Flank pain - Overview

Alternative Names

Pain - side; Side pain

Definition of Flank pain:

Flank pain refers to pain in one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.

Considerations:

Flank pain often means kidney trouble. If flank pain is accompanied by fever, chills, blood in the urine, or frequent or urgent urination, then a kidney problem is the likely cause.

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

Anatomical landmarks, back view

Anatomical landmarks, front view

Anatomical landmarks, side view

Reviewed last on: 2/19/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Proctor DD. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2007:chap 134.

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