PAIN IN THE BACK

[tebza]

HI MY NAME IS TEBOGO, A MONTH AGO I STARTED EXPERIENCING PAINS ON MY LOWER BACK AT THE LEVEL OF MY KIDNEYS AND HAD A URINARY TRACT INFECTION TREATED BUT NOW THE PAINS ARE BACK AND MY URINE HAS BLOOD AND A BURNING SENSATION
I WENT TO SEE MY GP AND HE DID AN X-RAY AND TOLD ME MY KIDNEY IS SWOLLEN.I ALSO HAVE RECURRING ABDOMINAL PAINS AND CAN'T HOLD URINE FOR LONG.DO I HAVE A KIDNEY DISEASE AND AM I AT A RISK OF HAVING RENAL FAILURE?

[rosh2554]

Sorry about your situation Tebeza...However, don you think that opting for a more sophisticated tests similar to what the doc said is necessary in this regard. Ultrasound can give you a more precise knowledge of what to expect from your health!!!

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, probably it is hydronephrosis either due to some obstruction (small stone) at junction of ureter and bladder or pyelonephritis which is kidney infection.

Please get ultrasound KUB, blood urea, creatinine and urine examination to find the cause. Do you get fever too?

Kidneys gets swollen mainly due to back pressure changes due to obstruction caused either by stone or some growth at junction of ureter and bladder, in case ultrasound is normal, next step is to go for cystoscopy in which bladder is visualized for some inflammation or growth.

[briannentx]

I'm having problems also with kidney infections that have been recurrent I had two really bad ones back to back. The drugs that they gave me caused Achilles tendinitis luckily mine didnt rupture but that's been a few mo.. ago and I still have the lump on my tendon and I have a job on my feet so its causing me to miss work.. Be careful of the medications that they will give you because it seems that the levaquin and the cipro are the types of drugs that caused this problem..Now I have another infection and am going to the hospital tomorrow..They are going to have to use different meds this time that wont cause any probs.. Sounds like you had a really bad infection and yes it can cause your kidney to swell with a bad enough infection.. Make sure that you take all the meds the full days and I would go back and have it checked to make sure its completely gone that way you may feel better but some infections still there and you could go another round and knock it out completely..Yes it's scary because I have been scared about mine since I had never had a problem my whole life until now and i'm 36 now.. Take care get well Bri :o)

[tebza]

The thing is i'm scared and this thing is affecting my schoolwork.it's difficult sometimes to concentrate.thank u for the advice and for relaxing my mind and also for the support.

[SuziB]

Tebogo. I'm so sorry that you are having these problems. It sounds like you have had a bladder infection which has gone up into your kidney and is causing your pain. It may be that you weren't taking antibiotics for long enough to clear up your initial infection and it has come back. Definitely get treated again and then get your doctor to find out what is causing your symptoms to occur as urine/kidney infections aren't usual in young women. (although sometimes young women who are newly sexually active can develop urine infections) Is this the first time you have had these symptoms?  If your kidney is swollen it usually means that some urine is backing up into it from your bladder. There are many reasons for this and your doctor should be able to explain better why this is happening to you. If you have only one kidney causing you problems it is very, very unlikely that you will get renal failure. Most people who have renal failure have anatomical abnormalities in both kidneys which have caused them problems for a very long time or are diabetic. Our kidneys can take a lot of abuse before they stop working completely. I hope this helps. Please go back to your GP and make sure that your symptoms are treated and find out what has caused your kidney to become swollen. Not only will this ensure your good health but if there is a structural reason why you have developed bladder/kidney infections recently it will help you if you require further treatment.