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Undiagnosed severe left flank pain for months - is this kidney related?

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stefxgx
stefxgx

I have had severe left flank pain for 3 months now and still not been able to get a diagnosis. I am a 24 year old usually fit female.

The pain started towards the end of April while i was in work (an office desk job). It was on my left side in between my hip and ribs, spreading down to my groin. The pain got worse over the next couple of hours, and it has been a constant dull ache since then. The pain is most strong on the back of my left side but i can also feel it from the front.

I went to the doctors with this pain where i done blood and urine tests and got put on antibiotics for a suspected kidney infection, as well as codeine to ease the pain. The results came back with an apparent slight kidney abnormality showing, but a week later, i was still in a lot of pain and unable to move much, so i went back to the doctors where i got referred into hospital. I spent the night in hospital where i had more blood and urine tests, as well as an ultra sound. The hospital told me my results showed a UTI, but the ultrasound was clear, so i got put on another course of antibiotics and sent home. A week later, i was still in a lot of pain so i went back to the doctors where i was put on another (stronger) course of antibiotics for 2 weeks. The pain eased slightly above the groin, but the main pain on my left side was still the same.

My doctor then referred me to gastroenterology at the hospital where i had to wait weeks for an appointment, only to be told that he didn't think it was bowel or stomach related (as i can still eat and pass stools normally) and that i should have been referred to urology.

My doctor referred me to urology where the waiting list was 2 months, so i decided to get a private consultation with a urologist. The consultant done a urine test, which confirmed i had blood present in it. He went over my symptoms and suggested a CT scan in case i had a small kidney stone stuck which had been missed by the ultrasound. He was also concerned at my frequency as passing urine (this is usually over 20 times a day with anywhere between 3 to 8 times through the night). He referred me back to the NHS for the CT scan which i had a few weeks ago.

The CT scan results came back clear of kidney stones. My consultant now thinks the issue could be musculoskeletal but he still wants to see me to do some bladder studies as he is concerned about the frequency of urination. I have an appointment with my urology consultant for a few weeks time, but to see someone to investigate if the pain could be musculoskeletal there is a 3 month waiting list.

I am still in a lot of pain, both when moving and sitting (it never eases), and it is effecting my every day life. I can't go into the office to work due to the amount of pain i am in, i can't drive with it, and i haven't left the house the past few month apart from doctor or hospital visits. I am constantly feeling down and tired, and often get spells of dizziness and my eyes blacking out when i stand up (i am unsure if the tiredness and dizziness is related or not). I had a breakdown the other weekend where i cried for 2 days straight with the pain, the frustration of not being able to get a diagnosis, and not being able to do anything. I am worried that depression is kicking in with how long this has dragged on for.

I had no injury or knock to the area before the pain started. My mums side of the family also has a history of nephritis (kidney disease) with 4 of my aunt and uncles having it, but my urology consultant doesn't think there is a connection.

Is anyone able to provide any help or suggestions on what they think this pain could be as well as how to help ease it (the codeine doesn't help)? I feel like i have been passed around so many different people who still have no idea what is causing this pain.

6 likes, 174 replies

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  • neelam143
    neelam143 stefxgx

    Posted

    Hi there. I hope you do not mind me messaging you over a year after you originally posted. So sorry to read this is happening to others.

    Your situation sounds practically identical to mine and was wondering if you have had any answers.

    Would really be grateful for any details.

