Preventing Urinary Tract Infection
You can reduce your chances of developing a UTI by keeping your bladder and urethra free from bacteria.
You can help prevent an infection by:
- drinking plenty of fluids
Toilet tips
To help keep your urinary tract free from bacteria:
- go to the toilet as soon as you feel the need to urinate , rather than holding it in
- wipe from front to back after going to the toilet
- practice good hygiene by washing your genitals every day and before having sex
- empty your bladder after having sex
- if you’re a woman, avoid hovering over a toilet seat as it can result in your bladder not being fully emptied
Diaphragms and condoms
If you use a diaphragm and have recurring UTIs, you might want to consider changing to another method of contraception. This is because the diaphragm may press on your bladder and prevent it emptying completely when you urinate.
If you get recurring UTIs and you use condoms, try using condoms that don’t have a spermicidal lubricant on them it will say whether it does on the packet.
Spermicidal lubricant can cause irritation and may make it more likely that you’ll experience symptoms similar to a UTI.
How To Treat Abdominal Pain
Some cases of abdominal pain resolve on their own. Staying hydrated, resting, and avoiding foods that can irritate your stomach can help improve your pain. Taking over-the-counter gas medications or antacids can help ease an upset stomach and relieve indigestion.
If home remedies dont work and you have abdominal pain for several days, get in touch with us. Depending on the cause, we may approach treatment in several ways, including:
- Antibiotics for infections
- Medications, such as anti-inflammatories or pain relievers
- Acid reducers for GERD and acid reflux
- Making lifestyle changes, like exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet
Some conditions like Crohns disease or other forms of inflammatory bowel syndrome require special treatment. We can connect you with the right specialist if needed.
You May Like: What Pain Medication Is Best For Nerve Pain
Causes Of Kidney Infection
Normally, the urinary tract keeps out bacteria. On occasion, however, bacteria can enter the urethra and continue up into the bladder causing inflammation, urinary tract infection, and an infection of the kidneys.
It is also possible for blood to transmit a virus or bacteria to the kidneys from other parts of the body.
For around every 30 cases of urinary tract infection, one results in a kidney infection.
Urinary tract infections are more likely to occur in older people or those with other medical conditions such as:
- Infected bladder
Read Also: What To Do To Relieve Upper Back Pain
When To Seek Medical Advice
You may find your UTI symptoms are mild and pass within a few days. However, you should see your GP if you find your symptoms very uncomfortable or if they last for more than five days.
Also see your GP if you have a UTI and:
- you develop a high temperature
- your symptoms suddenly get worse
- you are pregnant
- you have diabetes
What Causes The Infection
The E. coli bacteria cause UTIs in 85% of cases, with other bacteria making up the remaining 15%. There are several reasons bacteria enter the urinary system. These include pregnancy, menopause, and sexual intercourse. Urinary catheters invite bacteria into the urethra and bring a high risk of a UTI. Other reasons include bladder stones and urinary tract malformation.
Read Also: How Painful Is Back Waxing
Lactose Intolerance And Food Allergies
Eating something youre allergic or sensitive to can cause sharp pains in your abdomen as your body struggles to digest it. Sometimes gas and indigestion symptoms will arise if you eat food that your body doesnt agree with.
Unless you have food allergies that put you at risk for anaphylaxis, abdominal pain from food allergies or sensitivities is not an emergency. You may also notice bloating or diarrhea because of eating food your body cant digest properly.
If you have a lactose allergy, speak to your healthcare provider about replacement enzyme pills that may allow you to consume dairy without discomfort.
Read Also: How To Relieve Knee Pain At Night
You Constantly Feel Like You Have To Urinate
Running to the bathroom more than usual? Assuming its not that youre just drinking more liquids, the constant need to urinate could be a symptom of a UTI. Everyones body is different, including how much urine you pass daily, explains Dr. Feuerstein. Its important to consider whats more frequent than normal for you.
Also Check: How To Get Back Pain Relief Naturally
Changes In Your Reproductive System
Bladder pain in women may also be a result of thinning vaginal skin, says Karl Luber, MD, a urogynecologist and a founder of the female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship program at UCSDKaiser Permanente in San Diego.
This is called atrophy and its most common when menopause deprives the tissues surrounding the vagina of estrogen, he explains. Oral estrogen doesnt help, but a vaginal estrogen cream may ease symptoms.
Talking with your doctor about bladder pain and discomfort can help determine where the problem really lies, Dr. Luber says.
Common Causes Of Upper Abdominal Pain
The common causes of upper abdominal pain are typically the byproducts of the digestive process. The pains are usually felt in the upper area of the abdomen, as well as in the chest, neck or shoulders. The common symptoms are:
- bloating and gas
- loss of appetite
- nausea
The management of the pains and symptoms can usually be accomplished by changes to the diet, eating habits and lifestyle. The avoidance of caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol will reduce the symptoms.
