Latest update November 1st, 2024 12:59 AM
Kidney Stones: Very Painful, Very common
By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
I have often heard female patients say that they prefer the pains of labour than those that come from
Dr Zulfikar Bux
kidney stones. Every one in five men and one in 10 women will have kidney stones in their lifetime. This rate is increasing and is expected to increase given our trend of unhealthy living. Some persons have kidney stones and never realize. For others it’s one of the most painful experiences in life. As some stones move, they cause intense pain.
Patients will often have to visit the emergency room or their doctor to have the pain controlled as regular pain medications often fail. Today we will discuss this common condition and bring some clarity to misconceptions that are usually peddled about kidney stones.
WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?
Kidney stones are just what they sound like: small stones that form inside the kidneys. They form when salts and minerals that are normally in the urine build-up and harden.
Kidney stones usually get carried out of the body when you urinate. But sometimes they can get stuck on the way out. If that happens, the stones can cause:
*Pain in your side or in the lower part of your belly
*Blood in the urine (which can make urine pink or red)
*Nausea or vomiting
*Pain when you urinate
*The need to urinate in a hurry
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE KIDNEY STONES?
If your doctor thinks you have kidney stones, he or she can order an imaging test that can show the stones. An ultrasound of your abdomen is the most common test that is ordered to detect kidney stones.
HOW ARE KIDNEY STONES TREATED?
Each person’s treatment is a little different. The right treatment for you will depend on:
*The size, type, and location of your stone
*How much pain you have
*How much you are vomiting
If your stone is big or causes severe symptoms, you might need to stay in the hospital. If your stone is small and causes only mild symptoms, you might be able to stay home and wait for it to pass in the urine. If you stay home, you will probably need to drink a lot of fluids. Plus, you might need to take pain medicines or medicines that make it easier to pass the stone. There are specific medications that help open your urinary tract and make it easier for the stone to pass. Your doctor will decide on these medications according to your condition.
Stones that do not pass on their own can be treated with:
* A machine that uses sound waves to break up stones into smaller pieces. This is called “shock wave lithotripsy.” This procedure does not involve surgery, but it can be painful.
* A special kind of surgery that makes very small holes in your skin. During this surgery, the doctor passes tiny tools through the holes and into the kidney. Then he or she removes the stone. This is called “percutaneous nephrolithotomy.”
*A thin tube that goes into your body the same way urine comes out. Doctors use tools at the end the tube to break up or remove stones. This is called “ureteroscopy.”
WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING KIDNEY STONES AGAIN?
Drinking enough fluid will help keep your urine less concentrated with waste products. Darker urine is more concentrated, so your urine should appear very light yellow to clear if you are well hydrated. Most of the fluid you drink should be water. Most people should drink more than 12 glasses of water a day. Water is better than soda, sports drinks or coffee/tea. If you exercise or if it is hot outside, you should drink more.
Eat more fruits and vegetables, which make the urine less acid. When the urine is less acid, then stones may be less able to form. Eating meat – especially in excess – causes your body to produce urine that has more acid, which can then increase your risk for kidney stones.
You can reduce excess salt in your diet. What foods are high in salt? Everyone thinks of salty potato chips and French fries alone. There are other products that are salty: sandwich meats, canned soups, packaged meals, and even sports drinks.
You want to try to get to a normal weight if you are overweight. But, high-protein weight loss diets that include high amounts of animal-based protein, as well as crash diets can add to the risk of stone formation. You need adequate protein, but it needs to be part of a balanced diet.
Your doctor can advise you on your diet and prescribe medications that will decrease your risk of having kidney stones.
Drinking plenty fluids and eating healthy are your best options in your fight against kidney stones.
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