Pain in the abdomen or side of the body can sometimes be difficult to identify. The kidneys are located toward the back of the upper abdomen, underneath the lower ribs, while many digestive organs are located in the front and central parts of the abdomen.

Because several organs are located close to one another, stomach and kidney pain can sometimes be confused.

Pain may originate from the:

• Stomach

• Kidneys

• Ureters

• Intestines

• Gallbladder

• Pancreas

• Urinary bladder

• Muscles or spine

• Reproductive organs, depending on the individual

The location, character and timing of pain, along with associated symptoms, can provide useful clues. However, symptoms alone cannot always establish the cause.

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides specialist evaluation for kidney-related symptoms and abnormal kidney-function findings.

Where Is Kidney Pain Usually Felt?

Kidney-related pain is commonly felt in the flank, which is the area on either side of the back beneath the lower ribs.

It may occur on:

• The right side

• The left side

• Both sides

• The side and back

Depending on the cause, kidney-related pain may sometimes extend toward the abdomen or groin.

For example, pain from a kidney stone can move from the flank toward the lower abdomen or groin as the stone travels through the urinary tract.

This differs from many stomach-related conditions, where discomfort is more commonly felt in the front of the abdomen.

What Does Stomach Pain Usually Feel Like?

Stomach or abdominal pain can have many patterns.

It may feel like:

• Burning

• Cramping

• Bloating or pressure

• Sharp pain

• Dull discomfort

• Fullness

• Pain after eating

The location can also provide clues.

Upper abdominal discomfort may occur with conditions involving the stomach, gallbladder or pancreas, while lower abdominal pain can have intestinal, urinary or reproductive causes.

Therefore, the phrase “stomach pain” does not identify one specific disease.

Stomach and Kidney Pain: How Are They Different?

Although there can be overlap, certain features may help distinguish the two.

Feature	More suggestive of kidney or urinary cause	More suggestive of digestive cause
Common location	Side or back below the ribs	Front or central abdomen
Pain movement	May travel toward lower abdomen or groin	May remain in the abdomen or move depending on the organ involved
Urinary symptoms	Burning, frequency, blood or reduced urine may occur	Usually absent
Nausea or vomiting	Can occur, especially with stones	Common with several digestive conditions
Fever	Can occur with kidney infection	Can occur with some gastrointestinal infections
Relation to meals	Usually not strongly meal-related	May occur after eating in some conditions
Bowel changes	Usually absent	Diarrhea, constipation or altered bowel movements may occur

These are general patterns rather than diagnostic rules. A medical assessment may be necessary when the cause is unclear.

Kidney Stones Can Cause Abdominal Pain

One of the most common kidney-related causes of severe abdominal or side pain is a kidney stone.

When a stone moves into the ureter, it can cause intense pain because urine flow may become partially or completely obstructed.

Typical features can include:

• Sudden severe flank pain

• Pain that comes in waves

• Pain spreading toward the abdomen or groin

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Blood in the urine

• Burning during urination

• Frequent urge to urinate

The severity of pain does not necessarily indicate the size of the stone.

A relatively small stone can cause severe pain if it moves into the ureter.

Can a Kidney Infection Cause Stomach Pain?

Yes.

A kidney infection can cause pain in the flank or back, but some people may also experience abdominal discomfort.

Other symptoms may include:

• Fever

• Chills

• Burning while urinating

• Frequent urination

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Feeling generally unwell

A suspected kidney infection should be medically assessed, particularly when fever and flank pain occur together.

If urinary obstruction is also present, the situation may require urgent treatment.

Can a Blocked Kidney Cause Abdominal Discomfort?

Yes.

A kidney stone or another obstruction can interfere with urine drainage.

Depending on where the blockage occurs, discomfort may be felt in the side, back or abdomen.

Possible causes of urinary obstruction include:

• Kidney stones

• Ureteric stones

• Ureteral narrowing

• Enlarged prostate

• Blood clots

• Certain masses

• Structural abnormalities

Persistent obstruction can damage kidney function if it is not appropriately managed.

Can Kidney Problems Cause Generalized Stomach Discomfort?

Some kidney conditions can produce symptoms that patients describe as abdominal or stomach discomfort, particularly when kidney function is severely affected or when complications occur.

However, chronic kidney disease often does not cause pain in its early stages.

This is important because a person should not assume that every stomach ache is caused by the kidneys.

