What does it mean if your kidney is swollen?

Have you ever felt a certain discomfort in your lower back? Something along the lines of moderate to severe pain – yeah, I know that feeling too. But have you ever experienced such excruciating pain accompanied by swelling next to one side of your spine? That my friend is not okay! It might sound scary now, but let me break down what’s happening.

The Basics

Your kidneys play a significant role in maintaining overall health and well-being. These two bin-shaped organs are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood, regulating salt concentration, balancing body fluids and producing essential hormones like erythropoietin at 9000m below sea level (just kidding; it’s 9000 feet above). However when something goes wrong with even one kidney we say hello to some stubborn issues. One of which being ‘a swollen kidney.’

Well To Be Precise…

Had enough medical jargon already? Alright then! Spontaneous hydronephrosis is the term used for describing a complete or partial blockage within any part of urine drainage systems after coming out from the renal tubules such as ureterovesical junction obstruction among others… Woah hold on there!

Let me put this into simpler terms: “A swollen kidney refers to an abnormal enlargement in size caused by an accumulation of urine due to blocked flow.”

You may ask what causes these obstructions resulting in painful enlarged kidneys ? Aha! Glad you asked.

Causes Of Kidney Swelling

There can be various potential reasons causing swelling around our little bean shaped gladiator- here are some :

Kidney Stones

Just like chalkboards require “special” teachers who can handle children’s innate curiosity without going berserk ,similarly our stones need special filters known as nephrons to extract and filter wasteful materials .Kidneys release ‘powerful’ urine through tubes called ureters into the bladder . Stones in these tubes obstruct proper drainage of urine impacting renal function.

Ureteral Obstructions

This blockage occurs within the tube that connects your kidney and bladder. This may be due to an enlarged prostate gland pressing against it, tumors or blood clots for example leaving one helpless.

Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)

A not so common genetic abnormality when there is a backward flow between bladder and kidneys resulting from incompetent valve like muscle systems which seems pretty odd considering they can handle fluctuating temperature.

Cancerous Growth / Tumor

There’s always one bad apple in every group isn’t there? A mass/cyst may form on your kidneys which could resultantly cause swelling – this needs immediate attention without a doubt!

When Do You Know Its Time To Visit The Doc?

Uh-oh, you’re feeling unusually uneasy now aren’t you? Just chill out, calm down &chug some water …nevermind actually – chugging more water right before identifying swollen kidney symptoms such intense discomfort/pain around lower abdomen/kidney area ,fever accompanied by nausea/vomiting whilst experiencing trace amounts of blood during urination only makes it worse!

Seeing as stumbling upon porn ad banners becomes increasingly frequent rather than eliminating them altogether ;Here are some symptoms indicating swollen kidneys:

  • Pain and Clammy Skin
  • Mild to High Fever
  • Buirrpty In Urine (Now that doesn’t sound too hot)
  • Nausea + Vomiting = Great Night Out 🤢

Once all ticked off we’ll call up Fido-The-Doc immediately okay?!

Treatment For Swollen Kidneys

Treatment varies accordingly depending on underlying causes & severity,it might range anywhere from medication :
Antibiotics,for infections connected with swelling.

To extreme cases, surgical procedures:
Stent or catheter insertion,in order to remove obstructions

Don’t worry! None of these treatments would dent your savings account as much, just perhaps your daily morning coffee ritual. As long as you follow doctor’s advice and adhere accordingly – things should fall back into their rightful place.

Conclusion

Who knew simple-to-complex disorders were going undetected, right? At the first sign of pain/discomfort surrounding lower abdomen/kidney area accompanied by fever & vomit we now realize seeking a medical opinion promptly is necessary. In summary,either start googling for your symptoms out of horror (making it worse)or go see a certified practitioner – that’s our option so take it up!
Happy healing folks!

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