Question
Hello,
I was not sure which expert to ask about this, but I wanted to get a variety of opinions so I'd be very interested in your thoughts.
I have a doctor's appt. next week concerning this issue but I am anxious, and just wondered if I could get some thoughts on where this might go. I am a 40 year old female. For about the past 2 months, I have had odd sensations on my left side/flank area.  I kept assuming it was a muscle issue of some kind, but it seems no better and now I am getting suspicious. This is not outright pain, it is more like a pressure or tight band-like feeling.  When I am up and moving around, I don't notice it at all.  I have done exersize, housework, etc. all with no symptoms from this. It happens when I sit down (leaning back against something only) or when I lie flat on my back in bed.  I've tried lying in several different places so I know it's not the mattress or anything like that.  It doesn't seem to bother me in my office chair but my chair leans back too far so I tend to lean forward (yeah, I know I need a new chair because its bad for me)  When I lie flat at night, for the first few minutes I don't notice it. It seems to hit after I have relaxed my muscles for a bit. Then I can feel it-- and sometimes I feel a "catching" or slight cramp like sensation, not really painful but annoying, in my left ribcage. I can induce this feeling by breathing deeply. It seems to "catch" when I exhale. Then later in the night if I happen to wake up, I feel the pressure/tight sensation in my flank or mid back on the left. I have no symptoms on the right side. I've gotten really concerned about this lately because of other medical issues I've had, and I hope I am just putting 2 and 2 together to make 15. About a month or so before this started, I was having heart palpitations, frequently-- almost constantly. I did not seek treatment for them because I have had episodes like this before several years ago and it eventually stops on its own. I did see a cardiologist for this awhile back and nothing was found wrong with my heart. I am also diabetic, somewhat well controlled but I stray sometimes, I admit. I am overweight. I'm not so much worried that my heart is the issue-- but I wondered if the palpitations could be connected to some kind of adrenal tumor and maybe that's why I am having the weird sensations in that area above my kidney? I read about pheochromocytomas, and although they are rare, it worried me, because over the past few years I have had sporadic incidents of sweating, flushing, palpitations, nausea, and bad headache (but then, hasn't everyone?) Then of course a friend tells me that maybe my speen is swollen and its pressing on my nerves.  Just what I needed, another thing to worry about!
Also worth mentioning is when I had a spinal mri 6 years ago I was told there were some mild degenerative changes. I didn't have any symptoms at the time so they said we'd "keep an eye on it." I have also wondered if what I am having now could be related to that. Does the fact that I only have this symptom when there is something against my back mean anything? Is it more suggestive of  a nerve/muscle/spine thing or an organ/tumor kind of thing? I know you can't diagnose me on the internet... I just wondered if you had any insights maybe that would help me when I go to get this checked. Thank you so much for your time.

Answer
you are correct jean, this site is not meant to diagnose your condition.
first: a lot of missing history; where in your spine was there degeneration?  and what sort of degeneration, or was it a herniation, bulge? also, diabetes type 1 or 2?
it seems to be more of a structural problem (possibly related to the spine or ribs), not related to your diabetes or a tumor. If you think its a kidney problem get a pelvic ultrasound. you haven't mentioned what types of diagnostic tests you've had for this problem.
Without looking at you and hearing you say its only when you lie down and lean back and take a breath in. you probably have some or one of your lower floating ribs out of place (could be from an old injury to the side or scoliosis)
If your not sure if you have scoliosis, then go see a chiropractor and an xray with you STANDING should be taken.  Whether or not its a rib head, muscle pulling, or scoliosis a chiropractor should be able to diagnose , correct and help you manage (because it sounds like a chronic problem) if need be.
if your in ny

Dr. David Kulla, DC
SynergyWellnessNY.com
new york city
chiropractor