Do I have back pain or kidney stones?
posted: Mar. 13, 2024.
Understanding back pain back pain, especially low back pain is incredibly common. According to the CDC in 2019 almost 39% of all adults experienced back pain in the U.S. General back pain can arise from a number of different causes.
Causes of musculoskeletal back pain include
- Sprains
- Strains
- Disc injuries
- Repetitive use
- Fractures
- Facet syndrome and more.
The mechanism of how your back began hurting can often times tell you most of what you need to know regarding your back pain. (I.e. low back pain after a recent fall, or an ache feeling after lifting something heavy.)
Signs of kidney stones
Kidney stones will often be felt as one sided, sharp pain in the low back. Kidney stones can also radiate pain in the abdomen and to the groin. The pain is most often described as sharp, accompanied by nausea, fever/chills and can come in waves. Other symptoms of kidney stones relate to changes in urination. The urination can be very painful, have changes in smell, a change in frequency and blood can also be present.
Differentiating kidney stones from general back pain
Back pain will be able to be reproduced with a motion or action (i.e. every time the patient bends forward it creates low back pain), while kidney stones will not so reproducible. Other factors such as changes in urination, bodily changes such as the mentioned fever, chills and nausea should also be monitored when differentiating general low back pain from kidney stones.
When to seek treatment
With any severe and debilitating low back pain, it is recommended to see a health care provider as soon as possible. Back pain accompanied by other symptoms such a fever/chills, changes in urination or nausea it is recommended the patient seeks urgent care. We at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic take a thorough and extensive look at every patient who walks in the door. If you or someone you know is experiencing some of these symptoms, have them give us a call, we would love to help!
To schedule call us at 406-551-2177 or go online to gallatinvalleychiropractic.com