The kidneys are a pair of vital organs in the human body. The main function of the kidney is to cleanse the system by filtering out impurities and flushing them out of the body as urine. This is the simpler function as far as the kidneys are concerned.

The kidney system has a more complex role and it is responsible for a number of regulatory functions for the well-being of the body.

One important aspect of the kidneys is that they are programmed to detect concentration levels of ions and compounds. These include glucose, creatinine, bicarbonate sodium and a number of others. Therefore, the kidney system acts as a regulator of systems like blood pressure.

In humans the kidneys are located in the abdominal cavity, more towards the back and on either side of the spinal column. However the kidneys are not entirely symmetrically located. The right kidney is slightly lower and smaller than the left kidney. The right kidney is located near the liver, while the left one is near the spleen. Each kidney has an adrenal gland above it, and the each kidney, along with the corresponding adrenal gland, is encased in fat. The fat acts as a cushion to protect the kidneys from injury.

Pain resulting from kidney diseases often manifests as lower back pain. The pain will be felt in the side or flank or in the low back. Kidney pain may also manifest itself as lower abdominal pain. Severe pain in the lower back related to kidney pain has been likened to the pain of childbirth in intensity. Severe pain due to kidney disorders may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between severe lower back pain resulting from kidney related disorders and back pain lower as a result of herniated discs or slipped disc. Nevertheless the pain in the two cases is quite different; that connected to spinal or nerve conditions may cause numbness and weakness in the legs and the patient may find walking and standing very difficult. On the other hand, the burning pain of the kidney related disorders will make the patient writhe in discomfort. During pregnancy, lower back pain is fairly common, but it is generally a heavy and dull ache rather than a severe pain.

Generally low back pain is not a cause of concern, because it dissipates with rest, pain killers and back rubs. This kind of pain is usually the result of sore muscles and ligaments caused by over stressing the lower back. Nevertheless, lower back pain can be of a more serious nature too, and that is explained below.

One cause of low back pain is kidney back pain. Kidney back pain occurs if there is kidney inflammation, kidney infection, kidney stones or other kidney related disorders. On the onset of the pain, it is difficult for the sufferer to pinpoint where the pain is emanating from. However, if the patient concentrates and focuses his attention, it will be relatively easier for him to locate the epicenter of the pain.

Back pain due to kidney pain occurs in the back, on either side of the spinal cord and just above the hips. This roughly corresponds to the area where the kidneys are located in the inner part of the body. This is just one way of differentiating between low back pain and kidney back pain. In addition, kidney back pain will be accompanied by other factors that cause discomfort, such as fevers, chills, nausea and vomiting. In addition, the back around the kidney region will be sore and tender and rather painful. People who suffer kidney back pain sometimes liken it to the pain experienced during childbirth in intensity. Kidney back pain cannot be alleviated with regular home remedies such as heating pads or back rubs.

Another kind of low back pain that can be of a serious nature is described as neuropathic pain in medical terms. Neuropathic pain occurs if there is stress on the system of nerves in the lower back region. The stress on the nerves here could be due to lower back injury, inflammation of the nerve paths or even compression of the nerves in the lower back, especially of the sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerve pain begins in the lower back area, and radiates down the buttocks into the leg sometimes extending into the foot. The sufferer may experience numbness, tingling and difficulty in standing and moving around. Sciatic pain generally occurs on one side of the body.

Low back pain of neuropathic nature may also result due to herniated or bulging discs. Due to wear and tear the discs in the spine tend to weaken and become worn out. Discs may become herniated and begin to bulge, with the result that the back is under severe pressure and stress. Low back pain may also be the result of arthritis or other spinal disorders.