What should you know about pain in both flanks?

The flanks are the areas between the ribs and hips on either side of the back. Pain there can follow muscle strain, awkward movement, or prolonged posture. Kidney causes may produce a deeper ache or waves of severe pain, sometimes spreading toward the groin.

A Kidney Infection commonly presents with flank pain alongside fever, chills, nausea, or painful urination. Kidney Stones may cause intense intermittent pain and blood in the urine. A Urinary Tract Infection can cause burning, urgency, or frequent urination and may spread upward if untreated.

Arrange medical advice if pain is new, persistent, recurrent, or unexplained. Note whether it began after exercise, whether movement changes it, and whether you have fever, nausea, blood in the urine, or changes in urine flow. Drink normally unless a clinician has given you a different fluid plan, and avoid taking leftover antibiotics.

A clinician may examine your abdomen and back, test your urine, and decide whether blood tests or imaging are needed. The pattern and associated symptoms help distinguish muscle pain from urinary or kidney problems.

Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever with flank pain, repeated vomiting, fainting, confusion, inability to pass urine, or visible blood in the urine. Seek emergency care after a significant injury or when pain comes with severe weakness or a very unwell feeling. Pregnancy, a single functioning kidney, or immune problems lower the threshold for prompt advice.

Ask whether the pain sounds muscular, urinary, or kidney-related; whether you need a urine test or scan; and which pain relief is suitable. Tell the clinician about urinary symptoms, fever, medicines, pregnancy possibility, and previous stones or infections.