  • GoIrish3
    GoIrish3 stefxgx

    Posted

    Thanks Amanda. I will ask the urologist Monday about it. I have an appointment at 10am. I hope he doesn't look at me like I am crazy. It's funny cause, over a year and a half ago, we were moving and my 18 year old step son and I did all the heavy lifting. We put down the last heavy piece of furniture and I got this horrible pain that made me drop to my knees. I thought I tore my oblique muscle but when the pain didn't get better I went to the ER. At that time they found multiple stones in both my kidneys. They said the pain was just from the stones and was renal colic. Well, I passed those and still had this same pain I described in my last post and went back to the ER only to find out I had more stones in my kidney. Again, they said it was just my kidney stones and I was told it was just renal colic in my right kidney. This is what I get everytime I go somewhere. I keep telling them something is not right. I know my kidney stone pain. I have been passing them for a year and a half straight and since 1999. This isn't my normal stone pain. Something else is wrong. I can't work, stand or sit for hardly any period of time. I get off the bed and start walking and here comes that horrible pain. I can't sleep on my left side cause it feels like my guys are being pulled that direction. It's debilitating. I just hope they will look into it. I hope they will do the xrays I need. Thanks again.
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      Wow. That's My STORY!!!! Mine went on for soo long that my Spine had Scoliosis from the Pulling (mid-back) & Pushing (lower-back) ... My Shoulders were Inches off from Even ... Hair & Nails quit growing years ago ... Psoriasis *SEVERE* from being Toxic with the kidney not functioning ... Hormones were Not Producing ... *** OH! And Your Adrenal Gland Sits on Top of Each Kidney so I was Basically on a 7 Year ADRENALINE Rush!! Yes, That's BAD!! *** 100% of my Urinary System was Damaged-Infected-ANGRY... Nerve Damage in almost Every Part of my body ... Brain Fog - No Memory *this destroyed me emotionally* I had to put my pants and shoes on by lifting my right foot behind me and slip my leg / foot in because I couldn't lift my knee towards my chest at all! ... Leaning against Anything at the waist or standing at the kitchen sink was Not An Option! ... couldn't wear Any Belts around my waist or dresses that Had a Tie String around the "Flank" - it was Excrutiating!! I would get Hungry after laying down to sleep and it was because my kidney would Reposition and my body realized how Starved it was ... my Right Ribs Curved Under and I did not have the "Hourglass Shape" on my Right side **This was Noticed just weeks before the surgery but my husband said he realized it YEARS BEFORE But didn't want to Hurt My Feelings!?? Ugh 😕 ...I could go on forever about all of the Random Strange Symptoms ... Thankfully They've ALL Corrected Themselves or Are In Correcting And Improving Now...
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      Does this sound Familiar:

      **The Pain is in 1 Area BUT it's "In Layers"

      It Starts Close to the Surface of the skin and goes to the Spine (Like cutting open an Onion... Each Layer has it's Own "type" of Pain) Burning - Pulling - Stabbing - Dull Ache - Heavy and Swollen ...

      My Spine would be on fire if I spent too much time at my desk or standing sort of hunched over (painting or writing) ... Holding my Right Arm up to drive made the Kidney Pain Very Uncomfortable!!

    • tobiyah
      tobiyah GoIrish3

      Posted

      Has anyone did any Xrays for hurniated disks in your back? I have a hurniated disk that started giving me problems after 12 years from when the injury occurred.and I had major right kidney pain for over a month. I started using my decompression bed and doing upside down setups and it corrected the issue. I was having pain down into my groin as well. I didn't have my normal numbness into my leg or anything like that. The pain was so bad I thought I had a kidney stone, so also started taking 1 ounce of olive oil with 1 ounce of lemon juice just in case it was a stone, which dissolved stones. This really works well on stones. I have a friend that had stones and they dissolved within a week. I covered all bases and now I am fine. But, as for you, you could very well  have a hurniated disk or strained or pulled muscle that is causing your issue. I would consult a back specialist to get your back checked out just in case.
  • GoIrish3
    GoIrish3 stefxgx

    Posted

    That's my guts pulling that way people......lol. I am a girl, I don't have guys....lmao. Stupid auto correct
  • GoIrish3
    GoIrish3 stefxgx

    Posted

    Yes, that makes sense Amanda. Between my back and the front of my abdomen just below my ribs. Sometimes it feels like someone is just jabbing a knife in there and twisting it. I have passed a lot of stones and I tell you, I have never felt anything like this. This is incredibly horrible, intense pain. I am just paying to God that they do these xrays of me lying and standing. I definitely can't afford to fly to Austin, Texas and then again for surgery. I truly hope they look into it. I have a good feeling, thanks to reading your posts, that it is "floating" kidney. I find it hard to believe it is just renal colic. Although it is a colikly like pain. Mainly this dull ache then the waves hit and its debilating. It feels someone it's trying to rip my kidney out of my body. Like I said before, I have that Damn 10mm stone in my left kidney and have passed many out of that kidney but never had anything like this day in and day out for a year and a half. I took my percocet 10 and a half of a phenegren tablet cause all those stupid pain pills make me nauseated. The pain makes me nauseated enough. I still hurt. I am actually just lying flat with my heating pad trying to find some comfort. Please pray they listen to me Monday when I go. I will keep you posted on the out come.
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      You Got the Prayers!!! And lay Flat with No Pillow. As Flat as you Can... keep your arms Down ... I found relief the last 3 weeks before Surgery by doing that and even laid on my floor to make it stop 😉
  • GoIrish3
    GoIrish3 stefxgx

    Posted

    I was tested for Celiac disease/Gluten intolerance and I have neither. I know all about Candida and yeast over growth and leaky gut. It's not any of that. I wish it was that simple for me. My eGFR has dropped from 82 to 60 in a month. My creatinine use to hang around .7/.8 and is now up to 1.10. I am worried that whatever it is besides my kidney stones and passing them since 1999, it's taking it's toll on my right kidney or something is. It really worries me
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      I am 99.999% Sure You Have Nephroptosis!

