Mr. Liu from Hunan asks: I've been experiencing frequent lower back pain lately, sometimes unbearable. Some say it's kidney stones, others say it's nephritis. What exactly is going on? What should I do?
Professor Chen Xiang from the Department of Urology at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University answers: Lower back pain can stem from various causes, with the most common being benign conditions like lumbar muscle strain and bone spurs. These are often linked to maintaining a static posture for extended periods or overworking the lumbar muscles.Urinary system disorders, such as ureteral stones, can also cause back pain, primarily manifesting as excruciating colicky pain. Additionally, kidney tumors may cause back pain, typically presenting as dull visceral pain that cannot be precisely localized.
Located in the posterior abdominal cavity, kidney tumors originate from renal tubular epithelial cells and grow progressively. When invading the renal pelvis, they may cause hematuria. As the lesion penetrates the renal capsule and extends into perirenal fat or adjacent organs, it can trigger back pain. However, tumors may remain asymptomatic until they reach a certain size. Once the capsule or surrounding muscles are stimulated, causing pain, the condition may have already progressed significantly.In urology clinics, over half of patients diagnosed with renal cancer do not present with back pain; instead, the condition is incidentally discovered during routine physical examinations without obvious symptoms. We recommend seeking prompt medical attention. If issues like lumbar muscle strain can be ruled out, proceed to urology for further evaluation to determine if urinary tract stones are present. If a renal tumor is suspected, a CT scan or abdominal ultrasound is typically sufficient for a preliminary diagnosis.Once the cause is confirmed, prompt and appropriate treatment should be initiated. Be alert to these signs of kidney dysfunction: 1. Edema. As the body's primary fluid excretion organs, impaired kidneys fail to eliminate excess water, leading to fluid retention. Early-stage patients often develop swelling around the eyes, face, and lower limbs, progressing to persistent or generalized edema. Severe cases may present with pleural effusion or ascites.
2. Poor appetite. When kidney function declines, toxins like creatinine and urea gradually accumulate in the body, irritating the gastrointestinal tract. This can cause loss of appetite, a urine-like odor in the mouth, ulcers on the tongue and oral mucosa, upper abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even gastrointestinal bleeding. For many kidney disease patients, these are the initial symptoms prompting medical consultation.
3. Skin itching. In renal insufficiency, inadequate excretion of toxins like urea nitrogen and creatinine leads to deposits of urea crystals and calcium salts in the skin. This often causes itching, accompanied by darkening, dryness, loss of luster, and sallow complexion.
4. Symmetrical skin hemorrhagic spots.Symmetrical skin hemorrhagic spots appear on the distal extremities, protruding above the skin surface and remaining visible upon pressure. Particularly when accompanied by hematuria, edema, and elevated blood pressure, it is essential to investigate for potential kidney damage.
5. Anemia. Impaired kidney function may lead to changes such as shortened red blood cell lifespan, reduced erythropoietin secretion, and poor bone marrow hematopoietic function.Simultaneously, reduced intestinal absorption of iron and folate leads to decreased red blood cell levels, manifesting as anemia.
6 Kidney-Friendly Foods to Recommend
Red chili peppers. Capsaicin, a key compound in red chili peppers, aids in breaking down bodily waste (especially in the blood). Thus, red chili peppers are an ideal food for kidney health.
Egg whites. Kidney protection requires a low-protein, low-phosphorus diet, yet adequate protein supplementation remains essential.Chicken egg whites contain multiple healthy proteins and have lower phosphorus content than other protein sources. Broccoli. Beyond being rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and beta-carotene, broccoli is abundant in beneficial compounds such as indoles and thiocyanates. These help eliminate toxins from the body, thereby reducing the burden on the kidneys.The simplest way to prepare broccoli is to steam it and season with pepper and salt. Cabbage. Cabbage is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, and other nutrients, containing three times more total vitamins than tomatoes. Its various phytochemicals help eliminate free radicals in the body. Kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis are advised to consume more raw cabbage salads. Fish.Fish (especially deep-sea varieties) is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that combat inflammation and protect kidney function. It also serves as an excellent source of high-quality protein.
Juices. Both fruit and vegetable juices help break down and eliminate bodily waste. The phytochemicals in these juices may reduce the risk of kidney failure in dialysis patients. Juices from berries like blueberries, particularly rich in antioxidants, are especially beneficial for kidney health.