Right kidney pain

Pain in the right kidney is a signal indicating a developing pathological process, either in the renal system itself or in nearby organs. Anatomically, the right kidney differs from the left only in location, it is located slightly lower, under the liver.

Otherwise, the functions of both kidneys are identical. The parenchyma (renal tissue) is not equipped with pain receptors, so the pain symptom is most often associated with a change in the structure, size of the pelvis or capsula fibrosa - a fibrous renal capsule as a result of inflammation, compression or impaired urodynamics. If one-sided pain in the right kidney appears, this is a reason to see a doctor, undergo a full comprehensive examination, find out the cause of the painful sensations and begin treatment.

[ 1 ]

Causes of pain in the right kidney

The factors that provoke pain in the right kidney can be very diverse, the main causes of the pain symptom can be as follows:

• Inflammation of the appendix, which can be localized in twelve zones, sometimes not at all in the place where it is usually determined. The inflamed appendix can cause pain in the right kidney, in the back area, if it is anatomically bent back.
• Nephroptosis is a prolapse or displacement of the kidney, which is most often observed in women. Right-sided nephroptosis is caused by insufficient strength of the ligaments of the right kidney, as well as pressure from the overlying liver.
• Right-sided pyelonephritis in pregnant women (gestational pyelonephritis), caused by the specifics of the venous system and the characteristics of the enlarging uterus, which most often shifts to the right.
• Urolithiasis (urolithiasis), which, according to statistics, occurs primarily in the right kidney in 60% of cases.
• Congenital or secondary hydronephrosis is a unilateral disease in which renal tissue atrophies and the calyces and pelvises of the organ expand.
• Tumor process, cancer of the right kidney. Benign tumors - fibroma, myoma, adenoma. Malignant - adenocarcinoma, nephroblastoma.
• Cyst of the right kidney.
• Pyonephrosis is a complication of urolithiasis and pyelonephritis, in which the renal parenchyma becomes necrotic (melts).
• An abscess or carbuncle of the kidney is an inflammatory purulent process characterized by the melting of renal tissue and the formation of a purulent cavity.
• Ischemia of the right kidney due to prolapse (nephroptosis).
• Stenosis of the right renal artery.
• Trauma (rupture, crushing) of the kidney.
• Parasitic diseases of the kidneys.
• Radiculopathy, vertebrogenic cause.

The causes of pain in the right kidney should be determined by a specialist - a urologist, nephrologist, possibly an oncologist.

Symptoms of pain in the right kidney

The clinical manifestations of pain in the right kidney are somewhat different from the general symptoms of bilateral nephropathy and depend on the underlying cause, the provoking factor. Symptoms of pain in the right kidney may be as follows:

• Aching pain in the lower back on the right.
• Right-sided renal colic radiating to the groin, accompanied by increased urination.
• Hematuria (blood in urine).
• Right-sided pain in the lumbar region when the body is in a vertical position; the pain subsides when changing to a horizontal position.
• Right-sided abdominal pain radiating to the lower back.
• Pain in the right kidney, accompanied by fever, increased pulse rate, headache.
• Pain when urinating, accompanied by a nagging pain symptom in the right side of the back.
• Pain in the right kidney radiating to the leg.
• Itching of the skin.
• Changes in the color and composition of urine.

In general, symptoms of pain in the right kidney, as well as pain manifestations in both kidneys, in nephrological clinical practice are usually combined into three main groups:

1. Urinary syndrome.
2. Hypertensive syndrome.
3. Nephrotic syndrome.

Pain in the area of the right kidney

A right-sided pain symptom in the kidney is most often not specific, that is, one that can indicate a specific disease. Most often, pain in the area of the right kidney requires clarification and detailed, comprehensive diagnostics. In addition, the collected anamnesis and specification of the nature of the pain help to determine the root cause of the disease and clarify the clinical picture. Pain in the area of the right kidney can be associated with vertebrogenic pathologies, intestinal infections, gallbladder disease or appendicitis, gynecological or urogenital diseases, but most often the pain symptom is associated with renal pathologies. Among the causes of pain in the area of the right kidney, the following can be listed:

