Back Pain and Flank Pain

It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between back pain that is caused by a bone or muscle problem and back pain (flank pain) that is caused by a kidney or bladder infection or a kidney stone.

Back pain that is caused by a bone or muscle problem:

Occurs in the lower back, below the waist, or in the upper back, over the spine or between the shoulder blades.
Gets worse when a person moves.
Gets better when a person rests.

Flank pain that is caused by a kidney infection or a kidney stone:

Is pain felt just below the rib cage and above the waist. Flank pain can be on one or both sides of the back.
May spread to the bladder area or genitals.
Gets worse as the bladder fills.
Does not get worse when a person moves.

Flank pain with fever and urinary symptoms may mean a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is present.

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: May 7, 2012

Medical Review:

William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
David Messenger, MD

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