The kidneys are essential organs within the human body because they perform basic functions and help regulate our well-being. They are organs that, together with the liver, are responsible for detoxifying our body and excreting what it considers harmful or unnecessary. When the kidneys present some alteration, the first symptom that usually appears and indicates that something is happening in them is pain. The proportion of people who have ever suffered from pain in the kidney region is much higher than many would expect, and one of the possibilities is that this pain appears early in the morning when we get out of bed. We invite you to continue reading this Fastlyheal article if this has ever happened to you, and you have asked yourself: why do my kidneys hurt when I get up?
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What are the kidneys?
The kidneys are crescent-shaped organs located in the lower back of the abdomen, about the size of a fist. They play an essential role within the human body because they perform many functions, among which are participating in excreting waste and toxins from the human body. This means that the kidney, together with the liver, is an essential organ in the body’s detoxification and purification. Being a filter of our blood, it also regulates blood pressure, stimulates the production of red blood cells, and provides glucose, potassium, and salt into the blood.
Kidney pain when getting out of bed: causes
kidney stones
This is one of the problems that most commonly causes kidney pain when standing up today. Kidney stones are solid masses made up of tiny crystals and arise from excess calcium and uric acid in the kidneys, which aggregate together until they solidify and obstruct the renal pathways, producing pain that may well become unbearable.
Their sizes can vary from large to small, and the pain is also inconsistent. In addition to this, there is difficulty in urinating. The predisposition to form stones is hereditary and is more common in men than in women. They can also arise from a combination of phosphate or carbon.
Pyelonephritis
It is another possible cause of pain in the kidneys when getting out of bed, and it is the name by which kidney infection is known. It is produced by bacteria and forms when urine leaks back through the kidney structures by staying in the kidney longer than it should. People with kidney stones are more likely to get a kidney infection or pyelonephritis. It presents some characteristic symptoms that help rule out other problems, starting with pain, which can appear when getting up, is intense, and radiates to the lower abdominal area and back. There is also pain when urinating, chills, nausea, and vomiting, among others.
Urinary tract infection
It is also a bacterial infection, but it affects the urinary tract, usually starting in the bladder and moving to other tract parts. Statistically, it is seen more often in women than in men. The main symptom of urinary infection is that when urinating, there may be blood, called hematuria, and the presence of pain in the kidneys when getting up and at any time of the day, in addition to difficulty urinating.
Pains that can be confused with kidney pain
Low back pain on waking
It is a problem that causes pain in the lower back. In the first few days, you can feel pain in that area and assume it comes from the kidneys. Still, when the symptoms last for more than seven days and even for weeks, we would be talking about lumbago, which depending on how long it lasts, can be acute, when it is of a short time, or chronic, when it lasts for a considerable time. This pain is triggered by stress, poor posture, or muscle overexertion in the area, and although it starts in the lower back area, it can spread to the kidneys.
Herniated discs
A herniated disc is another condition that can cause lower back pain, and it is often thought that the pain is coming from the kidneys. It can be generated due to a decisive blow, joint degeneration, old age, and poor posture, among others.
It differs from pain in the kidney itself because the symptoms located in the lower back present other symptoms such as pain in the back of the leg, cramps or stiffness in the back, and weakness in the extremities. Lower.
Treatments for kidney pain when standing up
The first thing that is advised is that if you present this type of pain, radiating to the lower abdomen or back, for a prolonged period, and that appears when you get up, go to a doctor’s office to have the tests performed. Pertinent and, thus, determine the cause since the treatment will depend on what is producing it. For this, the doctor, in addition to performing the physical exam and blood tests, may request an X-ray exam to diagnose the disease.
If the pain is from kidney stones, treatment will depend on the size of the rocks; if they are small, the doctor will prescribe a series of medications for the condition, such as analgesics and spasmolytics to relieve pain and in case of nausea or vomiting. If they are tremendous in size, surgery to remove the stone will be considered. It is recommended to drink enough water a day because it helps with the problem.
Suppose the kidney pain when getting up is due to infections, whether kidney or urinary tract. The treatment will be based on drugs used to counteract the bacteria that caused the disease, such as antibiotics. The most widely used today are ciprofloxacin and ampicillin.
If you have been diagnosed with low back pain, you should rest since rest helps improve the condition. However, rest should not be prolonged for a long time. Experts have shown that you will prevent your muscles from weakening by engaging in physical activity. Followed by rest, you can apply hot/cold therapy with compresses, as it reduces inflammation in the area. There are also several over-the-counter drugs, such as NSAIDs, that help reduce inflammation.
If you suffer from a herniated disc, the treatment generally consists of surgical intervention. However, you can consider applying non-invasive therapies such as physiotherapy (before considering surgery).
This article is merely informative. At Fastlyheal.com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why my kidneys hurt when I get up, we recommend you visit our Kidneys and urinary system category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.