There are cases where people have described the warning signs of a heart attack as upper abdominal pain or heartburn. The pain can feel like a burning in the chest, or the chest being pressed by something heavy. This type of pain may also be felt in the jaw, the neck or the arms.
Heart attack victims may also experience breathlessness, sweating and nausea along with the burning or the chest pain. A person experiencing these symptoms, together with a family history of heart conditions, should seek immediate medical attention in an emergency room in New Braunfels, Texas.
You May Like: What Oil Is Good For Back Pain
Im Pregnant How Will A Uti Affect My Baby
If you have a UTI and it isnt treated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, it wont hurt your baby.
How To Get Rid Of Uti Cramps At Home
As you recover, you can try the following home remedies to help relieve UTI cramps: Use a heating pad: Applying a heating pad to your abdomen or lower back may help to ease cramping. Drink water: Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated, but can also help dilute your urine and flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
You May Like: How To Relieve Lower Back Pain Fast
You Feel Like You Caught A Stomach Bug
If UTIs arent caught in time, they can spread and cause a kidney infection, which is the leading cause of approximately 100,000 hospital visits each year in the U.S., reports the NIDDK. When that happens, Dr. Long Gillespie says the symptoms are more widespread. You could experience everything from a fever and chills to an achy back, nausea, and vomiting all common signs of the stomach flu. But when these symptoms are combined with pelvic discomfort, as well as frequent and painful urination, its a likely indicator that the diagnosis will be a UTI, and your doctor can get you started on antibiotics right away.
Dont Miss: Is Tennis Elbow And Carpal Tunnel Related
Symptoms In Children And Elderly People
While the typical range of symptoms for a kidney infection applies to most adults, older adults and young children may have different symptoms.
If youre over age 65, you may experience none of the typical symptoms of a kidney infection summarized above. Instead, you may only experience problems with your thinking, such as:
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty speaking
Children under 2 years old with a kidney infection may only have a high fever.
Caregivers of very old and very young individuals should know to seek help when these signs or symptoms occur.
Also Check: Can Pregnancy Cause Back Pain
How Will My Provider Determine The Cause Of Flank Pain
Your provider will examine you and gently feel the sensitive area. They will ask you where you feel pain and if it gets better or worse with certain activities. Tell them about any symptoms youre having in addition to flank pain.
Your provider may order several tests to look for signs of kidney stones, infection, injuries or disease. These tests include:
- Basic metabolic panel to be sure your kidney function remains normal and that there is no obstruction from a kidney stone.
- Complete blood test and urine tests, to see how your organs are working, check for infection and detect signs of cancer and other disease.
- CT scan or ultrasound, to look for kidney stones and check their size and shape.
- Cystoscopy, to diagnose problems in the lower urinary tract.
- Spine X-ray or MRI, to see detailed images of injuries or abnormalities in your spine.
Causes Of Lower Back Pain And Testicular Pain
Dec 16, 2019 | Health Freedom |
It isnt uncommon for people to experience lower back pain from time to time. If youre older, overweight and lacking in exercise, youre more likely to experience it. It usually goes away after a few hours or a day with rest and home treatment. However, when your lower back pain is accompanied with pain coming from your testicular region, it could be a sign of an underlying condition that you need to get checked out immediately with your local health practitioner.
Read Also: How To Heal Lower Back Strain
About The Urinary Tract
The urinary tract is where our bodies make and get rid of urine. It’s made up of:
- the kidneys two bean-shaped organs, about the size of your fists, that make urine out of waste materials from the blood
- the ureters tubes that run from the kidney to the bladder
- the bladder where urine is stored until we go to the toilet
- the urethra the tube from the bladder through which urine leaves the body
Treating Lower Back Pain Related Uti Symptoms
So, now we know that UTI can cause lower back pain on one side or even both. Lets follow ut with treatment options. Persistent bladder infections can be treated using single lower everyday dosages of antibiotics. Women with propensity of establishing UTIs following sexual relations can likewise take a single dosage of antibiotic instantly after sex. Numerous physicians likewise encourage patients to self treat their UTI symptoms using 3-day antibiotic courses as soon as they take place. One can even take a fever reduce/pain killer such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen to ease the UTI back pain on one side. Sleeping with a warm water bag can likewise alleviate symptoms of abdominal pain and UTI back ache.
Sometimes, there are no symptoms accompanying the bladder infection-known as asymptomatic UTIs. These typically lead the patient to have a bladder infection for long time. Just a chance/ regular urine assessment reveals existence of bacteria in the urine. Naturally, no treatment is required, however, pregnant women, children or those with risk of developing a kidney infection must be treated instantly nevertheless.
In conclusion
Back pain specifically UTI associated lower back pain on the right side ought to not be ignored. See your doctor instantly if the pain returns shortly after you have been treated with antibiotics.
