When many people experience lower back pain, their first reaction is "Is there a problem with my kidneys?" and they immediately start blindly tonifying their kidneys and eating random health supplements.
In outpatient clinics, it is common to encounter patients who, due to lower back pain, self-diagnose kidney deficiency or kidney disease, leading to unnecessary anxiety and even indiscriminate medication use that exacerbates the burden on their kidneys.
Director Chen Wen from the Nephrology Department of Hainan Chengmei Hospital stated that this is a widely spread health misconception, and the vast majority of lower back pain actually has nothing to do with the kidneys. The kidneys are inherently silent organs. To distinguish the source of lower back pain, one must learn to recognize the signals, so as to avoid panic and misdiagnosis.
Back pain is mostly due to musculoskeletal issues, and kidneys rarely complain of pain
Director Chen Wen explained that there is almost no pain nerve distribution within the renal parenchyma, and most cases of ordinary chronic glomerulonephritis and early nephropathy do not present with back pain as the initial symptom. The area of the lumbosacral region where people often feel soreness is relatively low, belonging to the lumbar spine, muscle, and fascia regions; the kidney is located deep in the costovertebral angle above the lower back, and the two are not in the same position.
Director Chen Wen emphasized that over 80% of low back pain in clinical practice falls within the scope of orthopedics and rehabilitation medicine, and is caused by soft tissue and spinal lesions in the lumbar and back regions. Lumbar muscle strain and myofascitis of the back and waist, induced by long periods of sitting, poor posture, and exposure to cold, often worsen after exertion and improve with heat application and rest. For conditions such as lumbar disc herniation, osteoporosis, and spinal facet joint disorder, pain may be accompanied by numbness and radiating pain in the lower limbs.
In addition, conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease and prostate problems can also cause radiating pain and swelling in the lumbosacral region, which can easily be mistaken for kidney problems.
Blindly tonifying the kidney for this type of low back pain is completely inappropriate and may even delay treatment.
Renal pain has its own signals, and it is important to learn how to quickly distinguish and identify them
Director Chen Wen stated that not all lower back pain is unrelated to the kidneys. A minority of urinary system diseases can indeed cause pain in the kidney area, but it has distinct identifying characteristics that can be distinguished from ordinary lower back pain.
The pain is consistently located at the costovertebral angle, which is the junction of the upper back, the last rib, and the spine. Tapping this area causes significant pain. The pain is not closely related to bending over or movement, and it does not significantly alleviate with lying down or massage. It often accompanies urination or abnormal signals throughout the body. Kidney stones and ureteral stones can cause severe and unbearable renal colic, which may be accompanied by hematuria. Acute pyelonephritis may be accompanied by fever, urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria. Large renal cysts and hydronephrosis can also cause deep, persistent dull pain due to stretching of the capsule.
Director Chen Wen reminds us that if there is only simple low back pain without symptoms such as foamy urine, hematuria, eyelid or lower limb edema, unexplained hypertension, fatigue, and poor appetite, the probability of kidney disease is very low. Many patients with chronic kidney disease do not experience low back pain throughout the entire course of their illness, and by the time discomfort occurs, renal function damage is often already quite evident.
Reject blind tonification and nourishment, and safeguard kidneys through scientific screening
Director Chen Wen further emphasized that one should not judge the health of the kidneys based on lower back pain, nor should one self-medicate with kidney-tonifying health supplements or folk remedies based on lower back pain. Many health supplements contain unknown ingredients and pose a risk of nephrotoxicity. Blindly taking supplements can actually cause irreversible damage to the kidneys.
One can easily self-diagnose the presence of lower back pain:
If the pain varies with posture and activity, seek medical attention at the orthopedic or rehabilitation department as a priority;
If there is obvious tenderness upon percussion of the costovertebral angle, accompanied by abnormal urination, edema, fever, etc., it is necessary to promptly visit the nephrology department and urology department.
To understand kidney health, one should rely not on subjective feelings but on three basic physical examinations: urine routine test, renal function test, and kidney ultrasound. In Hainan, where the climate is hot and humid, residents are prone to long periods of sedentary behavior, consume high-salt diets, and enjoy drinking strong tea, making them high-risk groups for kidney stones and kidney diseases. Regular screening is far more important than experiencing back pain and then feeling anxious.
Director Chen Wen reminds us that back pain is merely a symptom and not an exclusive sign of kidney disease. It is important to break the inherent belief that "back pain equals kidney problems." One should neither blindly panic and take tonics nor ignore the real warning signals from the kidneys. Scientifically distinguishing and seeking appropriate medical treatment are the correct ways to protect the kidneys and maintain lumbar health.
(Friendly reminder: This article is only for health education and cannot replace clinical diagnosis. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention in a hospital in a timely manner.)