Kidney Pain?

[MAB22]

I take 25 mg atenolol for fast heart rate.  Blood pressure has been a little high lately.  Yesterday, I worked out pretty vigourously and had some problems at work, which I worried about (this can raise heart rate and blood pressure).  Last night got slight pain in upper abdominal quadrant (just below rib cage) and not really too much discomfort in flank (which they say indicates kidney pain).  Went to bathroom (urinate) a few times today and no discoloration to urine.  Just had physical, creatinine was 1.2, at upper end of range.  Still have slight discomfort in upper quadrant as writing this.  No fever or nausea accompanying.  Is this kidney pain, as it is worrying me.  Atenolol is mostly excreted from urine and creatinine has never been this high.  Thank you.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

How are you? Pain caused by the kidneys is typically felt in the flank area and tends to be sharp, severe and occur in waves. It is rare for the kidneys to cause dull, aching pain which is usually due to muscles, ligaments, or even vertebrae and disks in the spinal column. Musculoskeletal pain typically gets worse with movement, and is relieved by heat or massage. If the pain persists, it would be best to have this evaluated further to rule out kidney causes such as infection or stones. Try to exercise and eat low fat and low salt diet to help prevent any increase in your  blood pressure  I hope this helps. Take care and do keep us posted.

[MAB22]

My BP the other night reached 159/89, and lately has been running in 140's to 130's systolic and usually mid to high  80's diastolic.  Used to have better control of BP by exercising, but have suffered some minor muscle injuries lately, as well as some plantar fascitis, so haven't been able to exercise as much lately.  HR in the morning can be in 70's, by the afternoon is usually in the 90's.  I take 25 mg Atenolol at around 5 pm every night.  Pain is a little there tonight, however, am wondering if this is from couch I am sleeping on.  No other symptoms, no painful urinating and such.  I see my cardiologist in February.  Last time I saw him in July 2008, BP at office visit was 138/74.  He is keeping eye on BP, to see if needs to add another medication for BP.  I don't want to go on anything else, if at all possible.  Don't want to deal with hypotensive episode.  Could this be kidney pain.  Thank you.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

How are you? Are there other signs or symptoms present? Are you still experiencing the pain? Kidney pain usually is felt in the flank area, and not on the upper abdomen.  Can you elaborate on your blood pressure readings? If it persists, i would recommend that you have this evaluated further by your doctor. With your history of elevated blood pressure and tachycardia, other tests such as ECG and blood tests may be done to  rule out cardiac and gastrointestinal causes.

Take care and regards.