What should you know about deep flank pain?

Pain that changes with movement, twisting, lifting, or pressing the area may be related to muscles or the back. Kidney stones can cause severe, wave-like pain that may move toward the groin, sometimes with nausea or blood in urine. A kidney infection may cause flank pain with fever, chills, feeling unwell, or painful and frequent urination.

Urinary tract infection symptoms can occur without deep flank pain, while flank pain can have non-urinary causes. The side, onset, severity, movement pattern, urinary changes, bowel symptoms, and fever help a clinician decide whether examination, urine testing, or imaging is appropriate.

Rest from strenuous lifting, note what brings the pain on, and drink normally unless a clinician has advised fluid restriction. Use only pain medicine that is suitable for you and follow the label or medical advice. Arrange an assessment if pain is persistent, recurrent, severe, or accompanied by urinary symptoms.

Do not rely on leftover antibiotics, and do not delay care because the pain feels deep rather than superficial. Bring a list of medicines and describe any previous stones, urinary infections, kidney problems, or recent injury.

Seek urgent care for severe or sudden pain, fever with flank pain, repeated vomiting, confusion, fainting, inability to pass urine, or visible blood in urine. Pregnancy, a single functioning kidney, or known kidney disease lowers the threshold for prompt medical advice.

Ask whether the pain pattern suggests a urinary or musculoskeletal cause, whether urine testing is needed, which pain relief is safe, and which symptoms should send you to urgent care.