Anyone else have anemia related kidney pain?

[jbeany]

The lower my hemogloblin levels, the more it feels like my kidneys are on fire. with someone shoving hot pokers in them.  When my hemoglobin drops down to 6 or 7, I can't even sit back in a chair without whimpering.  The problem is under control now, thanks to iron transfusions and Aranesp.  It does act as an early warning system for my hemoglobin levels, but I think I'd prefer regular blood tests, given a choice.

I was curious though, if anyone else had a similar problem.  I had a heck of a time convincing my former doc that I was in pain.  He was insistent that kidney failure from diabetic neuropathy does not cause pain in the kidneys.  It wasn't until I nearly passed out while he was poking at me that he actually believed me and gave me a scrip for pain meds.  My present doctor has at least done more to treat the cause, and not just dosed the symptoms, but he has never heard of anyone else with a similar problem either.

Just wondering if I'm really as much of a medical mystery as they think. . . 

(I tried searching for any posts on here with a similar topic, but searching for the keywords "kidney pain" doesn't really narrow anything down!)

[jbeany]

Hmmm. . .Twenty some people have read this so far, and apparently no one else has even heard of the problem. 

Guess I am as much of an oddball as my doc thinks.

[mallory]

jbeany, I have to admit, I haven't had this happen to me.  But, when my hemoglobin was really low, I had this weird feeling in my lower back on my left side.  I can't really explain it, it was like your hand or foot feels when it "falls asleep", all tingly and sort of numb. 

I told my doctor about it and he said the same thing, this type of kidney failure doesn't cause any pain and whatever you're feeling, it isn't related to your kidneys.  When they got my hematocrit where it was supposed to be, the feeling stopped. 

Sometimes I just wish they would listen to us and not act like we don't know what we're talking about!

[jbeany]

Well, at least I'm not the only one on the planet with odd symptoms related to low hemoglobin.

Like this mess isn't enough to deal with without the doctors deciding your symptoms are psychosomatic.

[devlinswife]

Mine gets achy like a period cramp (although if you're a guy I'm sure you've never had this problem--LOL) but when my levels are good again it goes away.

[BigSky]

jbeany, I have to admit, I haven't had this happen to me.  But, when my hemoglobin was really low, I had this weird feeling in my lower back on my left side.  I can't really explain it, it was like your hand or foot feels when it "falls asleep", all tingly and sort of numb. 

I told my doctor about it and he said the same thing, this type of kidney failure doesn't cause any pain and whatever you're feeling, it isn't related to your kidneys.  When they got my hematocrit where it was supposed to be, the feeling stopped. 

Sometimes I just wish they would listen to us and not act like we don't know what we're talking about!

My levels are fine and this happens from time to time in the same exact area, its been off and on the past year.  Over a period of two to three years before that it was ok until I would lie down and then the pain was almost unbearable and the muscles would tighten.  I went through more scans and x-rays than I cared for and they could not find anything that would cause it.
 
I have no idea what causes it but the only thing close I can find on it that somewhat describes the symptoms is something called:  Paresthesia-- An abnormal sensation of the skin, such as numbness, tingling, pricking, burning, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause.

Of course that definition doesn't tell a whole lot either.

[paris]

I have times when the kidney area feels "bruised" -- like I have been punched.   Maybe I will try to track it and see if it relates to my hemoglobin levels.

[mallory]

See how great it is to have this site?  I've been having this pain for a couple of years, no doctor could explain it and they all acted like I was just imagining it.  Now I can tell them I'm not the only ESRD patient that has this problem!

[jbeany]

See how great it is to have this site?  I've been having this pain for a couple of years, no doctor could explain it and they all acted like I was just imagining it.  Now I can tell them I'm not the only ESRD patient that has this problem!

My thoughts exactly!