About this topic
Flank pain, or side pain, causes pain between the upper belly and the middle of the back. The pain can be on either side of the body. Flank pain can be mild or it can be very bad based on what is causing the pain. Flank pain that also has signs of fever, chills, bloody urine, and passing urine often may mean a kidney problem such as a stone or infection. ‚
What are the causes?
Flank pain may be caused by problems with your kidneys like infection or stones. Muscles and other injuries may cause this kind of pain. Sometimes, other illnesses or problems with other organs can cause flank pain. ‚
What are the main signs?
Mild or very bad pain between the upper belly and the middle of the back ‚
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin ‚ ®, ibuprofen, Aleve ‚ ® (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- Your doctor will do an exam and may order:
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- CT scan
- Ultrasound
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- Mild pain that only lasts a short while may go away on its own. Pain that is very bad with other signs, such as fever or bleeding, will need treated. Treatment is based on what is causing the pain.
- Radiation or chemo may be needed if cancer or tumors are the cause.
- Surgery may be needed if kidney stones, gallbladder problem, or cancer is the cause.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Relax muscles
- Fight an infection
What problems could happen?
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Some causes of flank pain can be stopped or lowered by doing some easy steps: ‚
- Warm up and stretch before starting a workout.
- Use your leg muscles and knees to protect your back when lifting.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. This will help to keep from getting kidney stones and infections.
- Drink less beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) to lower your chance of other diseases.
- Talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine.
- Ask your doctor when you should have a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