Missing left kidney and neuropathy

Hi, @bohdantr3, I was first diagnosed with neuropathy and subsequently the same year also diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Testing for the cause of the neuropathy lead to a pre-diabetes diagnosis. Interesting that both feet are affected but like yours, my left leg is worse with the neuropathy up to the knee. I am right handed and would have thought the right leg would have been more affected but wasn't given a reason.

Were you given explanations for the kidney disappearance? I have no idea if there is any connection between your missing kidney and neuropathy but was grateful to learn of the pre-diabetes diagnosis. Diet for kidney and diabetes have improved my lab values. I was told that the neuropathy was a slowly progressing ailment for which I am very grateful! Are you on a special kidney diet? No family history of diabetes, ckd or neuropathy but wonder if one organ is affected others might be as well?

@bohdantr3 Welcome to Mayo Connect. May i ask how you found us? We are patients, family members, and caregivers who share our experiences and strength with others. We are not medical professionals, and cannot give medical advice.

How did you find out about your left kidney "disappearing"? Was it atrophied? Perhaps a severe blow to the area from an accident started the process? There are many causes of neuropathy.; have your doctors been able to pinpoint the reason for this? I am asking @johnbishop to step in on this conversation, as he has a lot of knowledge in this area. If you go to the homepage for groups here on Mayo Connect, you can scroll down to the discussion group for Neuropathy and find many topics to give you some insight.
Ginger

Hello @bohdantr3, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @gingerw and @fiesty76. I did find some interesting information related to your coincidence question on neuropathy and kidney disease.

The Link Between Neuropathy and Kidney Disease: https://www.satellitehealth.com/news/2019/may/the-link-between-neuropathy-and-kidney-disease/

I also found some information that may relate to your kidney not showing up??

Failure of sonography to visualize a kidney affected by emphysematous pyelonephritis:
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2721535/

The Disappearing Kidney. A Case of Emphysematous Pyelonephritis:
-- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7979859/

Are you able to tell us more about your missing kidney? Are you being treated for kidney disease or did the doctor explain why the kidney was missing?

@johnbishop although I did not initiate these posts, I find your reply and links to be extremely informative, particularly on the connection between kidney disease and neuropathy. Thank you.

About my Left Kidney. While in Ukraine, around 2009, my friend was supposed to take me to a clinic for my chronic neck and back pain. Car accident in 1995. She accidentally took me to get a ultrasound of my organs. Everything was good except my left kidney was a little smaller than my right kidney. I didn't think anything of it. I should have checked into it. Years later I had a bone density scan and they found that my left kidney was missing. I never went to a nephrologist to find out why it was missing. Because of my back pain I've seen many doctors so I had x rays and mri's always missing left kidney. Every doctor found my missing kidney interesting but not one of them advised me to see a nephrologist.
About the neuropathy. Around 2011, I started to feel discomfort under the ball of both feet, like my sock was under the ball of my feet. So I saw three different podiatrists. Nothing:( Later the discomfort slowly turned into pain up to almost my knees. I also had a little numbness in the tips of my right hand. So I saw a neurologist. His tests showed I had something called Peripheral Neuropathy. I never heard of it. He prescribed Lyrica 100mg three times a day, it helped just a little. Over the years I saw two other neurologists and they told me I have Peripheral Neuropathy. Now I'm taking 150mg of Lyrica three times a day and 30mg of morphine. It helps just a little. I have bad days and worse days. My left foot is worse than the right. I'm not diabetic and I had very extensive blood work done. I've been a vegetarian for 44 years so I don't think diet is a problem. Tried different drugs. Can't find out why the Neuropathy. But I did learn a new word, Idiopathic. I sit around more because being on my feet, walking or standing makes the pain worse. Some days are worse than others. Somewhere I heard that bad kidneys can cause neuropathy. So I decided to see a nephrologist. Last month because of the virus I only spoke with a nephrologist by phone. I have an appointment in mid July. Curious to hear what he has to say.
I've also been told I also have something called Paresthesia from my waist down.

@bohdantr3, Have you received any kind of treatment for the Paresthesia? There is another discussion on Connect that you may find helpful -- Paresthesia, abnormal sensations: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/paresthesiaabnormal-sensation/