kidney pain in the morning

Hello all, 

What I see amongst most posts here is caffeine intake associated with "mysterious" kidney pain. If pain is relieved after urinating, then it could be a high level acidity in the urine causing pain (thus leading to the citric acid theory presented earlier). Another point to consider is spinal health. There are nerves that travel from your spine to your internal organs. If the nerve associated with your kidneys is compressed, injured, bruised (etc), it can cause a kidney pain. Finally, remember the basics of medication. Every medication has side effects, even if they aren't obvious. High doses of certain medications (or even prolonged low doses) can cause kidney pain. 

Unfortunately, I'm amongst the populations who have been dismissed by physicians. I have a slightly higher than average understanding of the dynamics of healthcare delivery so I can speculate (with a relative degree of certainty) on why this occurs. First, physicians, like any other person, has an ego. They like to feel good at their job. Sometimes they dismiss patients who self diagnose themselves because they (the physician) thinks "why come to me if you can treat yourself better than I can?".  Granted, it's not the most friendly attitude, but it's present none the less. Next, remember that medicine is a science and is ultimately always based upon experimentation. When patients receive medications that work and then stop going to the physician,  the physician is left to wonder "did it work"? Follow up is always part of a treatment, begins from the moment the chief complaint is made, and ends when the physician terminates the treatment.  Thirdly, it's important to remember that sometimes the disadvantages of diagnosing or treating a condition can outweight the advantages. For example, if you have a child (or other individual with a compromised immune system) who needs treatment, certain tests can be dangerous to conduct (say a diagnostic image consisting of radioactive iodine, or a medication that causes significant side effects like tachychardia, hypertension, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, etc).

Next, with the emergency and advancement of internet technology, physicians have created a misnomer about "informed and uninformed publics". They say they expect patients to be more aware of their health, to recognize and treat minor illnesses themselves when possible, and to reduce the costs of healthcare by addressing concerns they can't "fix themselves", but conduct themselves quite condescendingly upon patients when such occurs.

Finally, it's the "medical mentality" that although people generally have a good idea that something is wrong, they aren't the best at interpreting signs and symptoms. For example, if you slice a finger to the bone with a kitchen knife, bandage it up and someone asks if you're ok, you might say "yes, I'm fine". Conversely, a physician might say "no you're not, you need stitches, cleaning, a tetanus shot and a cocktail of antibiotics to prevent any bacterial infection from setting in". 

I always recommend setting down with a physician before deciding to make him or her your primary care provider. Decide if you have the right personality for each other. It's a "consulting relationship". Your insurance is paying for him or her to provide you with medical attention. Likewise, he or she is relying upon you to provide him or her with the most accurate information  you possibly can. If you think he or she is one to dismss your thoughts and ideas, then it may be a good idea to keep "shopping". On the same hand, be realistic. You don't want to wake him/her at 3am with the sneezes and proclaim it to be a life threatening emergency unless your blowing brain cells. Get a list of expectations from your "potential physician" about what he/she expects from you as a patient. Write down a list yourself. Set a "consultation" and go from there. 

Regarding kidney pain...if your physician is ignoring the request for care, at least ask why, and then ask for a referral to a urologist. In many instances, physicians aren't equipped to provide certain tests. In other instances, insurance may omit payment due to "non medical necessity". By the physician issuing a referral to a urologist, he/she is saving themselves a ton of work by a) referring you to a specialist based on medical need and b) saving you the frustration of avoidance. 

Good luck all. Feel free to post if anyone receives a definitive DX.

Hmm, I just came here today to check this problem out, and in medical tests i'm always perfect, except for low vitamin d. Will try that. Cheers.

Yes. I have had kidney stones twice. Each time before the infection kicks in I get really bad pain in fingers and toes (like an early warning pain). Then kidney infection kicks in... Last infection was a result of a stone getting stuck/lodged in kidney... 7 weeks of kidney infection kills all energy. Ever since operation to cut out stone I get back pain in the morning (14 months since op). I drink loads 4-5 L per day, but mornings still bad.

I have the same problems. My doctor tested me for overproduction of Myoglobin and turns out, that's it. I'm a jiu jitsu guy who trains 6 days a week, so my body was reacting to the trauma and my cardiac and skeletal muscle was overproducing this chemical, which can intoxicate your kidneys. It's common after a car accident or a crushing accident. Now it comes and goes, but just something else I have to manage.

Hundreds of people having this problem but only a handful bothering to report back after the doctor's visit?

All I see are peoples life stories and theories on what it might be. What a waste of time.

I suffer from kidney/flank pains and have had about 3 or 4 water infections over the past year. I cannot pinpoint the cause and neither can the doctor. Ive tried drinking plenty of water, cranberry juice, vit D,using perfume-free soaps etc etc. Nothing seems to help : (  Im amazed at how many people have the same issues. I dont know if this could cause it but does anyone live in an area where the water supply is really hard? We constantly get limescale build up on our taps and kettle and I was wondering if this might have something to do with it? Although Im probably clutching at straws! If anybody finds the answer pleeease let me know!