• Stones located in the organ itself or the ureter manifest as characteristic pain if obstruction (blockage) of the urinary tract and stretching of the fibrous renal capsule develop.
• Acute renal (kidney) pain can be caused by a bacterial infection during pyelonephritis in the acute stage or as a result of the development of a perirenal abscess.
• Blunt trauma to the kidney, most often of the closed type, is accompanied by the formation of a subcapsular hematoma, disruption of the parenchyma structure. Often, trauma to the organ leads to haemoperitoneum - intra-abdominal bleeding and provokes intense diffuse pain in the area of the right kidney, the upper quadrant of the abdomen.
• Pain in the right kidney closer to the lower abdomen may be a sign of pathologies of the urinary system, for example, inflammation of the bladder.
• Diseases of the biliary system - the gallbladder, bile ducts, as well as liver pathologies, inflammation of the diverticulum of the colon, tumor processes in the abdominal cavity - these are possible diseases, the symptoms of which include pain in the area of the right kidney.

To differentiate the factors that provoke the pain symptom, it is necessary to specify the specifics of the patient's sensations. Pain in the right kidney can be:

1. Aching, chronic.
2. Sharp, stabbing.
3. Pulling, disappearing when changing body position.
4. Paroxysmal.

[ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Aching pain in the right kidney

Almost all inflammatory kidney diseases in the initial stage begin with vague, chronic pain. Aching pain in the right kidney can signal the development of such diseases:

• Prolapse or nephroptosis of the right kidney is accompanied by nagging, aching pain in the right lumbar region. When changing body position, the pain subsides.
• Aching pain in the right kidney may indicate hydronephrosis, which most often begins asymptomatically. Aching right-sided pain often spreads to the entire lower back.
• Aching pain localized in the upper back area on the right, accompanied by subfebrile temperature and painful urination may be a sign of developing right-sided pyelonephritis.

[ 4 ]

Dull pain in the right kidney

It is a sign of a chronic inflammatory process of infectious etiology, it can also indicate the development of a kidney tumor. Benign and malignant tumors in the early stages most often do not manifest themselves clinically, only periodic dull pain in the right kidney can indirectly indicate the development of a pathological process. It should be noted that this nature of pain is due to the fact that the kidney itself does not have pain receptors. The renal fibrous capsule, which is subjected to pressure, structural deformation, stretches and signals the onset of the disease. 3.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Sharp pain in the right kidney

This is a more specific symptom that may indicate problems such as:

• Urolithiasis, urolithiasis. Acute pain in the right kidney is colic, which develops suddenly and occurs in attacks. The pain can be localized both in the upper and lower abdomen, depending on where the calculus passes. The pain symptom has an irradiating, reflected character, that is, the pain radiates to the groin.
• The most serious complication is thromboembolism, which manifests itself as acute pain in the right kidney, accompanied by hematuria (blood in the urine). Renal embolism is a dangerous condition that threatens not only the patient's health, but also his life.
• Inflammation of the appendix manifests itself with a typical picture of “acute abdomen”, the clinical picture of which may include acute pain in the right kidney.
• Radiculopathy or vertebrogenic diseases can also manifest as pain radiating to the right kidney.

[ 7 ]

Aching pain in the right kidney

It can have various provoking factors, among which the most common are the following:

• Liver diseases. Since the liver is located above the right kidney, hepatopathologies exert direct mechanical pressure on the kidney.
• A cyst of the right kidney, which develops asymptomatically in the initial stage, often over many years. The disease is characterized by a nagging pain in the right kidney, which clinically manifests itself in the area of the anterior peritoneum, less often in the lower back.
• Stagnation of urine flow, which causes stretching of the fibrous capsule of the kidney and a nagging, aching pain.

The nature of pain in the right kidney can be an important diagnostic sign that helps determine a comprehensive, detailed diagnostic plan.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

How to recognize pain in the right kidney?

