Kidney Stone or Back Pain? How to Tell the Difference

Back pain is common. But sometimes, pain in your back or side isn’t coming from your muscles or spine. It could be a kidney stone.

Kidney stone pain is often sharp and severe, may come in waves, and can move from your side or back toward your lower abdomen or groin. Back pain caused by a muscle or injury is more likely to change when you move, bend, lift, or change positions.

Other symptoms can also provide clues. Blood in your urine, pain when you urinate, nausea, vomiting, fever, or chills may point to a kidney or urinary problem.

You can’t know for sure based on symptoms alone. A healthcare provider may need to examine you and order urine tests, blood tests, or imaging to find the cause.

Kidney Stone vs. Back Pain: What’s the Difference?

One of the biggest differences is how the pain feels and behaves.

Kidney stone pain often starts when a stone moves from the kidney into the ureter, the tube that carries urine to your bladder. If the stone gets stuck, it can cause severe pain.

Kidney stone pain may:

• Start suddenly
• Feel sharp, severe, or cramping
• Come and go in waves
• Occur in your side or back below the ribs
• Move toward your lower abdomen or groin
• Occur with nausea or vomiting
• Occur with changes in urination

Muscle or back pain is more likely to:

• Start after lifting, exercise, or an injury
• Feel sore, stiff, or achy
• Stay in one area
• Get worse when you bend, twist, lift, or move
• Improve when you rest or change positions

These are clues, not a diagnosis. Several conditions can cause similar pain.

Where Does Kidney Stone Pain Hurt?

Kidney stone pain often starts on one side of your back or side, below your ribs.

As the stone moves through your urinary tract, the pain may move too. You may begin with pain in your side or back and later feel it in your lower abdomen or groin.

This moving pain is one clue that a kidney stone may be causing your symptoms.

Regular lower back pain is more likely to stay around your lower back, although this isn’t always the case.

What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?

Kidney stone pain can be intense. People may describe it as sharp, severe, or cramping.

The pain may come in waves instead of staying at the same level. You may also have trouble finding a comfortable position.

Common kidney stone symptoms can include:

• Sharp pain in your side or back
• Pain below your ribs
• Pain that moves toward your lower abdomen or groin
• Pain that comes and goes in waves
• Blood in your urine
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Feeling like you need to urinate often
• Nausea or vomiting

Small kidney stones don’t always cause symptoms. Larger stones or stones that block the urinary tract can cause severe pain and other problems.

Kidney Stone vs. Back Pain: Quick Comparison

Symptom	Kidney Stone	Muscle/Back Pain
Sharp pain in the side or back	Common	Less common
Pain below the ribs	Common	Possible
Pain moves toward the groin	Common	Uncommon
Pain comes in waves	Common	Less common
Pain starts after lifting or twisting	Less common	Common
Pain changes with movement	Less common	Common
Blood in urine	Possible	Not typical
Burning when urinating	Possible	Not typical
Frequent urination	Possible	Not typical
Nausea or vomiting	Possible	Less common
Fever or chills	Possible with infection	Not typical

Signs Your Back Pain Could Be Kidney-Related

Back or side pain may be more likely to involve your kidneys or urinary tract if you also have:

Blood in Your Urine

Kidney stones can cause pink, red, or brown urine. Other health problems can also cause blood in your urine, so it’s important to get it checked.

Pain or Burning When You Urinate

A kidney stone can cause pain or burning when you urinate, especially as it moves closer to your bladder.

Frequent Urination

You may feel like you need to urinate more often or urgently, even if you only pass a small amount of urine.

Nausea or Vomiting

Severe kidney stone pain can cause nausea and vomiting.

Fever or Chills

Fever or chills with back, side, or urinary symptoms need prompt medical attention.

A kidney stone can sometimes block urine flow and lead to an infection. This can become serious and needs medical treatment.

When Should I Get Medical Care for Kidney Stone Pain?

Don’t assume severe or unusual back pain is just a pulled muscle.

Get prompt medical care if you have:

• Severe or sudden pain
• Pain so severe that you can’t get comfortable
• Fever or chills with back, side, or urinary symptoms
• Blood in your urine
• Trouble urinating
• Severe pain with vomiting
• Pain that continues or gets worse

A blocked urinary tract combined with an infection can require urgent treatment.

If your symptoms are severe or you think you may be having a medical emergency, seek emergency care.

How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?

Symptoms can suggest a kidney stone, but testing may be needed to know for sure.

Your healthcare provider may ask:

• Where your pain started
• Whether the pain moves
• How severe the pain is
• Whether it comes in waves
• Whether you’ve noticed changes when you urinate
• Whether you’ve had kidney stones before
• About your family history and medical conditions

Your provider may also order:

• Urine tests to check for blood or infection
• Blood tests to look for certain problems
• Imaging to see whether a stone is present and determine its size and location

These tests can also help rule out other causes of your pain.

How Are Kidney Stones Treated?

Treatment depends on the size and location of the stone and the symptoms it’s causing.

Some small kidney stones can pass on their own. Your healthcare provider may recommend fluids and medication to help manage your symptoms when appropriate.

Larger stones may need treatment if they:

• Don’t pass on their own
• Block urine flow
• Cause severe pain
• Are associated with an infection
• Cause other complications

A urologist may use a procedure to remove the stone or break it into smaller pieces.

Does Drinking Water Help Kidney Stones?

Staying hydrated can help with some kidney stones and may help prevent new stones from forming.

But don’t try to treat severe kidney stone symptoms by drinking large amounts of water.

Get medical care if you have severe pain, vomiting, fever, chills, trouble urinating, or other concerning symptoms.

Your healthcare provider can also tell you how much fluid is appropriate for you, especially if you have another medical condition that affects how much you should drink.

Can I Prevent Kidney Stones?

If you’ve had a kidney stone before, your healthcare provider may recommend steps to lower your risk of another one.

Depending on the type of stone and your health, that may include:

• Drinking enough water
• Eating less sodium
• Making changes to your diet
• Reviewing how much animal protein you eat
• Managing certain health conditions
• Taking medication when prescribed

Different types of kidney stones can have different causes. Your healthcare provider can help determine which prevention steps make sense for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Stones and Back Pain

Not Sure What’s Causing Your Pain? Grady Can Help.

Back pain and kidney stone pain can feel similar. You don’t have to figure it out on your own.

If you have new or ongoing back or side pain, schedule an appointment with a Grady primary care provider. Your care team can evaluate your symptoms and help determine what to do next.

Schedule your Grady primary care appointment today.

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