Flank pain refers to pain in one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.

Pain - side; Side pain

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.

See also: Kidney stones

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

Images

Anatomical landmarks, front view

Anatomical landmarks, back view

Anatomical landmarks, side view

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Flank pain Treatment

Review Date: 02/13/2011
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)