Flank pain only during sleep/upon waking

[SJMCRAE]

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!

[BreeyTC]

I also have had flank pain that wakes me  3 to 4 hrs after going to sleep for about a year off & on and has increased to nightly for the last month.  It goes away after I've been up and about for an hour or so with only lingering back discomfort, but not the excruciating flank pain.

I also began with flutters in my heart about a year ago that changed to a palpitation like getting slapped in the chest 4 mos after the flutters started.  No one can tell me what is going on with my heart (neg Ultrasound, Stress test, EKC, 24 hr monitor) other than stress on my job.  I quit my job 4 days ago.  I'm wondering if my symptoms between my kidneys and heart are related in some way.  

I'm a 50 yr old female.  I do not smoke, do not drink sodas, use Stevia in my decaff coffee (will try to go w/o).  I've had my appendix removed, complete hysterectomy, hypothyroid, frequent UTI's, and was recently put on meds for high BP & to regulate the Palpitations----I'm still having the palps..

I'm thinking that what may be going on is when I lay down to go to sleep, that my urine refluxes or my ureters get pinched off by pressure (highly unlikely since it's both kidneys) or possibly the blood flow gets decreased by pressure which may also explain my elevated BP.  Sleeping on my stomach with my chest propped up on top of two pillows with my pelvis not on the pillows is about the only way I get any relief (not the best position for my neck), but when I get into this position, I'm already in such excruciating pain that it takes a long time to go away.  When sleeping on my sides I use a pillow between my knees but it doesn't matter if I sleep on my sides or my back--I am guaranteed to wake up w/ excruciating flank pain.  I have called my Dr & asked if the blood flow or ureters getting compressed could be the problem.  I have had a negative CT Abd/pelvis w/ contrast, negative urinalysis, normal labs, & nothing to explain the cause of my symptoms.  I have an MRI for my lumbar spine, Tilt table test, & a sleep study scheduled as well.  

It sounds like I should try a wedge to sleep at an incline, since some have gotten some relief by using one & it may help if something is getting compressed when I lay down to go to sleep.

[KKL1977]

How did they discover them for you? I had an ultrasound and they said it looked normal. I had a CT and they say the small sand like stones. I booked another appointment with a different urologist in another city but I have to wait till February to see him. I just want to get that second opinion just to be sure.

[mmummy]

I have the same problems, post baby and for the last7 years now. I had a slight prolaps as a result of childbirth and i read that might be the cause. About to se the doctor next week. Good luck to you all.

[StevenMH]

I have had this problem for about a year now. And it comes and goes. Ill have it for months then it will go away for months. I had an ultrasound on my kidneys and one is enlarged. And has a 6mm cyst on it. Its clear and not anything to worry about. I started trying different things and have had some success. I went through a couple months where I would drink at least a half gallon of water a day. If not more. I did that for a while and the pain went away. I think it has more to do with my back then my kidney. When my back hurts my flank also hurts. But the back pain comes first, then comes the flank pain while I sleep. I have been getting dehydrated for the past couple weeks from being sick and now everything has come back. I will be going back to my usual to treat this. Which is drink over a half gallon water during the day, drink very little fluids after 7pm, take 4 advil  at bed time. (Im 6'4 230lbs) Last time I did this I felt better after about 2 weeks.

[Marcia75]

I have the same pain and I was told I have interstitial cystitis and now having surgery sounds like you need to go to a new Urologist.

[KKL1977]

Pain is the same for me, 5 months straight now. My ultrasound looked clear but my CT showed crystals/sand like stones in my left kidney but no blockage. They mentioned the possibility of an Anderson Carr kidney that produces these stones all the time and my body maybe passing them all the time. I continually test positive for microscopic traces of blood in my urine and I have been getting repeated UTIs :( GP continues to prescribe antibiotics for the UTI and pain meds. I finally got in to see a urologist thinking he can help me but he looked at my CT and said everything looks normal. I said "these crystals are normal?" He said yes, they shouldn't be causing the pain I described. He said if it was my kidneys the pain wouldn't subside. I asked about things getting crushed or getting too much pressure while I lay down and he said impossible. I asked if I do in fact have Anderson Carr kidneys would they cause me pain and he said no. I asked if having blood in my urine and continual UTIs is normal and he said yes. I'm giving up