Sunday, February 7, 2010

Kidney Pain Relief
Are you wondering about ways to get kidney pain relief? If you are suffering from a kidney problem that is responsible for excruciating pains that surge like waves, read on to know more about methods of natural kidney pain relief and other treatments.
Kidneys are bean-shaped organs, located just below the rib cage, towards the back in the upper part of a person’s abdomen. Their function is to filter out the toxins and waste materials from our blood. Now you can imagine, what will ensue if these organs fail to perform their task. Not too many nerves are located in the kidneys, therefore the pain arises generally in the bladder and tubes that form a part of the urinary tract system. Pain might arise due to a variety of reasons. Kidney stones, kidney infection, chronic kidney diseases like cancer and polycystic kidney disease can be the cause of that severe pain you experience in your flank area. Sometimes, kidney infection might also manifest in the form of back pain, so pay attention when there is tenderness in the back area where the kidneys lie.

Common Causes of Kidney Pain

Sometimes kidney pain is caused due to the formation of a kidney stone. The stone gets stuck in the ureter and the tubes which link the kidneys with the bladder. Thus, the urine's passage gets blocked, due to which the urine gets back into the kidney. This leads to enlargement of the kidney and the pain spreads to the surrounding areas. Removal of these stones will assist in kidney pain relief. Another cause might be Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder, that is diagnosed when several cysts are formed in the kidneys. When many such cysts form in the kidneys, the fluid permeates in them. Such PKD cysts cause the kidneys to become abnormally large and this anomaly in the basic structure leads to kidneys disorders and consequently, kidney failure. Another cause may be Pyelonephritis, a urinary tract infection that originates in the urethra or the bladder and finds its way up to the kidneys. Its symptoms could include abdominal pain, increase in the frequency of urine, burning sensation while you pass urine or the urine accompanied with blood or pus. More on causes of kidney pain.

Natural Kidney Pain Relief

Are you fed up with taking antibiotics for kidney pain relief? Don't fret over it. You could lessen your pain or prevent it by making certain changes in your diet.

Foods You Could Avoid
If you are suffering from kidney stones, you need to drink lots of fluids. If you are addicted to tea or coffee, make sure you increase your intake of water. Try to cut down on tea and coffee. Generally, the stones are made of calcium deposits and small stones that could be flushed out of your system with the help of extra urine. Avoid eating foods rich in calcium oxalate. Avoid chickpea, beet, spinach, coconuts, cauliflower, turnips and carrots. Doctors suggest a diet depending upon the kind of stone.

Have Fruits High In Water Content
The more you urinate, the better the chances of removal of the kidney stone. Certain fruits are very rich in water content and act as great diuretics. Make sure you don't drink any processed fruit juice. Drinking two ounces of lemon juice is also said to help in breaking kidney stone. Grapes, celery, watermelon and cranberries are high in their water content. Watermelon is rich in potassium and prevents the formation of kidney stones. Grapes are beneficial as they have lesser quantity of albumin and sodium chloride. Use cranberry to your advantage as it can increase the acidity level of urine, and eliminate the presence of harmful bacteria which might cause kidney infections.

Include Egg Whites In Your Diet
It is the presence of essential amino acids in the egg whites that assists in kidney pain relief. It's healthy to have egg whites as their protein content is high. Patients who are on dialysis need to have more protein and need to control their phosphorus levels. Egg whites, being high in protein and devoid of phosphorus can work wonders for such patients.

Herbs for Kidney Pain Relief
Some herbs like artichoke and parsley are diuretics. These help activate the healing mechanism. Some are demulcents which provide a coating to the urinary lining and activate the process of tissue healing. Bearberry capsules also prove beneficial in kidney infections. Supplement it with a diet rich in fresh fruit juices and vegetables. Other herbs like goldenrod, oak bark and gravel root help in getting rid of kidney stones and infections.

Try Aromatherapy
Soak in the hot bath for at least 10 minutes. You should use around 20 drops of the essential oil. Thyme, juniper and eucalyptus oil can be used in aromatherapy for kidney pain relief. Even sandalwood oil can be used if you like its fragrance. Relax in the hot bath and feel the magic power of these aromatic oils. You can seek the help of an aromatherapist for selecting the oils.

Kidney Pain Treatment
In case the pain is manageable, using a paracetamol is a safe option but there is a need to keep a check on the dosage. Other pain killers might have side-effects and therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Since kidney pain can be severe, painkillers might not be of great help. Those diagnosed with serious conditions might need to get treatment through antibiotics. Sometimes, depending on the graveness of situation, surgery might be an option. If there is kidney failure, dialysis might be an option. More on kidney pain: symptoms and treatment.

You know the work your kidneys do. So take precautions and increase your intake of water and diuretics. Kidney pain can be really excruciating, therefore, take all the precautions to keep your kidneys in good condition. Consult a doctor if painkillers are not helping you. Hope this information about kidney pain relief proved beneficial to you.