidney problem:

FeverBody achesTiredness

Also, if you recently had a urinary tract infection ( UTI ), call your doctor. If you have blood in your urine, or if your pain is sudden and unbearable even without signs of blood in your pee, get medical care right away. To treat your kidney pain, your doctor first needs to find its cause. They may use one or more tests to find out the cause of your pain. These tests include:

Urine tests to check your pee for blood, protein, too many white blood cells, and other signs of specific kidney problemsAn ultrasound or CT scan to look for kidney stones or other physical problems in the kidneys and urinary tract

Once your doctor diagnoses the cause of your kidney pain, they can decide on the best treatment plan for you.