Kidney Stone?

[stomachmonkey]

Woke up this morning with pain in my lower back which is not unusual for me. But today is a little different. It's off to the right side rather than centered and my right testicle aches a bit as well.

The back pain is kind of dull and about a 5 out of 10.

Does not feel like the normal episodes of back spasm that I get.

[Tobra]

Right flank pain makes me think kidney, testicle not so much. Get thee to a urologist post haste. In the meantime, go get in a hot shower and make sure the grapes are symmetrical, same size and shape.

[stomachmonkey]

Thanks, think the boy issue is just a coincidence. Have a varicocele on that side that flares up time to time

[jyl]

If you do have a kidney stone, chances are good that you'll be in significant pain and/or vomiting in a while. So don't head off on any cross-county air flights or backcountry trips until this is sorted.

[cgarr]

Usually if you cant make the pain go away no matter what position you try it may be a stone. Drink lots of water and watch for red pee.... I have had many and only one was a different pain, more in the groin area than the lower back side but still they are a pain. Don't be far from an e-room. My last trip in was so bad I told the wife to slow down then blow the red lights!

[jyl]

The pain moves from back to front as the stone travels. So I'm told.

[azasadny]

Get to a Dr or ER ASAP...

[JAR0023]

I've passed a bunch of kidney stones. What you are describing is exactly what larger stones feel like to me.
J

[stomachmonkey]

Thanks guys.

Feeling better tonight.

The back discomfort is not unusual for me but had me a bit concerned as it was not in the normal spot and was combined with another problem that affects me occasionally, first time both flared up simultaneously.

Reasonably sure I'll still be here tomorrow.

[Noah930]

How are you feeling, now? (edit: Sorry, I was creating my post while you were posting immediately above. Glad you're feeling better.) The women I know who have both gone through childbirth and had kidney stones say the latter is more painful. I've had it, myself, a couple times. The first time was as you described. Kind of a gnawing pain in the mid- to lower back. Slightly off to the side. Some discomfort in the testicle, like I had accidentally bumped one of the boys.

Thump here:


You don't even have to put the palm on the back--just have your wife gently thump with a fist over the kidney area (called the costovertebral angle). Does it make the pain worse?

If the pain gets really bad, you'll know. The pain may travel down lower along the back and to the groin as the stone scrapes its way down the ureter. Or it can get stuck, backing things (urine) up. That part is a real problem. On top of the pain. Very typically when the pain is really bad, people are writhing in pain. It's hard to stay still. (As opposed to appendicitis, for example, where stereotypically people are very very still--they don't want anyone to even shake or bump the gurney.)

Stay hydrated. Usually good advice in general, but if you've got a kidney stone (and don't have something else like CHF in which you're watching fluid intake levels) perhaps you can flush the stone down the ureter. It's OK to take pain meds. That's what the ER is for: morphine.