Question Title: flank pain

I am a 50yr old obese female. When I was about 13 and thin I could feel this mass below my left ribcage area, I had an IVP then and was told it was a floating kidney. The years went by and I gained weight and now feel it more than ever. I have a dull aching pain in the flank area and also beneath my ribs, sometimes radiating down to the groin area. I had a repeat IVP and ct scan a couple of years ago due to blood in my urine, this turned out to be a stone which was successfully lithotrypsied. But neither the IVP nor CT scan mentioned a floating kidney, but it did say I had a small cyst on the left kidney. After meals the discomfort intensifes, as if there isn't enough space there for eveything. and on long plane flights I have increased pain and discomfort. I find very little information on nephroptosis/hydronephrosis, What is causing my pain and what is th treatment? Thank you very much, Sincerely Kari

Dear Kari,
I cannot tell you what the cause of your pain is without examining you and viewing your X-ray studies. I don’t think that a floating kidney is the diagnosis causing your pain. This is a very old diagnosis, one that is not made in the present day. We have better imaging modalities and functional studies to determine if the out flow of the kidney is blocked. You had an IVP which didn’t show any hydronephrosis, and a CT scan which didn’t comment on an abnormal position of the kidney.
Next, if your pain is worse after eating, have you ever considered a GI problem? Sometimes gallstones or cholecystitis can be responsible for pain on the right side after eating. Another thought would be an ulcer, or pancreatitis. I think the recent CT scan and IVP are more than adequate to determine if any renal pathology is present. You did note a cyst on the left side but these are usually painless. I would visit your family doctor and discuss your symptoms particularly the relationship to eating. He or she can then give you further recommendations.
This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).

Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:Abdominal pain

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