Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Flank pain only during sleep/upon waking

Every morning I wake in excrutiating pain in the lower back (kidney area) that radiates to the front of stomach.  This pain is so severe that it wakes me up and makes it difficult to take a deep breath.  I feared it was kidney's and had a battery of tests done, along with MRI's that showed nothing.  Dr. thinks it could be muscle related.  The pain seems to arise after 5-6 hours of sleep.  At first it seemed that the pain was immediately relieved once I voided of a morning, now it seems that as soon as I stand I get relief, which makes me think maybe it could be nerve compression?  The pain wakes me from sleep and gives me anxiety in the evenings before bedtime due to the fact that I know I will wake in horrible pain.  This has been going on for the last 9 years after the birth of my daughter and has progressivley gotten worse.  The doctors are stumped as to what this can be and has referred me to a chiro and recommended a nerve block. If anyone has any ideas, please advise.  Thanks!
257 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
RELIEF!!! I can't believe it!

I posted previously about my theory that artificial sweeteners are causing my kidney pain and I believe I have proven my theory.

I stopped using all artificial sweeteners and started drinking water and water only throughout the day. I also started a very light exercise regimen.

The first three days, my flank pain was still severe but better than it had been. On day four, five and six the flank pain was much more mild.

On day six, I had two cups of hot tea with artificial sweetener before bed and woke on day seven in excruciating flank pain. So, I decided I would not again do that again (I just wanted to see if I would have the severe pain again since it had been so mild for a few days if I used artificial sweetener).

The evening of day seven, I drank a liver and kidney detox tea with a spoonful of honey and woke on day eight with mild flank pain. Day nine the flank pain was almost non-existent.

The past three mornings, I have woke WITH NO FLANK PAIN!

This morning, I woke after sleeping 9 hours straight (I cannot remember the last time I slept that long straight through). I had a mild tightness in my lower back (probably from laying still for so long) but again NO FLANK PAIN.

I am so happy to experience this relief! I will continue to implement my new practice of NO artificial sweeteners and contact my doctor to discuss my working theory further.

As a diabetic, this transition will be difficult for me, but I will stick to honey or sugar for my sweeteners and just have to use them sparingly since they do raise my blood sugar levels.

I would love to hear from anyone else to see if this could possibly be what is causing their kidney pain...and if implementing this NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER regimen helps them.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have had the exact same pain for 9 years. I have done lots of research but of all places for me to hear about this was on tv. It could be really simple to diagnose. Just trying to convince my doctor that a simple “Doppler US” Could help find the issue. I believe it could be renal nutcracker syndrome. It’s rare and symptoms vary drastically.  Its where an artery is constricted, causing the pain. Like cutting of the circulation to your finger with a rubber band. I truly hope this post helps someone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think I have the answer. Amazed at how many posts are nearly my exact situation and some are exactly what I have been experiencing.

I am 66 years old, very healthy with almost never a physical problem all my live.  This has never happened before about a week ago.

Wake up after about 5 hours sleep some of the times, sharp pain in my left kidney area. After a while I usually go back to sleep, but every day when I do wake up for good, that same sharp pain. Seems to be associated with a certain turning motion of my torso. Stops immediately when I sit up, but some lingering slight dull pain in the area for 5 or 10 minutes. Then it's gone, unless I nap laying down and it does come back momentarily same as waking up in morning. And that's it for the entire day including when I lay down to sleep for the night. Recently I have been especially busy doing lifting and lots of arm movements and even squats. No kidney area pain whatsoever.

So, after reading so many of the comments I have deduced this ... some people do have a urinary or elimination problem that is causing it. This area has nothing to do with my pain.

The numerous comments I read that fit with what I just described, many of them stating they had numerous tests done by medical facilities, each came up with no diagnosis. Only guesses but no cures. Cures seemed to come naturally with little of no special diet/nutritional aids. But one post stated something about a 'floating kidney'. That has a gut feeling of truth to me for my situation.

I haven't yet searched for what that means, and I will, but it makes sense.

For whatever reason, I feel that the stiff mattress I have been sleeping on for a year, may not be giving adequate support to my 'core', when I sleep on my side, which I always do. For whatever reason, my kidney has reacted, possibly more 'floating' than is natural for it's natural position in my torso. And this stresses my left kidney, causing a nerve signal when I turn a certain way. Similar to touching a badly bruised area.

That's my take-away. I can live with it at this current level, not happily, but can tolerate the brief period of pain. But if it changes, getting worse, I will go to the doctor.