If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Read Also: Will Tylenol Help Back Pain
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Typically, a kidney infection develops after a UTI has already affected your urethra the tube through which urine exits your body and your bladder. This area is known as your lower urinary tract.
If you recognize the earlier signs of a UTI, you can seek treatment and usually avoid a kidney infection. But its possible that your symptoms wont be severe enough to get your attention until the infection has spread to your kidneys.
Whether or not youre also experiencing kidney-specific symptoms, its important to look out for signs of a UTI affecting your lower urinary tract:
Painful Urination Known as dysuria, pain during urination is usually caused by inflammation in the lining of your urethra.
In addition to UTIs, dysuria can be caused by a number of other conditions, including vaginal yeast infections, kidney stones, and sexually transmitted infections .
Frequent Urination A UTI can cause frequent and intense urges to urinate, even when youve recently emptied your bladder.
Thats because an inflamed bladder from your infection may be more sensitive to pressure from your urine, giving you the sensation that your bladder is full even when its not.
Prevention Of Kidney Infections
Kidney infections are the result of bladder infections migrating to one or both kidneys. Here are some methods to reduce your risk of UTIs and kidney infections:
- Maintain personal hygiene habits such as washing your genitals and wiping front to back.
- Individuals with indwelling bladder catheters should remember to have their catheters changed regularly to avoid irritation and infection. Make sure to clean and monitor the area surrounding where the catheter enters the urethra.
- Pee when you need to. Donât hold it, and try to completely empty your bladder without rushing anything.
- Urinate soon after sex, and make sure to practice safe sex in general.
- Diaphragms, unlubricated condoms, and spermicidal lubes can potentially contribute to infection. Consider switching to different birth control methods if recurring infections are an issue.
If you suffer any symptoms of a urinary tract or kidney infection, talk to your doctor immediately. The faster you act, the more effective the treatment.
If you experience any of these symptoms, to set up a phone appointment with a top U.S. doctor today.
Read Also: How Much Advil For Back Pain
Fighting Infections With Antibiotics
For a lower UTI, a 3-7-day course of antibiotics helps treat the bacteria. Serious upper infections need hospitalization for IV antibiotics. This helps with the back pain, fever, and vomiting that happens. Once doctors get the fever under control, treatment will then move to oral antibiotics. The doctor will give a longer course of antibiotics for a secondary UTI. There are cases where antibiotics do not work or the UTI returns multiple times in a year. In these cases, consult a urologist to advise on next steps.
How Do You Know If A Uti Has Spread To Your Kidneys
Kidney infections usually present with a fever, chills, and back pain.
The main difference between UTI and kidney infection symptoms is:
- High fever
The most common kidney infection symptoms include:
- Fever
- Severe flank pain
- Nausea
Kidney back pain is concentrated on the back in between the ribs and hips. Constant dull or severe pain is usually reported. Pain increases with increase fluid intake or if someone presses on your back.
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Back Pain When Sleeping
Uti Symptoms: Pain In The Lower Back
The material provided below is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. You should always seek medical advice before consuming any new medicines or supplements. AZO products referenced on this website are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease such as overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, or vaginal infections.
A Urinary Tract Infection can be a pain. Several pains, in fact. You may feel UTI pain when you urinate, in your urethra and in your back. Pain has a very basic roleits your bodys way of telling you, Hey! I need a little help here! Unfortunately, that may be about all the pain can tell you. Its your job to look at the rest of your symptoms to see just what help is actually needed.
Changes To Your Actual Pee
Beyond changes to the sensation of peeing, Dr. Sonpal also warns that cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine may be indicative of a UTI. Similarly, the Mayo Clinic advises you to see a doctor if your urine is dark or orange, or if theres blood in it. The presence of blood in your pee could actually indicate other serious problems like kidney stones.
Still, its important to note that there are a lot of other factors besides UTIs that can change the color, consistency, and smell of your urine. The Mayo Clinic lists medications and food dyes among other things.
Recommended Reading: Can A Big Belly Cause Lower Back Pain
When To See A Gp
See a GP if you feel feverish and you have pain in your tummy, lower back or genitals that will not go away.
You should also see a GP if you have symptoms of a UTI that have not improved after a few days, or if you have blood in your pee.
Contact a GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.
Kidney infections require prompt treatment with antibiotics.
Page last reviewed: 06 January 2021 Next review due: 06 January 2024
Not Even Your Favorite Ice Cream Tempts You
While theyre less common UTI symptoms in women, loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting can occur, particularly if the infection is more severe or has spread to the kidneys, Ross says.
Of course, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting can all point to other issues, as well, but if you experience them along with any other signs of a UTI like burning when you pee or constantly having to go, theres a pretty good chance you have a UTI.
Read Also: How To Remove Neck And Shoulder Pain
Also Check: How To Treat Lower Back Hip Pain