Kidney disease is often detected through:

• Serum creatinine

• eGFR

• Urine testing

• Urine albumin

• Blood pressure measurement

• Imaging when appropriate

What Other Conditions Can Cause Stomach Pain?

Not every abdominal pain is related to the kidneys.

Possible digestive causes include:

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach lining can cause upper abdominal discomfort, burning or nausea.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can produce burning discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest.

Gastrointestinal Infection

An infection may cause abdominal pain together with diarrhea, vomiting or fever.

Constipation

Bowel movements that are infrequent or difficult can cause abdominal discomfort and bloating.

Gallbladder Problems

Gallstones and other gallbladder conditions may cause pain in the upper right abdomen, sometimes after meals.

Pancreatic Conditions

Certain pancreatic disorders can produce significant upper abdominal pain that may radiate toward the back.

These conditions require evaluation by the appropriate medical professional.

What Other Symptoms Suggest a Kidney-Related Cause?

Pain becomes more suggestive of a urinary or kidney problem when it occurs alongside:

• Blood in urine

• Burning while urinating

• Frequent urination

• Urgency to urinate

• Reduced urine output

• Fever and chills

• Recurrent urinary infections

• Previous kidney stones

• Abnormal creatinine

• Swelling

• Known kidney disease

A combination of symptoms is often more informative than pain location alone.

Does High Creatinine Cause Stomach or Kidney Pain?

High creatinine itself does not usually cause pain.

Creatinine is a blood marker used to assess kidney function.

An elevated creatinine level may indicate reduced kidney filtration, but it does not explain the source of abdominal pain by itself.

A person can have high creatinine without pain, while someone with a kidney stone may experience severe pain despite having relatively preserved kidney function.

Doctors therefore interpret creatinine together with eGFR, urine findings, symptoms and the underlying clinical situation.

What Tests May Be Needed for Stomach and Kidney Pain?

The appropriate tests depend on the symptoms and examination findings.

A doctor may recommend:

Urine Examination

Urine testing can identify:

• Blood

• Protein

• White blood cells

• Signs of infection

• Other abnormalities

Blood Tests

Depending on the situation, testing may include:

• Serum creatinine

• eGFR

• Urea

• Electrolytes

• Complete blood count

• Blood glucose

• Other relevant tests

Ultrasound

An ultrasound may help identify:

• Kidney stones

• Kidney swelling

• Urinary obstruction

• Structural abnormalities

• Certain abdominal conditions

CT Imaging

When a urinary stone or another significant abdominal condition is suspected, CT imaging may provide more detailed information.

The type of scan should be selected by the treating clinician according to the clinical situation.

When Is Stomach and Kidney Pain More Concerning?

Pain deserves prompt medical attention when it is:

• Sudden and severe

• Getting progressively worse

• Associated with fever

• Associated with repeated vomiting

• Accompanied by blood in urine

• Associated with very little or no urine

• Accompanied by fainting or confusion

• Associated with significant swelling

• Occurring in a person with known kidney disease

These features can indicate a problem requiring urgent assessment.

Stomach and Kidney Pain With Fever

Abdominal or flank pain with fever should not be ignored.

If a kidney infection is causing urinary obstruction, infection can become serious.

Likewise, fever and abdominal pain can occur with several non-kidney conditions.

The combination of:

pain + fever + vomiting + urinary symptoms

should prompt timely medical evaluation.

What Should You Do If Pain Is on Both Sides?

Pain affecting both sides of the back or abdomen does not necessarily mean that both kidneys are diseased.

Possible explanations include:

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Kidney or urinary conditions

• Digestive problems

• Medication effects

• Other abdominal or systemic conditions

A proper history, examination and appropriate testing are more reliable than trying to identify the organ based solely on pain location.

Can Drinking Water Relieve Kidney-Related Pain?

Appropriate hydration is important for many people and can support normal urinary function.

However, drinking excessive amounts of water is not a treatment for every cause of stomach or kidney pain.

If a stone is obstructing urine flow, forcing large quantities of fluid may increase discomfort without removing the obstruction.

People with advanced kidney disease, heart conditions or fluid restrictions should follow individualized medical advice about fluid intake.

What About Painkillers for Kidney or Stomach Pain?

Pain-relieving medicines may be appropriate in certain situations, but the safest choice depends on the cause of pain and the person's health.

Some commonly used painkillers, particularly certain NSAIDs, can affect kidney function in susceptible individuals.

Extra caution may be necessary for people with:

• Chronic kidney disease

• Dehydration

• Reduced kidney function

• Heart failure

• Certain blood-pressure conditions

• Older age

• Use of particular medicines

Do not repeatedly self-medicate for unexplained abdominal or flank pain without identifying the cause.

