Indigestion and kidney pain: what should you know?

Indigestion tends to cause burning, fullness, belching, or discomfort in the upper abdomen behind the breastbone. Kidney or urinary pain is more often felt in the side or back below the ribs and may travel towards the groin. A urinary infection or kidney stone can cause flank pain, nausea, urinary burning, frequent urination, cloudy or bloody urine, or waves of severe pain. Gallstones, muscle strain, and spinal pain can also affect the upper abdomen or side. Acid reflux, gastritis, a hiatus hernia, Helicobacter pylori infection, or a peptic ulcer may explain digestive symptoms but do not explain every type of back pain.

Notice whether pain changes with meals, movement, urination, or body position. Drink normally unless a clinician has given you a fluid restriction, and avoid alcohol while symptoms are unsettled. Do not use leftover antibiotics. A clinician can examine the abdomen and back, check urine, review medicines, and decide whether further assessment is needed. Describe the exact side, onset, severity, and whether pain comes in waves or remains steady.

Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening side or abdominal pain, fever with flank pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, inability to urinate, or visible blood in urine. Get prompt advice for pain with pregnancy, a single functioning kidney, known kidney disease, or urinary symptoms that are not settling. Black stools, vomiting blood, chest discomfort, or severe upper abdominal pain also require urgent assessment.

Does the pain location fit the stomach, urinary tract, muscles, or another source? Should I have a urine test or medication review? Which changes in urine, fever, or pain mean I need urgent care?