Months after recovering from kidney infection treated with iv antibiotics, i am still feeling intermittent aches in my back kidney area. i can "feel" my kidneys now whereas prior, i had no awareness of their existence. what might be causing this?

Pain after infection: Any injured body part -- whether from trauma, infection, or other cause -- can continue to uncomfortable or painful for months or years. (Think of the ankle that still aches months after a sprain has healed.) Or you may not be feeling the kidneys themselves, e.g. perhaps anxiety related. Best to check with the doctor who treated your infection, but you can expect it won't turn out to be serious.