Suffering from a kidney ache can be a cause for concern in many patients. The reason for this type of pain can be due to conditions such as a kidney stone or infection or to more serious health concerns such as polycystic kidney disease, which can lead to eventual loss of kidney function. It is important to consult a physician for any persistent kidney ache in order to to receive an accurate diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan.
Kidney stones are a common cause of kidney ache. This type of pain typically occurs when a stone becomes stuck in the ureter, the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder. This often blocks the flow of urine, causing pain as the kidney becomes enlarged due to extra fluid buildup. Kidney stones often cause intense pain that is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Most stones will pass on their own, although surgical intervention may become necessary if a severe blockage is present or if the stone is too large to pass on its own.
A kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is another common cause of kidney pain. Infection often leads to swelling of the kidney, and pain is felt as the kidney stretches due to this swelling. Fever and chills are often present along with the kidney pain in cases of infection. A kidney infection is typically treated by several days of taking oral antibiotics.
Polycystic kidney disease is the most common genetic kidney disease and frequently causes a persistent kidney ache. Polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, tends to progress slowly over a period of several years and causes the kidneys to dramatically increase in size and become full of fluid-filled cysts. There is no treatment or cure for this disease, so the patient is kept as comfortable as possible with the use of pain medications until kidney function declines to the point where dialysis or a kidney transplant becomes necessary.
Sometimes, the kidneys or bladder may begin to experience spasms, leading to what is felt as kidney pain. The spasms may be due to something as simple as a full bladder, although the reason for these involuntary contractions is not always known. On rare occasions, cancerous tumors may develop in the kidneys, leading to pain. Properly functioning kidneys are necessary in maintaining life, so it is extremely important to report any instances of persistent kidney ache to a physician right away.