Is back and rib pain around the kidneys normal with CKD?

[ame_85]

I am seeing a nephrologist this week and am so nervous. I am curious to hear if it is normal to have daily back and rib pain around the kidneys in CKD Stage 3?

[DadviceTV]

One of the things which makes kidney disease such a problem is how its symptoms appear. Some people, like me, have absolutely no symptoms until their kidneys start to fail while others may get symptoms at a much earlier stage. The back pain is common when your kidneys are inflamed and your doctor and dietitian can help you adjust your diet to be a non-inflammatory kidney friendly diet which for many people can reduce or even eliminate the pain. I can almost remember the exact day my kidney pain stopped - I had been on a low inflammation renal diet for months and the pain never fully went away, then my dietitian told me to remove all soy products since they cause inflammation in some people. Within a week the pain was gone. I have also been careful with my diet to avoid eating too many foods that can cause kidney stones (another common source of pain).

Work with your doctor and a dietitian and you will greatly increase the chance of pain. If you are not already planning to see a dietitian, ask your doctor for a referral. It is best to start a healthy kidney friendly diet as early as possible to slow down, stop, or even reverse some of the lost kidney function. The diet is really easy to adjust to and the right dietitian will help you through that.

Good luck!

James

[ame_85 in reply to DadviceTV]

Thank you for this information. I will be sure to ask at the appointment tomorrow about getting a referral to a dietitian.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

My nephrologist always told me that kidneys by themselves do not cause pain unless you have an UTI, have a kidney stone or you have some blockage. I would check things out with your doctor making sure there is no issue with your kidneys besides your CKD.

[ame_85 in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you for this information. I do have a kidney stone and a "mildly complex" cyst. I will be sure to ask the doctor if those are causing the pain/aches.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to ame_85]

Best of luck! Thinking of you....