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

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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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  • Posted

    Hi Stefxgx. Did you ever get a diagnosis? 

    Might be a long shot but did they ever test you for nutcracker syndrome? 

  • Posted

    I am having right flank pain since months specially with movements or when i am sitting the pain is felt with upper abdominal pain and discomfort with frequent urination and bloating. Since a week i am slight pain in the left flank area.

    My blood reports showed that i am severely anemic very low in iron it might be because of the heavy bleeding every month. Ultrasound showed a non cancerous cyst on liver and fibroids in uterus. I will be having a endoscopy done and a gyno app scheduled next week

    Not sure if the ultrasound scan missed something but both my kidneys are normal. After searching the net my symptoms are of kidney disease. Is MRI or CT scan better then ultrasound to show if i am really having any kidney problems?

  • Posted

    I'm so sorry, you've been through a lot. I've been having very similar symptoms. No relief with chiropractic therapy or orthopedist. Am concerned with kidney as Ive had a series of uti's due to a bladder sleep that was too high. Just had it released, but not feeling any better. Going to urology follow up next week and we'll go from there. But, I'm going today to a guy that specializes in myofacial release. It's possible it's as aimple as a very tight quadratis lumborum (QL) muscle. It can be extremely painful. If it helps, I'll let you know. 

     

  • Posted

    Good afternoon

    I am in the States so my "Terminology a be a bit different but Left Flank Pain you've described is Almost Always 1 of 2 Things:

    Nut Cracker Syndrome

    Or

    Nephroptosis... This is most Commonly on the Right BUT CAN also be a Left Kidney Condition ... Google them and if you have any questions, I am Happy To Assist!

    I spent 6+ Years with this Debilitating Condition and was Ignored by the Medical Community. Until March 2015 when I traveled 560 Miles to a Urologist that USED HIS EARS TO LISTEN 😂

    HAPPY DAYS!!!! 3 Weeks after he Correctly Diagnosed My Kidney was Dropping On To My Hip, I was In Surgery and On the Road To Recovery!!

  • Posted

    have recently started on the same path that you described. I  was on vacation and developed left flank pain.  I assumed that I pulled muscle and went to the ER and was given a pain med and a muscle relaxer.  the pain cotinued to get wrse adn I ended up  in the ER on morphine.  They did a CAT scan which was negative and said that it was a pulled muscle.  I came home and had no change in the pain and went to my primary MD who referred me to an orthopedic MD who did exrays and MRI of my spine and everything was negative - he sent me back to my primary MD who ordered more blood work - all negative.  It has been weeks and I'm still taking the pain and muscles relaxer pills.  I go back tomorrow. I will ask her to do kidney testing and also research nephroptosis.  I need to get to the bottom of this and end the pain and get back to work.
    • Posted

      Hi,

      Sorry to hear about all your pain. I went through a very similar senario also. Very long story... I struggled on and off for over 4 years of right flank pain. I went to the doctors where numerous tests were done showing nothing. Then my primary sent me to a G.I. who ruled out anything related to that. So then back to the primary I went who then said it has to be muscle skeletal so off I went to the orthopedic for physical therapy etc. etc. Then I ended up in the ER for nausea, pain and swelling in my abdomen. Cat scan and ultrasound revealed severe hydronephrosis of my right kidney and at that point I only had 13% function left in it. If it was caught earlier I wouldn't have lost my kidney. The nephrologist mentioned to me it wasn't a stone that caused it but rather a build of scar tissue that eventually blocked my urinary tube at the entrance to my kidney. When I initually started having pain in my side I would get these attacks that lasted an hour or so and then go way and would return a week or two later and sometimes not for months.. It was the weirdest thing but I guess that's why it was missed. The pain felt like a "stitch" in my side. I use to be a runner and would sometimes get that stitch in my side running .. It felt just like that. My blood work and urine tests for my kidney never showed anything until that day I went to the ER 4 years later. So my advice is keep trying to find out the cause... Something has to be causing your pain . Wish you all the best!

    • Posted

      Thank you for sharing your story.  I'll definitely pererver until  I have an answer as to what is causing it.  Your description of the "stitch" that you felt is similar to what I feel at times.  A constant ache wiht sharper pains at different times.  
    • Posted

      Andreas story Mirrors Mine As well!! I Cried while reading it because I Know What She Went Through ... it breaks my heart that more Dr's are Not educated about Dropping Kidney and HOW COMMON It Is! The Pain is Unlike Anything I've ever felt and Unforgiving! I never took the pain medicines after surgery or giving birth ... Because I wanted to know what was going on with my body. But the Kidney Pain was a Whole New Beast!! And if I had not received the accurate diagnosis and treatment when I did, I would have lost my kidney as well... PRAYERS FOR BOTH OF YOU NiNjas!!! 😉
  • Posted

    Look into the possibility that you may have gallstones.
  • Posted

    Did you ever figure out what's wrong? I'm currently having the same issues. I've been to six doctors and plenty of tests and so far nothing has came back. They thought it was kidney stones and I did a cat scan... Nothing showed up.., I've been tested to UTI three times and nothing has shown up either. I'm in a lot of pain! Please let me know if anything came of this!

    • Posted

      I was told that I'm vitamin D deficient. So now I'm taking 10000 of vitamin D daily. I was also told my parathyroid is over active. I'm to have lots of lemon in my water. I go back in Sept to see if there is any changes. I must say I'm not in as much pain, but I still hurt here and there.

  • Posted

    I have this exact problem been hospital kidney showed abnormal everything same as you but on the right side pain is so bad but no one understands why and I'm only 19 and people think I'm putting it on did you get an explanation?

  • Posted

    Wow !!!! It's like I wrote that. I have all the same symptoms and have been on all the same meds but I am still in pain. Going on week 4 and my insurance will not cover more testing to confirm where and why I have this pain. You are correct the meds dont work except to take my pain from a 9 to a 6 or so. I have had three doctors and all three say something different. Kidney issue, Diverticulosis and even the onset of Shingles. I am so frustrated and getting more fatiged and depressed with not being able to get rid of this pain. I can barely make it through a work day. Just wearing clothes hurts. I wish you good luck and hope that you find relief but more importantly a dignosis. I wish that for me too. Lori

  • Posted

    Hi I had severe pain left flank down left leg groin back up stomach pain upper back pain started shaking from the pain was freezing sitting in stupid hospital for 14 hours waiting they gave shot of pain sent home come back do ultrasound 8 hours later I have gallstones I didn't know about ok thank you BUT that's your right side I have no pain there . Went to clinic ran me thru all tests cat scan ultrasound EKG blood urine all organs were normal no stones BUT my urine culture showed a strep b infection antibiotics they gave me I had a tooth pulled without being on antibiotics in July 3 weeks later I had this excruciating pain chest pain too it happened to be an old tooth I had root canal on a temp cap that had a pus pocket under the cap I had no pain as the nerves not there I correlate that to the infection . I prob will have to go back today to the clinic as my throat feels swollen like strep throat and I been around 10 people who are sneezing and have it and don't go to doctor wtf have them check for any bacterial infection in urine or blood they found it in my urine hope it helps

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