Kidneys are the two bean-shaped organs on either side of the body, located close to the back just below the rib cage. This organ contains nephrons, tiny vessels inside the kidney that filters excess fluids and waste products from the body, transporting them to the storage container called the urethra until urination. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says that a bruised kidney occurs when this organ becomes damaged due to trauma, inflammation or toxins. Because kidneys are located in a well-protected region of the body, damage usually comes from blood vessel problems within the body.
Renal Vein Thrombosis
A diagnosis of renal vein thrombosis indicates the kidney is bruised do to blood clots in veins that drain blood from kidneys because of tumors and scars in the kidney. Dehydration leads to bruised kidneys in children and infants, and serious health conditions cause this condition in adults. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says that doctors treat blood clots causing bruised kidneys by prescribing medications that decrease clot formation.
Arterial Embolism
An arterial embolism causes bruised kidneys because clots form and interfere with the transportation of blood to that area of the body. Plaque, or an embolus, gets trapped in the arteries, blocking oxygen and blood. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states symptoms include kidney spasms and pain, blisters and tissue death. Doctors treat this kidney bruising condition with anti-coagulants and surgery to remove blockages.
Waste Buildup
Kidney filter waste products out of the body; however, bruised kidneys occur when excessive amounts of byproducts build up in these organs. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that gout, lead exposure, toxic reactions to cleaning products, medications, infections, and immune conditions tax the kidneys, decreasing their ability to effectively get rid of waste. Doctors' examinations determine if any of these conditions cause a patient's bruised kidneys.
Symptoms of a Bruised Kidney
The U.S. National Library of Medicine cites acute and chronic symptoms of a bruised kidney. Acute symptoms include upper abdominal and back pain, swelling of the abdominal muscles, blood in the urine, inability to urinate, sweating, and pasty skin. Chronic conditions consist of constipation, irritability and weight loss.
How Diagnosed
Doctors diagnose conditions that cause a bruised kidney by taking patients' medical history to determine if they have been exposed to toxins, whether they suffer from blood vessel conditions, what kinds of medications they ingest, and whether they've had a recent infection. Once doctors gather the necessary information, they feel the kidneys for tender spots and run a series of blood tests, scans and X-rays. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says that doctors treat bruised kidneys with pain killers and conditions specific medications. Patients return to doctors after one to two weeks of bed rest, and doctors monitor them for signs of further kidney damage or failure.
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