“My back has been hurting. Could this be my kidneys?”

Answer sponsored by: Mark Jackson, M.D. Urologist

3 E. Appleby Rd Suite 201 • Fayetteville • (479) 404-1100

Answer: Back pain can be caused by many different things; however, your kidneys are in the same area. They sit on both sides, just below your rib cage in your upper back. Typically, both kidneys do not hurt at the same time unless you have not gone to the restroom in hours or days. This is seen more commonly in men as they age and develop acute urinary retention.

Usually, only one side will hurt alerting you to something happening to that kidney. Kidney stones can affect you at almost any age and at the most inconvenient times. These attacks come on quick and are painful. As you try and pass your kidney stone, the pain may let up periodically until the stone finally passes.

However, if your pain seems to happen at certain times when you make a lot of urine, this is called diuresis. This occurs when you drink a lot of water after working out or after drinking alcohol causing water loss. Both cause the kidneys to make more urine. If your pain mainly occurs at these times, you may have a blockage in the kidney called a ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Some people are born with narrow areas where the kidneys connect to a tube (ureter) that drains to our bladder. This scenario is common when kids start playing sports and drinking more water. As you grow bigger, the kidney grows with you and the blood vessels to the kidney can press on the ureter causing a kinking that obstructs the flow of urine, causing pain. This is not an uncommon problem and is typically repaired with a minimally invasive procedure using robotic surgery.

For any questions or to request an appointment, please call Ozark Urology at 479.404.1100.