Urinary problems with back or flank pain

Urinary problems with back or flank pain may be caused by kidney stones, infection, inflammation in the urinary tract (kidney, bladder, or prostate), or injury to the spinal cord.

Symptoms may include:

  • Inability to urinate at all or inability to stop urinating once you have started.
  • Burning with urination (dysuria).
  • A frequent urge to urinate without being able to pass much urine (frequency).
  • Blood in the urine (hematuria), indicated by red, brown, or pink urine.
  • Difficulty starting urination (hesitancy), or urinating in waves instead of a stream.
  • Bad-smelling urine.
  • Aching pain in the lower abdomen (pelvis) or scrotum.

Call your doctor for an evaluation if you have urinary problems with back or flank pain.



Author: Jan Nissl, RN, BSLast Updated: October 3, 2007
Medical Review: William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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