Is Left Sided Back Pain A Symptom Of Kidney Infection?

Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2015

Question: I have had back pain on my left side for over a week. Pain at the waist and down the flank. Have had chiropractor adjustments but have a lot of pain sitting and getting up. Laying down is fine. Could this be a kidney infection?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please consult orthopedist.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Urinary tract infection gives problems with urinating at first including frequent urinating and burning while urinating. When this condition gives back pain, kidney is usually affected so the fever, urinating problems should be present long before this symptom. And kidney infection pain does not change when changing the body position.

Your back pain seems to be caused by some spine disc problem. Especially that it radiates downward. Spine disc issue can radiate to the leg (it goes through the buttock).

I suggest you to consult orthopedist with this issue. Spine MRI seems advisable.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar