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:

Arthritis or infection of the spine
Disk disease
Muscle spasm
Kidney stone, infection, or abscess
Shingles (pain with one-sided rash)
Spinal fracture

Anatomical landmarks, back view

Anatomical landmarks, front view

Anatomical landmarks, side view

Reviewed last on: 2/13/2011
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.

Millham FH. Acute abdominal pain. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 10.

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