10 Kidney Problems You Need to Know | From Back Pain to Urine Changes

The kidneys quietly handle important tasks that occur in our bodies every day.
It is an organ that has a lot to do, from excreting waste through urine to maintaining homeostasis in the body, managing blood pressure, and secreting hormones.
However, the symptoms of kidney disease that appear when the kidneys are sick are so common that they are easy to overlook.

So today, I'm going to give you a clear overview of 10 kidney problems you need to know, as well as the relationship between back pain and kidney problems.

 

1. 10 Symptoms of Kidney Abnormalities

1. I have no appetite.

When toxins build up in the blood, your appetite decreases significantly.
You may think it's just simple stress, but poor kidney function can also cause these symptoms.

 

2. I can't sleep well.
When your kidneys fail to filter, toxins build up, which ruins your sleep quality.
If you have repeated sleepless nights, you need to check your kidneys.

 

3. Feeling very tired and lethargic
When kidney function declines, symptoms such as fatigue, decreased concentration, and anemia follow.

 

4. Your skin becomes dry and itchy.
When mineral balance is disrupted, it shows up immediately on the skin.

If you have itchy, flaky skin repeatedly, it could be a sign of kidney problems.

 

5. Frequent urination at night
One of the most common symptoms of kidney disease is frequent urination at night.
Especially if you wake up frequently even after reducing water intake, there is a high probability that you have a kidney problem.

 

6. Blood or foam in the urine
Blood in the urine or protein in the urine can be a sign of serious conditions such as nephritis or kidney cancer.
You can't just pass it over.

 

7. The area around the eyes often swells.
This is a symptom that occurs when protein is lost through urine.

 

8. Swollen ankles and feet
If sodium is not properly excreted, lower body edema occurs.
Kidney failure symptoms are more common than back pain.

 

9. Muscle cramps occur frequently.
Muscles often become stiff due to electrolyte imbalances such as calcium and phosphorus.

 

10. Flank pain occurs.
The pain is not in the middle of the waist, but on the sides or back.
It mainly appears in kidney stones, acute pyelonephritis, etc.

 

 

 

2. If your kidneys are not in good condition

Does your back hurt?

Let's find out for real

This is where many people get confused!
If your kidneys are really bad, does your back hurt?

 

To conclude,
Less than 10% of people have back pain due to kidney disease.

It is a misconception to think that back pain is always due to kidney problems.

Although the kidneys are located deep behind the spine, they do not have any pain-sensing nerves.

Pain is felt only when the membrane surrounding the kidney, called the renal capsule, changes.

 

So, under what circumstances might lower back pain caused by kidney disease occur?

 

- When acute pyelonephritis progresses severely

- When a kidney stone gets stuck in the ureter and blocks urine flow

- When a kidney cyst bursts

- When inflammation spreads around the kidneys

 

In this case, towards the side or back

Radiating pain occurs.
But in common chronic kidney disease,

In the early stages of kidney cancer

There is little to no pain.
So just because your back hurts

It's hard to conclude that it's because of the kidneys.

That's a really dangerous idea.

 

 

3. How to differentiate between renal and lumbar pain

True kidney back pain is not centered in the lower back,

It feels like a pain in the side or back.

Characteristic kidney-related pains include:

 

- If only one side hurts,

When the pain spreads to the abdomen and groin

- When the pain intensity is similar even when moving

- When accompanied by abnormal urinary symptoms (hematuria, frequent urination, pain, etc.)

- When accompanied by inflammatory symptoms such as high fever and chills

 

Conversely, lower back muscle pain or disc problems

Changing your position can reduce the pain.

Pain in the middle of the back and symptoms of inflammation

Often times they are not accompanied.

 

 

4. How to improve kidney function

Take care of it together

When it comes to kidney health, prevention is paramount.
How to improve kidney function

 

- Reduce salt intake

- Drink 1.5~2L of water per day

- Avoid excessive protein intake

- Reduce drinking and drug abuse

- Check your kidney function regularly

 

There is a back.

 

Don't ignore the signals your body sends you.

Start taking care of your kidney health now.

 

 

 

Click here to see more kidney-related articles!

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✔️Ignoring proteinuria symptoms and foamy urine can damage your kidneys.