Can Kidney Disease Exist Without Pain?

Yes.

This is one of the most important points about kidney health.

Many chronic kidney conditions cause few or no symptoms during their early stages.

A person can have reduced kidney function or protein in the urine without experiencing kidney pain.

People with diabetes, high blood pressure, previous kidney injury, recurrent stones or a family history of kidney disease may need periodic kidney-function testing.

When Should You See a Nephrologist?

A nephrologist specializes in medical kidney diseases and kidney-function problems.

Consider kidney evaluation when stomach or flank discomfort occurs together with:

• Elevated creatinine

• Reduced eGFR

• Protein or albumin in urine

• Blood in urine

• Recurrent kidney stones

• Recurrent urinary infections

• Difficult-to-control blood pressure

• Known chronic kidney disease

• Reduced urine output

• Unexplained swelling

If the symptoms primarily suggest a gastrointestinal or surgical condition, another specialist may also be appropriate.

Emergency Warning Signs

Seek urgent medical attention for:

• Very little or no urine

• Severe or rapidly worsening pain

• Severe breathlessness

• Confusion or altered consciousness

• Persistent vomiting

• Fever with severe flank pain

• Fever with suspected urinary blockage

• Fainting

• Severe weakness

• Significant blood in urine with worsening symptoms

An obstructed urinary tract accompanied by infection can be a medical emergency.

Kidney Evaluation at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides individualized evaluation for patients with kidney-related symptoms and abnormal kidney-function results.

Depending on the clinical situation, assessment may include:

• Review of pain location and symptoms

• Kidney-function testing

• Creatinine and eGFR assessment

• Urine examination

• Evaluation for protein or albumin in urine

• Assessment of kidney stones

• Evaluation of urinary obstruction

• Review of ultrasound or CT findings

• Management of kidney-related conditions

• Coordination with other specialists when the cause is outside the kidneys

The objective is to identify whether the symptoms are actually kidney-related and determine appropriate treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my stomach pain is from my kidneys?

Kidney-related pain is commonly felt in the flank or back below the ribs and may sometimes move toward the abdomen or groin. Urinary symptoms, fever, blood in urine or abnormal kidney tests can provide additional clues. However, testing may be needed to determine the cause.

Can kidney stones feel like stomach pain?

Yes. A stone moving through the ureter can cause pain that travels from the flank into the abdomen or groin. Nausea and vomiting may also occur.

Can a kidney infection cause abdominal pain?

Yes. Kidney infections commonly cause flank or back pain but can sometimes cause abdominal discomfort, particularly when other symptoms such as fever, nausea or urinary symptoms are present.

Does kidney disease always cause pain?

No. Many forms of chronic kidney disease are painless, especially in the early stages.

Should I drink more water when I have kidney pain?

Do not assume that more water will solve the problem. Appropriate fluid intake depends on the cause of pain and your kidney and heart health. Excessive fluid can be harmful in some conditions.

Is stomach pain with blood in urine a kidney problem?

Blood in urine can occur with kidney stones, infections and other urinary conditions, but it can also have other causes. It should be medically evaluated rather than assumed to be a kidney problem.

Which doctor should I see for stomach and kidney pain?

If symptoms suggest a kidney or urinary problem, a nephrologist may be appropriate. Depending on the suspected cause, a urologist, gastroenterologist or other specialist may also be involved.

Conclusion

Stomach and kidney pain can sometimes feel similar, but they do not necessarily have the same cause. Kidney stones, kidney infections and urinary obstruction can produce pain in the flank or abdomen, while many digestive and abdominal conditions can cause similar discomfort.

Pay attention to associated symptoms such as urinary changes, blood in urine, fever, vomiting, reduced urine output and changes in kidney-function tests.

Rather than assuming that abdominal pain is coming from the kidneys, proper evaluation can help identify the actual cause and guide appropriate treatment.

For specialist assessment of kidney-related symptoms and kidney-function concerns, consult Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Stomach and kidney pain can have many different causes, and pain location alone cannot reliably determine which organ is responsible. Do not start, stop or change medicines, painkillers, supplements or fluid intake based solely on this article. People with severe pain, fever and flank pain, persistent vomiting, very little or no urine, confusion, severe weakness or rapidly worsening symptoms should seek urgent medical attention. Consult Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke or another qualified healthcare professional for an individualized evaluation.