Dozens of possible diseases and conditions can contribute to back pain. Of course, back pain often results from an injury. Most of the time, nerve damage in the spine or injuries to the muscles, tendon and ligaments of the back are at fault. However, sometimes your pain is coming from a different source all together.

The trouble may, in fact, be a kidney problem. It could be a kidney infection, kidney stone, or some other kidney disorder. Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone will tell you it’s some of the worst pain they’ve ever experienced.

How can you tell you’re dealing with a kidney problem and not nerve or muscle damage?

The location of your pain is one of your first and most reliable clues. Kidney pain usually occurs between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the hips. It is more likely to happen toward your sides – not so much near the spinal column, which is typical in cases where nerve damage has taken place.

Many times, pain from kidney disorders is described as “acute.” In other words, it comes on fast and it comes on strong.

Kidney stones sometimes cause back pain when they move from the kidneys down to the bladder. Sometimes a kidney stone will become lodged in a ureter, which obstructs the flow of urine from a kidney to the bladder. This is likely to cause severe pain.

Besides back pain, one common symptom of a kidney stone or kidney infection include darker-than-average urine.

Generally speaking, most people with kidney or bladder disorders feel the need to urinate more often than usual. However, when they try, they often find that not much urine is actually produced.

It’s not unusual to feel a burning or stinging sensation when urinating.

Kidney stones sometimes pass out of your body when you urinate, especially if you drink a lot of water. In most cases, your back pain will stop as soon as you pass the stone.

Happily, as painful as they can be, they’re generally not life threatening.

A kidney infection, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous because it can result in kidney failure. Kidney failure can be fatal. Therefore, if you even suspect your back pain is coming from a kidney infection, it’s best to call a doctor right away.

Do you still want more articles on similar subjects? Click on kidney failure. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV journalist with a special interest in kidney health. You can read more of his articles about kidney trouble at http://www.kidney-problem.org.