Humans have kidneys on both sides of the spine, under the back ribs, and near the center of the back.Kidney problems are often accompanied by symptoms of low back pain. However, not all low back pain indicates kidney problems.
Causes of back pain
A variety of factors can contribute to right-side back pain, including strained muscles, nerve problems in the spine, and organ problems such as the kidneys. Right-side back pain can be either dull or sharp. The pain can be either intermittent or persistent.
Several factors can contribute to low back pain, such as:
Lumbar or spinal muscle problems
Problems with the muscles of the waist and spine can cause low back pain on the right. Some causes of low back pain are:
- Over-stretching or tearing of ligaments due to incorrect posture when lifting items
- Degeneration of shock-absorbing spinal discs due to aging or wear and tear
- Muscle tension due to improper posture
To relieve the above muscle pain, it can be overcome by stretching, taking pain relievers, or physiotherapy as recommended by the doctor.
Other causes of low back pain involving the muscles and spine include:
- Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the vertebrae that puts pressure on the spinal nerves
- Lumbar radiculopathy refers to pain caused by inflammation, pressure, or injury to the spinal nerve roots
- Spinal disease refers to damage or degeneration of the spinal discs
Kidney problems
Problems with the kidneys can also cause right-side back pain. Some kidney problems include:
- Kidney stones are deposits of mineral waste and salts formed during blood filtration. The pain that appears can be sharp, similar to stabbing pain, and located in the lower abdomen or groin area
- Kidney infection, caused by an infection with E. coli bacteria that live in the intestines
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is an inflammatory condition that causes swelling of the appendix. It can affect children as young as ten years old and adults as old as thirty. The infection causes pain on the right side of the abdomen, which worsens when pressed. The pain may also spread to the waist and groin.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue resembling the womb lining, known as endometrial tissue, grows outside the uterus. If the tissue develops on the right ovary or fallopian tube, it can cause inflammation in the ovary and surrounding tissue. As a result, you may experience cramp-like pain that spreads from the front and sides to the back of your waist.
Pregnancy or miscarriage
Low back pain can also be a sign of pregnancy, but it typically affects the entire lower back. Low back pain in the early stages of pregnancy may also indicate a miscarriage.
Testicular torsion
Low back pain in men can also be caused by testicular torsion, which occurs when the testicle is twisted and causes severe pain. To avoid complications, this condition must be treated seriously and immediately.
Pain on the right side of the back is not always caused by kidney problems. You can determine the cause by observing the symptoms you experience. If you have persistent low back pain, see a doctor.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Christiano, D., and Roland, J. (2023). What Can Cause Pain on the Right Side of the Lower Back?. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-in-lower-back-right-side
Cleveland Clinic. Lower Right Back Pain. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22864-lower-right-back-pain
Eske, J., and Grayland-Leech, B. (2023). What causes back pain on the lower right side? Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325252