How painful is a kidney biopsy?

Minimal discomfort: Under proper local anesthesia, the amount of discomfort experienced during a kidney biopsy shoulod be minimal. If you are particularly sensitive, some institutions can do the biopsy under conscious sedation, similar to the agents given during a colonscopy. Following the biopsy, patients are placed in observation from anywhere between 6-24 hours.

Depends: Kidney biopsies are done under local anesthesia (unless you are a pediatric patient) and either an ultrasound or CT scan is used to select a good location. Many physicians will inject 5-15ml of 1% lidocaine into the skin/muscle/soft tissues. You will still feel some pressure but should not have sharp pain during the biopsy.