But, better yet, I'm leaving it to my good ole body to heal itself as it has almost always done for me in my 66 years. And, as many posts state, it has gone away, temporarily, for many. For me, I just intend it to heal itself and go away permanently.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Did you know that floating kidneys is actually a diagnosis a doctor can give you? The medical term for it is nephroptosis https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319473.php.  It's been a controversial diagnosis because the symptoms can also be blamed on other things (pain in the area you describe is one of them)--  but they now can do imaging and SEE it.  Have you ever considered getting the MRI to see?
Thanks, I may just do that. I would like to know, and really don't want it to continue for an extended period of time. I'll set an appointment.
Avatar universal
I have had this pain for nearly a year.  It started around March 2018, I thought I had bowel cancer!

When I went to see the Gastro DR he made me do a simple test sitting on the edge of the chair then asked me to raise my feet out front of me. He pressed on the area where the pain radiates from and diagnosed me with a compressed nerve.  

Apparently, my bowel, during the night was adding weight to the area and accentuating the pain.

Two days later I had an ultrasound to locate the nerve, then he gave me a cortisone shot into the are around the nerve.  Pain was gone that very night, cost me around $300 (Australia) plus the cost of a Colonoscopy that I did not need :(

But...what I didn't know was there was obviously two other nerves also in duress. The nerve under the bowel was the most severe so I did not, at the time, realise the other two nerves were also compressed.  They just weren't as sore at the time or the first nerve pain radiated out and I did not realise the other ones were also causing the pain. Hope that makes sense.

I have been hoping the additional areas of pain (left & right flank) would go but it hasn't so I have been saving my pennies to have the other two treated very soon.  

Where did the pain come from? My theory is:
I am pretty trim and considerably fit.  I recently started putting on belly fat after the death of my mother, I also stopped exercising like I used to.  I believe the fat and lax muscles are contributing factors to the compression of the nerves.  As the body relaxes the belly compresses (gravity & full bladders) and the weight sinks onto the nerve.  I am not a DR but that is my 2c guess.

