Photo: Andrew Neel

How do you know if it is back pain or kidney pain?

Kidney pain occurs in a more specific area than general back pain. The location of kidney pain is typically contained in the region where the kidneys are found on either side of the spine at the base of the rib cage. Depending on the cause, pain may be felt on either one or both sides of the spine.

durhamnephrology.com - How to Tell if its Kidney Pain or Back Pain - Durham Nephrology

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Your kidneys are located just below the ribcage, with each kidney positioned on either side of your spine. Kidneys help to filter toxins and extra fluids from the body to ensure the rest of your body works normally. Common causes of kidney pain include UTIs, kidney infections, and kidney stones. Because your kidneys rest against your back muscles, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate kidney pain from back pain. To help you distinguish between the two, we’re breaking down the signs and symptoms of how to tell if it’s back pain or kidney pain.

How to Tell if it’s Back Pain or Kidney Pain

Location

Back pain can be felt at any location of the back, from the top of the spine by the base of the neck all the way down to the bottom of the spine near the tailbone. Possible causes of back pain could include damage to the nerves, muscles, discs, or any of the spine’s vertebrae. Kidney pain occurs in a more specific area than general back pain. The location of kidney pain is typically contained in the region where the kidneys are found on either side of the spine at the base of the rib cage. Depending on the cause, pain may be felt on either one or both sides of the spine. Kidney pain may also radiate to areas other than the back, such as the side, abdomen, groin, or thigh.

Type of Pain

Depending on the cause of back pain, the type of pain may vary from gradual pain that remains contained in the area of inflammation, as is the case with muscle or ligament strain, to numbness and tingling that is common with sciatic pain. When it comes to kidney pain, the type of pain associated with kidney infections is typically described as a dull, consistent soreness or achiness. Large kidney stones can have a more intense, sharp pain that worsens as the kidney stones begin to pass.

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. Kidney pain also does not typically get better on its own, unless that pain is from kidney stones. More often than not, back pain will eventually ease on its own.

Accompanying Symptoms

Generally, back pain has no accompanying symptoms aside from the pain itself. Kidney pain is far more likely to have other symptoms such as nausea, fever, vomiting, and problems with urinating or bowels. If you don’t have any other symptoms aside from back pain, the issue is probably related to the spine or back muscles, but if you have any other accompanying symptoms with your back pain, call your doctor to make sure it’s not a more serious problem with your kidneys.

Make an Appointment

At Durham Nephrology, we provide comprehensive care to patients in Durham and Oxford, NC with kidney disease and high blood pressure. Our team is experienced in kidney pain and the underlying causes. If you have questions about kidney pain, or if you’re experiencing any symptoms in addition to kidney pain, call us at 919-477-3005 to talk to a staff member and make an appointment.

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What's the longest you can hold your pee?

businessinsider.com - How Long Can You Go Without Peeing? - Business Insider

AP

After more than 20 hours of standing and talking on the Senate floor, Ted Cruz is still going strong, but how badly does he have to pee?

According to Focus Magazine, the average human bladder can hold about 400 to 600 milliliters of urine. The average person produces about 1,500 ml of urine every 24 hours, so it only takes nine or 10 hours before you're filled up and you've gotta go — bad. How long that takes depends on your hydration level — if you don't have a lot of extra liquids in your system, your kidneys won't be creating as much pee. The 9-10 hour figure is for a normally hydrated person.We don't know if Ted Cruz has prepared for the bladder-holding task in any way, say, not drinking water before he took the floor.

Others have used catheters to empty their bladders during filibustering.

There's currently no official record set for the longest someone has gone without peeing, but holding it in is not advised. According to msn.com, no serious health problems have been linked to holding urine too long. The idea that your bladder will burst is a myth — your bladder will simply override your willpower and your brain's attempt to delay urinating, and you'll simply wet your pants. Of course there is the story of Tycho Brahe who supposedly died in the 1600s at a banquet from a ruptured bladder because he held it in too long, but it was more likely an infection that caused his death. Holding it in won't kill you, it just might make you more prone to urinary tract infections, according to the Toronto Naturopathic Health Clinic.