I Began To Experience Lower Back Pain Near My Left

Posted on Wed, 19 Jun 2019

Question: I began to experience lower back pain near my left flank on Monday. The pain comes and goes. Today, I didn’t have it all day until the afternoon. I’m thinking it’s a kidney stone or urinary issue. I don’t have fever or extreme pain when urinating. Plus, my urine is of a seemingly normal colour and I have no changes in urinary habits. I drink lots of water daily, I have a healthy diet, and I am not overweight. However, my job involves me sitting in a chair for lengthy periods of time. I have no family history of kidney stones or kidney disease but my mother does have urinary infections from time to time. I also have anxiety issues.

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Flank pain under evaluation/Anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Welcome to Ask a doctor and I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX
A pain in the flank which may radiate down to perineum and associated with or without urinary complaints (and nauseating feeling and vomiting) is always a suspicion of urinary stone.You keep yourself well hydrated and you don't have a significant family history but some people (called stone formers)have a tendency of kidney stones. A diet rich in calcium and grades and an acidic malleu of urine favours it.At times,urine seems normal but can have microscopic blood and pus cells ,revealed by urinalysis.If the urinary calculus is small in size,usually no change in bladder habits are encountered.
Second of the differential diagnosis that comes to my mind is a muscular pain and strain due to your prolonged sitting and may be faulty posture.
For such patients in my clinic,I go for a radiograph and USG of KUB region to see the presence of a urinary stone and resultant dilatation of kidney tubules(hydronephrosis) due to back pressure.I send urine samples for routine examination and culture to rule out any urinary tract infection.I empirically give NSAIDs like Advil to control pain and mild urinary alkalisers.
Once a renal calculus is ruled out,the diagnosis of a muscular pain is established and managed by muscle relaxant and analgesics,application of heat,correction of posture,avoiding continuous sitting(have a stroll after every 20 minutes) and physical therapy.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have any doubts,please let me know.
Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad