Can Stress Cause Kidney Pain?

Feeling pain near your lower back or sides can be unsettling, especially when it appears without a clear cause.

Stress has been linked to headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension and sleep disruption. But could it also be behind your kidney pain?

Understanding how your emotional state affects your body is more important than ever. If you’ve noticed persistent aches and aren’t sure what’s going on, there’s more to consider than just physical strain.

What are the usual causes of kidney pain?

Kidney pain usually presents itself as a dull ache or sharp discomfort in the flank area, the space between your lower ribs and hips. It’s often confused with back pain due to its location, but the causes can be quite different.

Medically, kidney pain is commonly caused by:

Kidney stones
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
Polycystic kidney disease
Injury or trauma

However, when no direct physical cause can be found, stress might seem like a possible explanation. But before linking your kidney pain to stress, it’s important to understand how both stress and kidney function interact.

Can stress physically affect the kidneys?

Stress itself does not directly cause kidney disease, but it can create the conditions in which kidney discomfort becomes more likely or more noticeable. Prolonged stress impacts nearly every system in your body, including your cardiovascular and immune systems. These, in turn, affect how your kidneys operate.

Hormonal responses

When your body is under stress, it triggers a cascade of hormonal responses, most notably the release of cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones cause your blood pressure to rise and your heart to beat faster. If this continues over time, your kidneys may be affected indirectly.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney damage. In the UK, it’s estimated that around 30% of people with kidney disease developed it due to untreated hypertension. Stress, if left unmanaged, contributes significantly to blood pressure spikes.

This creates a scenario where chronic stress might not cause kidney pain directly, but may lead to conditions that do.

The mind-body connection: Psychosomatic symptoms

Stress can also lead to what are known as psychosomatic symptoms (physical sensations or pain caused or worsened by emotional factors). The body may express stress through physical aches, tightness or organ sensitivity, even when no disease is present.

Your kidneys are located near your lower back, where tension often builds during anxious or stressful times. Many people clench muscles without realising it. Over time, this can produce soreness that mimics internal organ pain.

For example: Someone under long-term stress might report muscle tension around the kidneys or notice pain flare-ups during emotionally charged periods. This doesn’t mean the kidneys are damaged, but the discomfort is still very real.

So, while stress isn’t causing actual damage to your kidneys, it might be tricking your brain into perceiving pain in that area.

Dehydration and stress: A hidden link to discomfort

Stress changes your habits, and hydration is often one of the first things to slip. When people are anxious or overwhelmed, they tend to drink less water and consume more caffeine or alcohol, both of which dehydrate the body.

Dehydration puts strain on your kidneys, which are responsible for filtering waste and balancing fluids. If your fluid intake drops, your urine may become more concentrated, and you could experience mild discomfort or even an infection. These infections sometimes start with symptoms as vague as kidney-area pain and fatigue, which stress may exacerbate.

Stress-related conditions that mimic kidney pain

Another way stress may be linked to kidney pain is through conditions that it worsens or brings to the surface.

One of these is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is strongly associated with stress and anxiety. Pain caused by IBS often radiates to the lower back and flanks, giving the false impression of kidney pain.

Muscle tension is another contributor. If you carry stress in your back and sides, those muscles may become tender or inflamed. The sensation can feel deep enough to mistake for internal pain.

When to seek medical attention

If you’re experiencing kidney pain, you should never assume it’s caused by stress alone. The NHS recommends seeing your GP if you experience:

Pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse
Blood in your urine
Frequent urination or burning sensation
High fever or chills

These symptoms could point to infection, stones, or other issues that need proper diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor may run urine tests, blood work, or imaging scans to rule out serious causes.

Managing stress to ease discomfort

If you suspect stress is playing a role in your pain, managing your mental health may help ease symptoms and prevent future episodes.

Start by identifying stress triggers and building healthier coping strategies. This may include regular physical activity, relaxation techniques, social support or speaking with a mental health professional.

Short daily walks or structured breathing exercises can reduce physical tension and stress levels over time. When your body feels more balanced, you may notice less discomfort in areas like your back and sides.

Getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying hydrated are just as important. These habits support both kidney function and mental resilience, reducing the chances of stress-related pain.

Finding relief in balance

Stress might not damage your kidneys directly, but it can influence your habits, tension levels, and how pain is processed. If you’re feeling discomfort in the kidney area without a clear medical cause, your emotional state may be worth examining.

It’s always best to seek medical advice first. Once urgent causes are ruled out, managing stress could make a big difference. Your kidneys might not be calling for help, but your body certainly could be. Listen closely, stay hydrated, and take care of both your mind and your health.

Maneesh Ghei

Mr Maneesh Ghei MS MRCSEd MD (UCL) FRCS (Urol) is a highly experienced Consultant Urological Surgeon and founder of Urocare London, with over three decades of practice in both NHS and private settings across the capital. As Lead Cancer Clinician at Whittington Hospital, Archway, he chairs the multidisciplinary urology cancer meeting, overseeing patient care from diagnosis through to the latest minimally invasive treatments. A pioneer in complex endourology and stone disease management, Mr Ghei led the UK’s first randomised, double-blind trial of intradetrusor botulinum toxin for refractory overactive bladder. He holds an MBBS and MS in General Surgery from India, an MD from University College London, and undertook advanced fellowships in stone disease and laparoscopic surgery, culminating in his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (Urology). Committed to education and research, he supervises doctoral work in focal therapies and cryotherapy for prostate cancer and champions public awareness through annual Movember fundraising.