      When I started researching it I found a blog by a Woman in the UK and she had a Successful Surgery... let me see if I can find it again ... Maybe she can help you get in touch with the Surgeon! 😉

      If nothing else works, you can Always Call my surgeon at UROLOGY TEAM, Austin TX (E. GIESLER) And I bet he would Find You A Local Surgeon!

  • GoIrish3
    GoIrish3 stefxgx

    Posted

    Thank you Amanda. I found a urologist. He is in Brunswick, Georgia. I live in St. Marys, Georgia so it's only about 40 miles from us. I go this Monday at 10 am. They are suppose to be good but I just hope when I ask them about it they will at least check into it. If they don't then they can at least bust up my stones so I can pass them and then, I will have to find someone else that will at least look into the floating kidney. Hopefully, this guy will look into it though.
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      I'm praying the Urologist listens to you ...

      I also thought maybe if you had the name of the local Dr that treated this lady (from the blog) Your Urologist may be familiar with him/her and Consult for their opinion?

    • GoIrish3
      GoIrish3 amanda33492

      Posted

      Sounds good to me. I will take any help I can get.....lol. Thank you so much.
    • GoIrish3
      GoIrish3 amanda33492

      Posted

      This Dr I saw in Brunswick, Georgia was very rude and has no bedside manner. All he cared about were my kidney stones. He wanted to do a CT which I said no because I just had one three weeks ago at Emory in Atlanta. I have had right in a year and a half. I have already had too much radiation. He can get that one at Emory and read it along with the ultrasound. I only ok'd the flat xrays. I asked him about the floating kidney and he laughed at me. He said it's rare and he has never seen it. Well, he has only been doing this 13 years and just cause he have never seen it or had a case of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I asked for stays standing up xrays but he laughed again and wouldn't do it. I think he was afraid it might turn something up and then he would look like a dumb ass. He seemed inpatient. I asked about my eGFR dropping from 82 to 60 in a month and about my creatinine going up and he didn't seem interested. He said he would have to send me to a nephrologist for that. He was so rude!!! My wife went with me and he asked who is this sitting next too me. I said my wife. He said oh, well I guess we will just say partner. That really p*ssed me off. We are legally married. She is my wife not my partner. He has a God syndrome. My wife was so mad she had to bite her tongue. He said he could see from a CT and xray what kind of stones I have...lol. Well, he would be the first uroligist or doctor that has the ability to do that, that I have seen. Most give me a strainer and say to try and catch it to send it off so they can find out what kind it is. He didn't even give me one which doesn't matter cause I have one anyway. No pain meds or nausea meds. He sucked. I told him my mom has horrible gout and high uric acid. I asked about running a uric acid test and he said I just met you, that comes later. He needs to get the CT and xray first. High Uric acid can cause you to make uric acid stones and calcium oxylate stones. You think he would know that. He was an ass. We are just going to wait and change our iinsurance November first so we can go to Dr near us. He is the best. He has been doing this for 30 years. I am not going back to this jerk. He cut me off when I was talking. Told me stones only hurt when they get stuck which is not true. They hurt when they move within the kidney towards the ureter before they get there not just when they are in there. I had plenty of doctors and other urologist tell me that. Oh and when I explained my pain he said it was probably my gallbladder. Well, he will see from the notes at Emory university hospital in Atlanta that they worked me up for that. It was normal. Then he said or I tore muscle there of my rib. He is an idiot. It's not my muscle!!!!!!! I am so mad.
    • GoIrish3
      GoIrish3 amanda33492

      Posted

      I eerie you but it's waiting to be modified cause I called the Dr a bad word.....lol
    • GoIrish3
      GoIrish3

      Posted

      I wrote......lol stupid swipe on this phone.
    • amanda33492
      amanda33492 GoIrish3

      Posted

      I went to 10 of these Dr's Here in the U.S. and EVEN AFTER Surgery to Fix My Kidney I was still fighting to Make them Believe!!!! It SUCKS and So Do They!
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