MOVABLE KIDNEY. (Floating Kidney. Nephroptosis)
Categories:
Kidney and Bladder
Causes. This condition
is usually acquired. It is more common in women than in men, possibly due
to lacing and the relaxations of the muscles of the abdomen from
pregnancy. It may come from wounds, lifting too heavy articles,
emaciation.
Symptoms. They are often absent. There may be pain or dragging sensation
in the loins, or intercostal neuralgia; hysteria, nervousness, nervous
dyspepsia and consti
ation are common. The kidney can be felt. A dull pain
is caused by firm pressure. Sometimes there are attacks of severe
abdominal pain, with chill, fever, nausea, vomiting and collapse. The
kidney becomes large and tender. The urine shows a reddish deposit and
sometimes there is blood and pus in the urine.
Treatment. If the symptoms are not present, it is best for the patient
not to know the true condition, as nervous troubles frequently follow a
knowledge of its presence. If the symptoms are present, replace the kidney
while the patient is lying down and retain it by a suitable belt. Also
treat the nervous condition. If the symptoms are of the severe kind an
operation may be needed to fasten the kidney in its proper condition. This
is quite generally successful, and does away with much suffering and pain.
The pain may be so severe at times as to require morphine. Sometimes the
pain is due to uric acid or oxalates in the urine. For this regulate the
diet.
Diet for Movable Kidney. The diet should be such as to produce fat. Milk
is excellent where it is well borne; if not well borne give easily
digested meats, such as chicken, roast beef, broiled steak and lamb chop;
fish of various kinds and vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, asparagus
and cauliflower; of fats, butter, cream, and chocolate; for constipation,
cider, buttermilk, grape-juice, fruits and honey.