Medical Health Encyclopedia

Flank pain

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Overview Treatment

Flank pain

Definition:

Flank pain refers to pain in one side of the trunk between the upper abdomen and the back.

Alternative Names:
Pain - side; Side pain

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Considerations:

Flank pain often means kidney trouble. If flank pain is accompanied by fever, chills, or urinary problems, then a kidney is the likely point of origin.

One in seven people in the US has kidney stones at some time. The pain from a kidney stone is agonizing, comes in sharp, stabbing waves or spasms, and usually radiates into the groin.

Common Causes:

• Kidney problems
  • Acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
  • Kidney stone
  • Kidney abscess
• Shingles (flank pain with one-sided rash)
• Spinal arthritis
• Disk disease
• Muscle spasm

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