I have been taking vitamin D3 (and multi vitamin)--and drink at least 2 cups of cafe bustelo coffee everyday. I'm going to cut out vitamin D3 and see if pain subsides.

I have had this problem for about two year on and off, I am sure it started due to me using lecithin to reduce my cholestral, I think it damage them, either that or they were damage due to an unknown virus I had which left me with other problems.

The trouble is pain starts during night and goes soon after I get out of bed, I used to be quite active but this caused tightness in the kidness after about half an hours activity, I had an ultra sound scan but nothing showed, my own tests on urine showed possible protein in it about 30% of the time

I am 27, not overweight, haven't drank soda in almost ten years, never smoked, never been a big drinker, don't take prescriptions or over the counters, eat as much organic, grass fed, minimally processed foods as possible. I am on a gluten free diet because I have Celiac disease. I woke up with flank pain only three times over the course of two weeks. My urine looked normal, but I knew it was my kidneys. The pain did get better upon me waking and getting out of bed. But, I also have swelling in my extremities (feet, hands, legs). I went to my doctor, and she said there was microscopic amounts of blood and protein in my urine. There should never be protein in the urine. If there is, then your kidneys are damaged. Turns out I have Lupus, and it's been attacking my kidneys, and they can't detox my blood so the wastes have been building up in my blood and that's why I have swelling. Lupus nephritis makes you feel like your kidneys are hard or "going to burst". The reason it hurts when you lay down is because laying down puts pressure on the kidneys. You can develop Lupus as a teenager, and you don't have to have swelling like I did, I let the swelling go on too long because I'd read people with Celiac get inflamed joints, so I was just "sucking it up and dealing". I encourage everyone to seek out medical aid in ruling out Lupus, not a fun disease to have.

Do you have high blood pressure? My point is, I do and have unexplained kidney problems because of it. Last year I had Renal failure that they said was most likely because my BP. Wake up in the morning after a all night pissing session and OMG!! The kidney and flank pain is the worst. My brother don't give up and yes for the most part doctors are idiots, keep an eye on your blood work ( creative ) that's kidney function, my family doctor will help my watch my numbers. I know you heard this but drink lots of water and take small dose of Bayer, that will thin your blood a bit and help with inflammation, And God willing, we can get through this without thousands of dollars witch I don't have, of tests. Good luck and God bless.

Creatine damn auto correct, the numbers dictate your kidney function.

I read this thread from beginning to end and can offer some insight.

I too have that stabbing feeling in my kidneys after sleeping. I have had it for YEARS and YEARS. It goes away for months and then comes back. I noticed recently that it had gone away for the past 6 months or so. Last night I brought a new mattress pad home. It's a 4' Gel topper. Today I woke up with the worst kidney stabs ever! Normally mine go away or I can deal with the pain. Today it was so bad I had to stop surfing and was basically hunched over in pain all day.

I think a soft mattress contributes to the pain as some people mentioned before because it can not allow your body to flow properly. Who knows why, I just know it definitely affects it.

Mine doesn't go away after peeing anymore. Mine more goes away or subsides after standing and getting out of the sleeping position.

GET RID OF PAIN:
Here's how I do it, or at least get the pain to lessen. Get a crossfit ball or a lacrosse ball and roll your kidneys around on it. It hurts like hell but when you get up you will feel like a new man.

I don't know the diagnosis, but if you want a tip for the pain that Is all I got for you.

Drinking tons of water and staying hydrated aren't my issue. I drink a gallon a day. I do eat very late though. I think the soft mattress might be a bigger issue than food and water.

Ive had this pain for about a year now.   Medical tests have revealed nothing, although I haven't got a cat scan yet.  I spoke with a nature path woman who had worked testing Splenda (also known as sucralose and sucralean) She stated it inflames you kidneys.  Upon further research I read in a study that 3.5 to 7.5 % is retained in your kidneys every time you take it, moreover it can calcify your kidney.  I started reading through the ingredients in my food and saw it in multiple food items including protein supplements.  I started eleminating it from my diet and started using kidney cleansing drinks (cranberrys, dandelion tea, marshmallow root, and Magnesium orotate, and fresh parsley).  These gave me relief almost the next day.  

I'm 37 and fit but struggle to drink enough water.  I drink alot of caffeine, including energy drinks because I work nights.  I"ll start trying the vitamin D to see if that helps.  I hope this helps those of you out there with this pain.  

Try getting your urine cultured, not just analyzed. I had a UA, it was fine, then they cultured it, had a weird infecting that needed a specific antibiotic.

Exactly !!! I've suffered for a couple months with belly n back pain !! They ck'd gall bladder, appendix and gave Me a couple colonoscopy's ! Finally after another visit to ER turns out I had a severe bladder and kidney infection !! Simple urine test !! Can't tell Me they didn't know rt off !!