About 7 days ago, on Saturday, I went bowling for two games with my family. A little back strain, but no pain.

On Sunday, I sat and watched two movies back to back that evening, eating a lot of pastcio nuts, I'm afraid.

Monday morning I got up stiffly, and drove my kid around delivering papers. Returning home, we got out to shovel snow, and as I lifted the garage door, my back twinged. I shoveled about five stripes across the driveway, and had to quit. It hurt to much, to twist my back.

Everything seems to be connected to the muscle pain.
I went inside and attempted to lay down. Too painful to drop into bed.
I carefully laid down, got a little massage form the wife, and dropped off to sleep with a heating pad on my back.

I woke 90 minutes later in time to go to work, driving an hour without problems. But the back continued to spasm and I went home after 4 hours.

Heating pad every day this week, and I've been setting in a hot tub at the YMCA between shifts.

How long is this supposed to last? It feels like the back soreness has spread out, and the original site is not spasming, but still sore, sort of near the right kidney.

What are the signs of kidney problems?
What does blood in the urine look like? (Light pink tint to the urine in the bowl?)
How long should I wait before going to see a doctor?

Any advice?