Flank pain

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Anatomical landmarks, back view

Anatomical landmarks, front view

Anatomical landmarks, side view

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

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

Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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