7 Common Symptoms of Kidney Stone and Treatment Options

The symptoms of kidney stones are largely determined by the size of the stones. For small kidney stones, the symptoms may be mild. In fact, small stones may go undetected and pass out of the body painlessly during urination. The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain which begins as a vague sensation then becomes sharp and severe as ureter muscles contract and relax around the stones. Initially, the pain is felt on the flanks or on the sides of the body, between the pelvis and ribs, including the lower back and upper abdomen. Later it moves to the groin or testicles as the kidney stone moves through the urinary tract.

Generally, the symptoms of kidney stones follow the migration of the stone across the urinary tract. The symptoms will depend on whether the stone gets stuck in the kidney, begins to travel down the ureter, or causes an infection.

Therefore, depending on the size of the stone, symptoms may include:

  • Sharp, persistent and severe ache in the side and back, often below the ribs
  • Pain which spreads to the groin and lower abdomen
  • Pain occurring in waves and with fluctuating intensity
  • Pain when passing urine
  • Restlessness and inability to lie still
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Red, pink or brown urine
  • Foul smelling or cloudy urine
  • Urge to pass urine more often than usual
  • Urinating small quantities of urine
  • Chills and fevers if there is an infection

Blood in urine, often caused by the stone scratching the ureter or kidney
A kidney stone may cause an infection when it has blocked the ureter, preventing waste products from passing the blockage and resulting in bacterial build-up. It is the infection that causes symptoms such as fever, chills and shivering, diarrhea, foul smelling and cloudy urine, and fatigue.

Symptoms of Kidney Stone and Treatment OptionsIf you have these symptoms, it is important to see a physician, preferably a urologist. The doctor will perform a medical and symptomatic history, give a physical exam and order the necessary tests to confirm the presence of kidney stones and determine their size, location and appropriate treatment. The tests may include blood tests (like uric acid, calcium and phosphorous), tests for stone-forming salt crystals, infections, blood cells and stone factors, kidney function tests, and imaging tests (kidney ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans, abdominal X-rays and intravenous pyelograms). The urologist will recommend appropriate treatment after confirming the presence of stones.

If small, less-troublesome stones are detected, the urologist may recommend drinking 8-16 cups of water to flush them out. Along with the recommendation to drink plenty of fluid, the urologist may prescribe pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or acetaminophen. In some cases, the urologist may offer a medication to help pass small stones from the kidney. The medication, called an alpha blocker, helps to relax ureter muscles and allows the stones to move quickly and painlessly out of the urinary tract.

Large stones are accompanied by various symptoms and should be treated using stronger measures. The urologist may use sound waves to break up the stones, a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In some cases, the urologist will use a scope (a thin lighted tube equipped with a camera) to remove the stones. The urologist may also opt for percutaneous nephrolithotomy to surgically remove large stones, or even parathyroid gland surgery when necessary.

At St Pete Urology, we have experienced urologists and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of kidney stones. If you have questions about this condition, visit St Pete Urology in St Petersburg for quality medical care.

10 Quick Facts About Lithotripsy by St Pete Urology

Lithotripsy is a medical procedure involving the disintegration of kidney stones, gallstones and bezoars using high-energy shock waves. Once the procedure is done, small stone fragments (or gravel) come out through urine. The Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), in which the shock waves are produced outside the body, is the most common type of lithotripsy.

10 Quick Facts About Lithotripsy

1. An ESWL is generally done when a stone is too big to move on its own, or when it becomes entrapped in the ureter (the tube carrying urine from the kidney to bladder) causing enormous pain.

2. ESWL is not done on people weighing over 300 lbs, individuals with skeletal deformities, persons with severe bleeding disorders, and pregnant women. Patients with cardiac pacemakers should undergo this treatment only after being approved by a cardiologist.

3. Prior to lithotripsy, a thorough physical examination is done, followed by an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) test to determine the size, location and number of stones.

4. Older individuals should first undergo an EKG (electrocardiogram) test to detect possible cardiac defects. Also, women of childbearing age should take a pregnancy test. Some patients will have a stent inserted into the ureter to allow the passage of gravel through urine.

5. The entire lithotripsy process takes nearly an hour to complete, during which time up to 8,000 shock waves are administered. This may cause some discomfort to the patient based on tolerance level. In most cases, a urologist administers analgesics to relieve the pain.

6. After the treatment, most patients see blood in their urine. This clears out within a week, and patients are advised to drink extra fluids during this period to promote the flushing out of any stone pieces from the urinary system.

7. Patients should pay a follow-up visit to the urologist two weeks after the treatment to ensure that everything is going as planned. This is also the time when the stents will be removed.

8. The potential risks of the procedure include mild temporary abdominal pain. However, severe or persistent pain could imply an unexpected injury.

9. Renal pain is common when gravel passes through the urine. In about 60% of cases, blood clots may form in the kidney area. Other possible complications are pancreatitis, nerve palsies and obstruction of the stone pieces.

10. Alternatives to lithotripsy involve surgery (although this process has become obsolete) and altering the urine’s pH to dissolve the stones. These treatments, however, have had limited success.

Lithotripsy

Dr Reid Graves – Why Choose St Pete Urology

Dr Graves says that the St Pete Urology team of doctors and staff provide compassionate care to patients who often require difficult treatments in sensitive parts of their bodies. In most cases, patients are searching for answers to their medical questions, so the physicians strive to provide them with evidence-based solutions and treat them using the most advanced procedures. [Read Full Article…]

St Pete Urology Patient Care Options

St Pete Urology have successfully treated thousands of patients in the Tampa Bay Area with a focus on achieving the best possible results using the most advanced equipment and procedures. [Read Full Article…]

How Kidney Stones Form in the Kidneys

Kidney stones form when ions that have been filtered into the urine by the kidneys, such as calcium and oxalate, spontaneously join together to form a solid crystal mass. For more information on the formation of kidneys stones, call us at (727) 478-1172 or visit us in St Petersburg, Florida.

How to Prevent Kidney Stones

There are many simple but effective ways of reducing your risk of having Kidney Stones. Dietary changes include minimizing those foods that can cause formation of Kidney Stones and increasing the consumption of foods that promote healthy kidneys. For more detailed information on How to Prevent Kidney Stones, call us at (727) 478-1172 or visit us at St Petersburg, FL.

Treatment of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard stone-like crystals that can form in urine. It is a very common medical condition and is more likely to be found in men than women. There are many ways to get rid of the stones. Some may be as simple as drinking fluids and others will require more advanced medical procedures. To learn more about treating Kidney Stones, call (727) 478-1172.

Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are small deposits of minerals that form hard stones in the kidney. They can cause urine blockage if a kidney stone obstructs the flow of urine through the ureter. The blockage can lead to kidney damage resulting from an accumulation of toxins in the urine. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen between the ribs and hip, or pain in the lower abdomen, lower back or groin. To learn more about the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones, call (727) 478-1172.

Kidney Stones Prevention

Kidney Stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. A person who has had more than one kidney stone may be likely to form another, so remember the old wisdom saying prevention is better than cure. You can prevent kidney stone formation by drinking plenty of fluids this would dilute your urine also the chemicals which combine to formstones. Avoid eating low fat dairy products and other calcium rich foods. Avoid eating oxalate rich foods like beefs, spinach and chards. Also tea, coffee, cola, chocolate and nuts. Reduce the proportion of salt and meat in your diet. Based on the chemical analysis of the kidney stone , your doctor may prescribe medication and beneficial changes in your diet to prevent further formation.

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