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What Causes Severe Pain In Kidney Area On Left And Cloudy Urine?
SYMPTOMS:
1. Amber colored cloudy urine that smells like an outhouse x4 months.
2. Feeling of tightness in area of left kidney x4 days.
3. Sharp stabbing pain in area of left kidney with coughing, sneezing, reaching with left arm across body, etc x4 days.
4. Look and feel like I have gained 20 pounds but scale says there has been no weight gain x4 days.
SOCIAL HISTORY: I am a 48-year-old female who stands 5’2” and weighs 120 pounds. I have weighed 120 pounds for as long as I can remember. I am perimenopausal confirmed by lab tests a year ago and possibly have hit menopause as I have not had a period in over two months. I take Adderall twice a day for ADHD. I take many vitamins and minerals. I work at home sitting at the computer 8-12 hours a day. I wear very loose cloths when working to prevent circulation problems. I am a social drinker and may have one shot and two beers every three months when I meet friends for drinks. I am a smoker and smoke a pack of cigarettes per day.
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Had kidney infection in March of this year (confirmed with UA), took Bactrim and pain went away, but continued to have dark cloudy urine. Drinking tons of water and cranberry juice makes urine almost look like water but almost has a greenish tint to it. On July 5 started Bactrim (did not see doctor, called prescription in) again for a UTI (no pain in kidneys) and had an allergic reaction to the Bactrim on July 8. Started taking Medrol Dosepak and completed that on July 13. On July 19, started having muscle spasms from my neck, down left side of back to hip, wrapped around left side toward front but not into the abdomen. I have had muscle spasm for three months from my scapula on the left side up and into shoulder, arm and clavicle due to a shoulder injury three months ago, but never down into the hip until this past Tuesday. All muscle spasms are gone today with the exception of what I thought was muscle spasm in the kidney area. I discovered this evening that if I knock on my ribs with my knuckles over the kidney area, it is very painful. Have sharp stabbing pain in the kidney area with sneezing, coughing, reaching, quick jerking movement, etc, and have noticed this since Tuesday. I look like I have gained 20 pounds and my clothes do not fit, but have not gained any weight according to the scale. This has been within the last few days also.
OTHER SYMPTOMS: Not sure these are related symptoms, but about a week ago I started getting a feeling of an air bubble the size of a nickle in my chest right between my breast slightly to the right that was constant and lasted all day (not painful, just irritating). Started taking OTC Prilosec and it seems to be starting to work. Have had symptoms of belching, feel bloated and fat, urine is still not normal since completing the steroids. Do not believe I have been running a fever, but will start checking that.
I am one of those people that does not pay attention to pain unless it is severe and then I start really paying attention. I am a little worried and would feel better even if you told me it is something serious. Just not knowing is what drives me crazy. I plan on calling my doctor on Monday and making an appointment, but wondering if I need to do something sooner. I do not feel like I am dying. As long as I do not sneeze, cough, etc, I do not have sharp stabbing pain, just a little feeling of tightness in the kidney area.
Thank you – Maggie
1. Amber colored cloudy urine that smells like an outhouse x4 months.
2. Feeling of tightness in area of left kidney x4 days.
3. Sharp stabbing pain in area of left kidney with coughing, sneezing, reaching with left arm across body, etc x4 days.
4. Look and feel like I have gained 20 pounds but scale says there has been no weight gain x4 days.
SOCIAL HISTORY: I am a 48-year-old female who stands 5’2” and weighs 120 pounds. I have weighed 120 pounds for as long as I can remember. I am perimenopausal confirmed by lab tests a year ago and possibly have hit menopause as I have not had a period in over two months. I take Adderall twice a day for ADHD. I take many vitamins and minerals. I work at home sitting at the computer 8-12 hours a day. I wear very loose cloths when working to prevent circulation problems. I am a social drinker and may have one shot and two beers every three months when I meet friends for drinks. I am a smoker and smoke a pack of cigarettes per day.
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Had kidney infection in March of this year (confirmed with UA), took Bactrim and pain went away, but continued to have dark cloudy urine. Drinking tons of water and cranberry juice makes urine almost look like water but almost has a greenish tint to it. On July 5 started Bactrim (did not see doctor, called prescription in) again for a UTI (no pain in kidneys) and had an allergic reaction to the Bactrim on July 8. Started taking Medrol Dosepak and completed that on July 13. On July 19, started having muscle spasms from my neck, down left side of back to hip, wrapped around left side toward front but not into the abdomen. I have had muscle spasm for three months from my scapula on the left side up and into shoulder, arm and clavicle due to a shoulder injury three months ago, but never down into the hip until this past Tuesday. All muscle spasms are gone today with the exception of what I thought was muscle spasm in the kidney area. I discovered this evening that if I knock on my ribs with my knuckles over the kidney area, it is very painful. Have sharp stabbing pain in the kidney area with sneezing, coughing, reaching, quick jerking movement, etc, and have noticed this since Tuesday. I look like I have gained 20 pounds and my clothes do not fit, but have not gained any weight according to the scale. This has been within the last few days also.
OTHER SYMPTOMS: Not sure these are related symptoms, but about a week ago I started getting a feeling of an air bubble the size of a nickle in my chest right between my breast slightly to the right that was constant and lasted all day (not painful, just irritating). Started taking OTC Prilosec and it seems to be starting to work. Have had symptoms of belching, feel bloated and fat, urine is still not normal since completing the steroids. Do not believe I have been running a fever, but will start checking that.
I am one of those people that does not pay attention to pain unless it is severe and then I start really paying attention. I am a little worried and would feel better even if you told me it is something serious. Just not knowing is what drives me crazy. I plan on calling my doctor on Monday and making an appointment, but wondering if I need to do something sooner. I do not feel like I am dying. As long as I do not sneeze, cough, etc, I do not have sharp stabbing pain, just a little feeling of tightness in the kidney area.
Thank you – Maggie
Mon, 7 Aug 2017
Dear Patient,
your symptoms are very likely related with an upper urinary tract infection. You reported that antibiotic courses were done previously with benefit, confirm the underlying etiology. However, symptoms are back and urines are still brownish. In this case, I would do first an ultrasound of the kidneys, since a very common cause of relapse of UTI is one or more stones in the pelvis. This is caused by the ability of bacteria of hiding in the irregular surface of stones, forming on it a biofilm that cannot be infiltrated by antibiotics. Meanwhile, you can try with ciprofloxacin, 750 mg day for 10 days (if you do not have contraindications on it). This is very active against E Coli, the commonest pathogen that causes UTI. let me know.
your symptoms are very likely related with an upper urinary tract infection. You reported that antibiotic courses were done previously with benefit, confirm the underlying etiology. However, symptoms are back and urines are still brownish. In this case, I would do first an ultrasound of the kidneys, since a very common cause of relapse of UTI is one or more stones in the pelvis. This is caused by the ability of bacteria of hiding in the irregular surface of stones, forming on it a biofilm that cannot be infiltrated by antibiotics. Meanwhile, you can try with ciprofloxacin, 750 mg day for 10 days (if you do not have contraindications on it). This is very active against E Coli, the commonest pathogen that causes UTI. let me know.
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