My back is fine I have pain only on sleeping for 4hrs (used to be after 7), I have no injuries and my kids (natural birth) are 14 & 17. I sleep on my sides for as long as I can then try and sleep on my bad, but the pain still persists.
In the mean time I am going to see a Physical Therapist and doing stretches.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
OMG! I have the SAME exact issue! My flank pain is horrible ever since I delivered by last child. Now 8 years! I've been living on NSADs to help manage my pain but of course they are dangerous. I did Chiro, Accupunture and physical therapy. Nothing worked. I did ultersounds and MRI and Catscan and all our normal. Doctor's have been useless and don't really know what's wrong with me!! I'm left alone to suffer with this pain :(
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I think weather modification causes it: Nexrad radar pulses. Ifeel it before almost every storm.
Avatar universal
Hi, I’ve been googling to try and see what my pain could be coming from and to see if anyone else has had the same thing and I came across your story. I feel the same exact way you do. I’ve have this pain since November 2017 and we still can’t figure out what it can be. I went to the emergency room because I thought it was my kidneys but we did a ct scan and it came out good they told me it was muscle
related so I then went to a chiropractor for three months and that made it worse so my doctor told me to stop going and then prescribed me a steroid for a month and that helped but as soon as I finished taking them the pain came right back. But my pain is only when I lay on my sides and when I wake up it’s just the worse pain ever but goes away after a while. I’ve had x rays and two mri’s so far and everything came back good. So now I’m seeing a pain doctor and we got some blood work done and he said my vitamin d was low and that it could be that causing my pain. But I was wondering how are you feeling now and are you still in pain? What have your doctors told you so far??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a very similar pain and after prayer, two things helped me a great deal.  First, a physical therapist told me to use arch supports during athletic activities because i have low arches, she recommended Super Feet(green). Second, i do stretch that is kind of like a squat but you are on your back with your feet flat against the wall. From this position try to spread your bent knees apart as far as you can while keeping the feet flat. Your hips should not be more than 12-18 inches from the wall.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I should add to my note above that you should hold the stretch for at least two minutes.
Avatar universal
Hi there
Have you had any answers to what's causing this. I'm going through exactly the same thing and just don't know what to do anymore.
Just want a decent nights sleep.
Helpful - 0
4 Comments
Literally ever since having my first baby on and off I've had this problem. Had my second child and still on and off problem. More recently last year it's been awful with aching in my lower back and radiating aching pain under my ribs. I'm fine all day it's literally after laying down the aching is waking me up during the night.
It's fine once I'm up and I've had a wee. Due to have an ultrasound on Friday this week and some blood tests, guess it's a start.
I've been seeing a sports physio last few years on and off and never sorted my pain. Anyone who has any feed back would be very grateful.
Helen
Hi have had any answers to this problem yet I’m having exactly the same symptoms atm
Thanks Luke
Sent by MulandreAm less than a minute
Hi, I am reading your post from 2007 and what you’re describing is exactly what I’m feeling .  I have been to neurologist thinking it was nerves in my back and he tried some spinal block shots but now right flank pain wakes me up at night , I thought it was lower back pain radiating to my flank but he was concerned and told me to go to ER during next episode ,  I did this today and now was sent to a urologist .  I am exhausted from pain and not sleeping at night .  This started after having my second c section.  Just wondering if anyone figured out why this happens yet as the doctors are starting to get stumped .  
I actually did have an mri scan. I have been told the pain in my back is wear and tear. I also have a buldge, so am guessing that's between my spine in my lower back. I was told I have loss of signal particularly in my left side lower back too and slightly on right. It's crazy how this can cause such bad sleep and pain. To be honest I've been told exercise, Pilates, pain killers and maybe a physio are the only options... I've been doing lots of exercise and on slimming world and actually feeling better and now it seems to come and go so I haven't always got the awful lower pain so am actually getting some better sleep some times now. An mri is the best thing to have done to know what is going on. Hope you all manage to get some answers.
Avatar universal
I wake up about 3:30 with burning pain in the left side of my kidneys, I void and go back to bed but it doesn't help the pain. I hav found that sleeping on my right side helps to relieve the pain. I don't know what is causing this but it had gone away for a long time and now it is back. I believe it is something I my diet. Now to figure out what!  Doctors don't know what to do to help either. I've tried.  Good luck figuring out your solution.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Parasites may be the cause... the thing is it's hard for doctors to test for them, as the parasites may be dormant, and therefore, undetectable. Try a cleanse.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I read that it might be a floating kidney, sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute allows the kidney to settle to the upright position. no more sharp pain, I still know that I have the kidney, But am enjoying the loss of the sharp pains in the first few minutes of standing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Significant relief for me. Stop Lactose. Ive had this main issue for 10-15 years. Brutal flank pain only after sleeping, as early as 3-4 hours of sleep before onset. By 5-6 hours impossible to continue. Getting up to pee seems to help but realistically it does very little once U lay down again. Also urinate frequently during the night. As soon as i get up to start the day, it disappears. AFTER STOPPING MILK n milk products completely, a few years ago, I now get 7 hours before onset, and can easily continue to 8. And I urinate far less during night, 0-1 times. Still have the issue but what a huge difference. Stopping cows milk products also instantly cleared my adult acne (at 37 years old). Which was quite annoying too.  My only issue now is if Im sick n need to lay down a lot or want to watch tv in bed. Laying down awake seems to speed up onset considerably.  I do like the kidney pooling theory, buts its likely some of us have different triggers. Hope the milk idea offers some relief to others.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
To clarify, when I stopped milk it helped within a few days. I did that 3 years ago and have slept much better ever since
Avatar universal
I just answered but it seems to have disappeared..
34 male. Same problem for years. 3:30 every body morning!
I noticed recently though that the pain was not coming on so bad in the mornings where I went to bed exhausted and dehydrated from a full on active day.
Might be because of the exercise or the dehydration (only mild).
My plan now is to stop all liquid from an hour before bed and pee before bed too.
Fingers crossed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The is a lot of contributions to this pain, drinking sugary drink like coke, sleeping straight after eating, not enough water consumed, but the main reason is over being weight , when you lay down the belly fat puts a lot of pressure on your kidneys , it is painful though it wears off when you get up
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear god has anyone gotten a firm answer yet? I have been waking up at 3:30am everyday with low back kidney pain that feels like back labor coming on almost... Not helped by standing up or peeing or pooping or the magnesium I take every day.

I did eat a lot of blueberries with Spirulina yesterday before bed, and I have noticed fruit being mentioned a few times. Also I ate much more meat than usual yesterday since it is a holiday and I am at family's house.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ANSWER IS HERE. this is so interesting! i had the same case as someone down below and the doctor did x-rays and told me the same exact thing! he said i had a collection of bad poop in there and gave me miralax. this was about a year ago, now im having the same problem although i just used the bathroom earlier today.

I noticed this pain comes from laying down too much as if it puts pressure on the kidneys since theyre literally out of the body with no protection, so may be that contributes to it, in other words, it could be the combination of prolonged laying plus a bad mattress. I have not had this pain once during school days because i only sleep 5-7 hrs so that makes a lot of sense. so its a mix of constipation and constant pressure on a bad surface.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is the first post I found that describes the exact symptoms I've been having for more than half my life, (31 year old male). Tell your idiot doctor that he can rule out muscle loss due to pregnancy! Clearly that's not the case, since guys don't get pregnant. It is indeed frustrating, because no MD can seem to figure this out. Good luck all, cheers.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Drink alot more water, cut out soda pop and caffeine
Avatar universal
VL7
I'm like you - the pain doesn't disappear quickly from getting up - it hangs around and slowly fades out. Maybe it's from snacking during the evening and eating fruit (which I know isn't a good time of day to be eating fruit). Not sure if it's dietary or whether it's functional like 'obstructive uropathy' though if it's the latter and not seen to promptly it may exacerbate problems in the future.

I too was tested with blood and urine and was given the 'all clear.' My pain suggests otherwise. Pain like this isn't normal.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I will also try magnesium but at the moment I get allot of magnesium in all the wholesome food I eat so I dont think thats an issue
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Funny thing about the artificial sugars...

I have NEVER had pain like this until I started drinking vitamin water ZERO with artificial sweeteners! And I have also NEVER had artificial sweeteners before either

So now I am going to cut out the artificial stuff and see what happens. I will also try the sloping method "if" the pain doesn't go away after the artificial sweetener removal.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Relieved I found this forum! I have suffered from back pain for a long time now, but last year around May I developed a pain on my right hand side waist. It always seems to come on after sleeping for a few hours and then persists throughout the night and for a while when I wake up. I have tried adjusting my sleeping position multiple times but it hasn't helped. Sometimes the pain (though it becomes more of an ache in the day) will persist through the day which is what I'm currently experiencing. I've noticed also that I have a tendency to get more bloated now, even when I haven't eaten. I did wonder if it had anything to do with my right ovary being removed as roughly after that is when the pain started. It just seems strange though as it is so much higher up. Unfortunately I live in Cambodia at present and the medical expertise here is non-existent; Bangkok is incredibly expensive so I am trying to sort out another solution before flying home to England in July. It's very blatant that my right side feels different to my left. Occasional bouts of weakness and bowel problems happen also so I'm not sure if anything is related.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have the exact type of pain as what you described. It comes on after sleeping for a few hours and hurts so badly that I can barely turn to the other side. After I am up and moving around for a while, it lessens to an ache and then mostly goes away. I was afraid that it was something kidney related and I have not been to the doctor yet. I was wondering if you have been home yet and been evaluated.
Avatar universal
Have the same problem as most....but I read all the comments yesterday and noticed three or four cases where magnesium supplements fixed the problem so yesterday I bought some. Well I'm laying in bed right now pain free. Can't believe it. So happy!!! Go buy some magnesium vitamins people.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a very simillar problem for 5-7 years now. I've been to handfull of doctors who coundnt find a cause. Until i went to neuroligist. Apparently one of my vertibree is slightly moved which causes uneven musceles and maybe a blicked nerve... I have started electrostymation for my spine myscles and it seems to be getting better.. Fingers crossed!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel exactly as you do.  I am so afraid to go to bed at night.  I don't know what the problem is, but I am relieved to find that it may not be fatal as many others have experienced the same problem for years.
I, too, have gone to the doctor, had an MRI, and been told that nothing seems to be amiss.  After reading these posts I'm going to rush out and get some magnesium tablets, just in case they may help.
I don't agree with the "pooling" theory, as I get up at least six times a night to relieve myself (I take a water pill and would rather pee at night than throughout the day) therefore I don't collect urine in my bladder.  I was grossly overweight and lost 65 pounds over a period of two years.  During that time I ate little or no carbohydrates, ate no sugar and drank at least 80 ounces of water every day.  I do not drink coffee but I do like zero cola. During the two year period I did not suffer from the side pain, which feels like waking up with a butcher knife stuck in my right side below my rib cage.  The initial pain goes away after a while upon standing and moving around, but there is always a hint of it lurking in there somewhere.
I have very little stress in my life, I am 74 years old, own my home, pay my bills and have no debt.  I have family, friends and canine companionship.  I have many interests and hobbies and keep my mind alert.  I teach music and dance and keep my mind alert writing books making teaching videos.  I am not a wimp or hypochondriac and I have a rather high pain threshold,  But this HURTS.  It was really the only stress I am having right now, and reading this blog has helped alleviate that stress because I now know I am not crazy and more importantly I am not alone.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Urology Community

Top Urology Answerers
Avatar universal
Southwest , MI
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.