Atrophic Kidney?

[Shannona]

4 years ago I was rushed to the ER with severe abdominal pain in my left side. An ultrasound and an MRI were performed. The cause for the pain was never found, but the MRI did pick up that my left kidney is severely atrophic and barely functioning. I was referred to a urologist. The urologist performed a test where I was injected with dye and another MRI/X-ray was performed. He confirmed that my left kidney was indeed severely atrophic but that my right kidney was functioning well enough to make up for the lack of function in the left. He did not perform any other tests and wasn't able to pinpoint the cause. He suggested that it may be congenital, though I had never heard this from any of my other doctors growing up, even though I did suffer numerous bladder infections and wet the bed until my teenage years. He advised me "not to get into a car accident" but other than that had no other answers for me and asked me to return in one year. 4 years have gone by and with no insurance I have not been back. My question is this, could this just be something congenital and nothing to worry about, or is it important that I continue to seek a reason as to why my left kidney is so atrophic?

[babaca]

hi im regina..10 years ago i had the some  thing happen to me..now 8 months i had a kidney transplant..go looking for a doctor because soon u get help is better..good luck to u

[JenJen1973]

Hi.  I have the same thing.  My right kidney is atrophic and does not function at all, but my left does the work of both.  In fact, it is slightly enlarged to make up for the difference, which is perfectly normal, according the the nephrologist.  I take an ace inhibitor (low dose) to help keep the kidney from having to work so hard.  I've had multiple doctors and specialists recommend the same.  I'm like you, though.  I'm not convinced that it's congenital, but that's what the doc assumes.  I aldo had lots of kidney infections as a child.  I am concerned because my bp is increasing now and continues to be high despite my low dose ace inhibitor.  I am concerned that there really was a cause for the atrophic right kidney, and what if the same thing is happening to my left causing my bp to go up?  I'm having a renal ultrasound and lab work done this week, but is that the right test?  My family doctor is the one who ordered the test.  Any updates or changes in your situation?  Any other information you can provide?  Thanks, and I hope all is well with you.

[sasseegrl]

hi, I was just informed last week that my niece has one underdeveloped kidney (severely) and one overdeveloped kidney. I understand that the underdeveloped kidney has more than likely caused the other kidney to work harder and thus the reason it is over developed. However, I was wondering what might cause this. She had some blood work done today and has another sonogram scheduled for Wednesday. We have no history in our family of kidney problems other than kidney stones (my two brothers get them), so I was wondering what may cause this type of issue. She has no symptoms and doesn't frequently have UTI's, they actually found it by chance (she went in for a sonogram for a mass in her stomach, but dissipated before the sono, mother figured she would have it done to just to be sure. Everything I look up is usually found at birth because there are other symptoms, she is 12 with no symptoms does anyone have any idea where I can look to learn more detail about this type of thing and what causes it. I am so worried I have to do something and  research is usually my thing. :)