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How do your kidneys hurt?
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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During pregnancy, women automatically "enter" a society with a high risk of developing kidney pathologies. Excessive loads on the entire body as a whole and on each internal organ, in particular, lead to the fact that the development of pain syndromes and inflammatory processes in different areas occur quite often. How do kidneys hurt in pregnant women? How to determine that it is the kidneys that hurt, and not the lumbar muscles? Or maybe the pain is caused by pressure on the joints of the bones in the small pelvis or the beginning of the divergence of the pubic symphysis? There are always many questions during pregnancy, especially frightening situations when pain occurs in the lumbar region or in the lower abdomen. Let's consider situations when pain is associated specifically with the kidneys.
How do kidneys hurt and what to do?
In order to maintain inner calm and not panic at any unexpected sensation, pregnant women need frequent consultations with a gynecologist who is “guiding” her pregnancy. A gynecologist can also tell you how the kidneys hurt, what symptoms during pregnancy should be perceived with particular concern, and what should not be given special attention. Here are some of the symptoms that should raise suspicion of the onset of kidney problems:
- The urge to urinate is painful, frequent, with pain during urination and a burning sensation after it;
- The presence of flakes in the urine (normally, urine should be a homogeneous liquid without any visible impurities);
- The appearance of a reddish tint or streaks of blood in the urine;
- Aching pain on the sides in the lumbar region, intensifying during coughing and with light tapping on the area where the kidneys are located;
- The presence of significant edema with increased blood pressure;
- High body temperature, chills and high fever, nausea, turning into severe vomiting, against the background of sharp pain in the lumbar region;
- Detection of protein in urine during a general laboratory urine test.
Among the listed symptoms, there are those that are integral companions of any normal pregnancy - edema, lumbar pain and high blood pressure. It is quite difficult for the pregnant woman herself to correlate them with the manifestation of kidney diseases. However, it is worth remembering that pain in the lumbar region associated with muscle fatigue quickly passes after a comfortable body position is adopted.
Those who have encountered kidney problems in their lives will easily understand how the kidneys hurt - they hurt constantly. Pain in the lumbar region caused by inflammatory processes in the kidneys, be it pyelonephritis, urolithiasis or glomerulonephritis, is always constant, with periods of intensification and attenuation. It is impossible to find a body position in which the pain could subside. This is a distinctive sign by which muscle pain can be distinguished from kidney pain. So if, at some stage of pregnancy, pain is detected, and a change in body position does not bring relief, you should immediately consult a gynecologist.
Treatment of kidney pain
When discussing the issue of how kidneys hurt, it is necessary to at least briefly mention the basic principles of treating kidney diseases. Pregnancy is a natural process for the female body, and therefore, all problems associated with it are mistakenly taken for “natural”. Many women are not afraid to experiment with self-medication, especially those who fall into the category of “repeatedly giving birth”.
Remember this as an immutable law: any pain, discomfort in the lower back, lower abdomen, in the genital area, visible changes in urine are a sign of immediate medical attention!
Pregnancy is a "business", although natural, but always proceeds individually. I would like to especially note the health condition of modern young mothers who have constant metabolic disorders, low hemoglobin levels, multiple foci of chronic infections. If there is even the slightest deviation from the indicators of normal health, the development of pregnancy should be monitored especially.
If a pregnant woman can figure out the question of how kidneys hurt on her own by studying various sources of literature, then only a professional doctor should tell her how to treat kidneys. Depending on the pathological process, on the degree of kidney damage, treatment can take place either in a hospital, under the supervision of medical personnel, which is preferable for pregnant women, or at home, but with the permission of a gynecologist and in compliance with all his appointments and recommendations.
During pregnancy, treatment of all diseases is very difficult, and kidney diseases especially. Therefore, the duration of pregnancy will directly affect the doctor's prescriptions of drugs. If this is the first trimester of pregnancy, then taking drugs will be advisable only in the most serious cases, basically, treatment will be based on the selection of the right diet, herbal teas and other gentle methods of therapeutic influence on the diseased organ.
If the inflammatory process in the kidneys develops acutely and proceeds rapidly, then the use of antibacterial therapy is prescribed under strict control of tests and the choice of antibiotic is very careful, the most appropriate, effective in the fight against kidney disease and the least dangerous for the development of the fetus is selected.
In any case, treating diseases during pregnancy always carries the risk of harming the future development of the child. That is why pregnant women are always encouraged to take a responsible attitude towards their condition, especially in matters concerning the treatment of chronic or newly emerging diseases.
How to avoid kidney disease during pregnancy?
You don't have to worry about how your kidneys hurt, especially during pregnancy. You need to set yourself up for the correct formation of your daily routine, direct all your energy and time to choosing the right diet and use only comfortable clothes in your wardrobe during pregnancy. In addition, by following a number of tips, you can largely avoid many difficulties during the period of expecting a baby. These tips include:
- maintaining a consistent diet, excluding fried, smoked, fatty, and spicy foods. Reducing the amount of salt in the diet to a minimum and completely eliminating white bread;
- use of cranberry juice and clean water as the main drink, in a total amount of at least two liters per day;
- empty your bladder of its contents as often as possible;
- use of special underwear designed for pregnant women, do not wear too tight and compressive clothing. If it is not possible to use specialized clothing for pregnant women, then focus on natural fabrics, avoid synthetic underwear;
- when taking water procedures, use only a shower;
- perform daily evening unloading exercises that will relax the back muscles and relieve the load on the kidneys. The most effective exercise is standing on all fours. 10-15 minutes spent in this position will give an excellent relaxing result. In this position, the stomach, as the center of gravity, is directed downwards, the back muscles relax, the load on the kidneys goes away.
Thus, we have fully answered the question of how kidneys hurt, considered the main directions in treatment measures and even touched upon some types of preventive measures, including those aimed at reducing painful sensations in the lumbar region. The only thing left is to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice in time.