Diagnostic measures begin with an initial examination and collection of anamnesis.

Diagnosis of pain in the right kidney is performed on an outpatient basis if the pain symptoms are not acute. Attacks of renal colic, severe pain accompanied by temperature and changes in blood pressure, require examination in a hospital, most often it begins after the acute condition has been relieved.

Diagnosis of pain in the right kidney may include the following measures:

• Physical examination, inspection, palpation, percussion.
• Collection of anamnestic information.
• Laboratory examination of urine (general analysis and bacterial culture).
• Blood test, both general (CBC) and biochemical.
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, including both kidneys.
• Urography of the kidney.
• X-ray of the spine.
• Angiography.

Treatment of pain in the right kidney

The therapeutic strategy is directly related to the underlying cause that provokes the pain symptom. Treatment of pain in the right kidney can be carried out both conservatively and surgically.

Conservative treatment of pain in the right kidney is the prescription of drugs that relieve inflammation, and therefore pain. These can be antispasmodics, steroids, antibiotics, anticoagulants, diuretics. In the presence of pathological damage to the kidney, dialysis may be used. In addition, an important component of the therapeutic complex is a special diet, which involves limiting the intake of certain foods. Most often, all salty, spicy dishes, smoked foods are excluded from the diet. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry produces a lot of highly effective drugs that help in the treatment of many kidney diseases. Therefore, surgical intervention is carried out only in cases where the patient's condition does not allow the use of conservative methods (emergency conditions)

Surgical treatment, including urgent, is carried out for the following diseases:

• Kidney injury (rupture, crushing).
• Benign adenoma, fibroma.
• Malignant tumors.
• Urolithiasis in the acute stage and blockage of the urinary tract.
• Purulent pyelonephritis in the acute stage.
• Extensive purulent abscess of the right kidney.
• Renal artery thrombosis (thromboembolism).
• Kidney cyst, purulent, large.

In exceptional cases, when it comes to saving the patient's life, a kidney transplant is indicated.

Prevention of pain in the right kidney

Primary preventive measures that help prevent pain in the right kidney are, first of all, a healthy lifestyle and the rules of reasonable nutrition. The kidneys perform important filtration work, so their condition depends on the quality of nutrition. Physical activity, a reasonable attitude to your own health, and avoiding hypothermia are the measures that can prevent kidney disease. In addition, from early childhood, children should be taught to observe basic rules of personal hygiene, this is especially important for girls due to the structural features of their internal organs and the potential for motherhood in adulthood. It should be noted that some medications, if used without supervision, can also provoke pain in the right or left kidney, so their prescription is the prerogative of a doctor, and not independent experiments with your health. Nephrotoxic drugs include:

• antibiotics of the penicillin group (semi-synthetic), tetracyclines, cephalosporins, sulfonamides.
• drugs containing aminocaproic acid, aminoglycosides.
• analgesics.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – ibuprofen and other drugs in this group.
• indomethacin in combination with paracetamol.
• cytostatics.
• radiocontrast agents.

Secondary prevention of pain in the right kidney is measures aimed at eliminating the possibility of relapse of the disease. First of all, dispensary registration and systematic observation by the attending physician are necessary. In addition, in case of kidney diseases, diet No. 7 according to Pevzner is indicated, which significantly improves metabolic processes in the body, activates urination, helps control blood pressure, and restores normal water-electrolyte balance. The diet is prescribed both during the treatment process and after recovery in order to consolidate the therapeutic effect. Diet No. 7 is a menu with an extremely low protein content, a minimum amount of salt and fluid restriction. The dishes include foods rich in vitamins, microelements, meals should be fractional, at least five times a day.

Prevention of pain in the right kidney is also a preventive examination of the renal system in people with the following diseases:

• Diabetes mellitus type I, II.
• High blood pressure.
• Chronic diseases of infectious etiology.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Use of long-term antibacterial therapy, nephrotoxic drugs.
• Age: women – over 50 years old, men – over 55 years old.
• Familial, genetic predisposition to kidney disease.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ]