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Dear Doctor,
I would like to know if you have heard of kidney pain being linked to dehydration. I work out about 5 times a week and if I am not hydrated enough one of my kidneys hurts when I inhale or exhale. The pain always comes the morning after the exercise. On Saturday I had an intense work out and woke up today with sharp pains on both kidneys. It doesn't hurt so much now during inhalation or exhalation but rather, it feels like I've been punched on my sides and is very sore. Do you have any suggestions.
L. Quinn
Dear Ms Quinn,
Thank you for your question regarding dehydration and kidney pain. Dehydration by itself is not a known cause of kidney pain, however, chronic dehydration may predispose some individuals to develop kidney stones which, of course, may cause severe back pain.
Back pain associated with activity or exercise most likely is musculoskeletal and may be related to over exertion or even actuall muscle injury, such as, acute muscle strains which are microscopic tears in the muscles and ligaments.
Pain in the back associated with deep inhalation and expiration may be related to several things including pneumonia, pleurisy, colon gas, diaphragm pain, and other less common causes.
I hope that I have answered your question to your satisfaction. If you have further questions regarding this, you may visit WebMD via a link through our web site.
Sincerely,
John R. Vigil, MD
A Physician's Prayer
Lord, Though Great Physician, I kneel before Thee. Since every good and perfect gift must come from Thee,
I pray:
Give skill to my hand, clear vision to my mind, kindness and sympathy to my heart.
Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least a part of the burden of my suffering fellowmen, and a true realization of the rare privilege that is mine.
Take from my heart all guile and worldliness, that with the simple faith of a child I may rely on Thee.
Amen
