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Symptoms & Treatments for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones, a potentially excruciating condition, are occurring at a more frequent incidence. While the exact reasons for rise in kidney stone cases is unknown, diet choices and lack of proper fluid consumption may have contributed to this increase.

We often think of kidney stones as being very painful. However, not all kidney stones cause obvious symptoms. Kidney stones form when urine becomes overly concentrated with minerals and other substances. These substances in urine form crystals on the inner surface of the kidney. Over time, these crystals can combine to form a small hard mass known as a kidney stone.

Kidney stones are not painful until they break loose from the wall of the kidney and work their way down to your bladder. Many small kidney stones can pass into the bladder without any permanent damage. In most cases, kidney stones can be easily prevented by making a few dietary changes and drinking more water.

Kidney Stone Symptoms
While incidents of kidney stones may be asymptomatic, you are likely to experience kidney stone symptoms if the kidney stone is:

• large
• causes a blockage
• is associated with an infection
• is being passed.

If the kidney stone has one or more of the characteristics above, then patient would likely suffer from intense fluctuating pain that usually starts in the back, the side or around the edge of the ribs. As the stone moves toward the bladder, the pain may spread to the lower abdomen, groin and genital structures on that side.

Other possible kidney stone symptoms include:

• bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine 
• fever and chills 
• nausea and vomiting 
• persistent urge to urinate.

If a kidney stone stays in your kidneys, it usually is harmless unless it becomes large enough to block the flow of urine. A large kidney stone blocking the flow or urine can cause pressure and pain, as well as kidney damage, bleeding and infection.

Smaller kidney stones can partially block the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Such kidney stones can cause repeated urinary tract infections or kidney damage if left untreated.

Treatments for Kidney Stones
Depending on the type and cause of the kidney stone, you may be able to move it through the urinary tract by drinking 2-3 quarts of water a day and staying active. Kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own often require professional treatment. The following are some of the treatments for more severe cases of kidney stones:

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a common kidney stone treatment that uses shock waves to break the stones into tiny pieces so they can easily pass with urine. Because these shock waves cause moderate pain, patients receiving this kidney stone treatment require sedation.
  
  
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy refers to the procedure in which a surgeon removes the kidney stone through a small incision in the patient's back. This kidney stone treatment is only used when the kidney stone is very large or ESWL isn't effective.
  
  
• Ureteroscopic stone removal is a treatment for kidney stones used to remove a kidney stone stuck in a ureter. In this kidney stone treatment, a small instrument is passed into the ureter through your bladder to grab the kidney stone.
  
  
• Parathyroid surgery is an effective treatment for kidney stones when a kidney stone is made of calcium and caused by overactive parathyroid glands. Usually, parathyroid glands become overactive due to small, not cancerous tumors in them. If this is the cause of your kidney stone, a surgeon will remove the tumor.

Prevention of Kidney Stones
Usually, you can prevent kidney stones by making some basic lifestyle changes. If you have a history of kidney stones, doctors recommend that you drink about 3.5 quarts, or 14 cups, of water a day. If you live in a hot and dry climate, you should drink even more. Avoid salt and dehydrating substances (such as coffee and alcohol) as both put you more at risk for developing a kidney stone.

If these changes do not work, then your doctor may prescribe medications to help control the level of acidity or alkalinity in your urine.