Kidney Stones? What Are The Symptoms?

Question

Also, do you need to go to the hospital if you have them?
How long could the pain last for?
What do people do when there in that much pain? Any drinks or foods help?

My sister is in really bad pain, and she is going to the doctor in a hour and im just curious about all this.

Answer 1

Symptoms of kidney stones include:

Colicky Pain: loin - groin, intense, crippling bouts (may faint)
Hematuria: due to damage to wall of urethra
Dysuria: when passing stones
Oligouria: obstruction of one ureter
Nausea/vomiting: embryological link with intestine — stimulates vomiting center
Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the location and severity of the pain, which is typically colic in nature (comes and goes in spasmodic waves). Radiological imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis and a number of other tests can be undertaken to help establish both the possible cause and consequences of the stone. Ultrasound imaging is also useful as it will give details about the presence of hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney - suggesting the stone is blocking the outflow of urine). It can also be used to show the kidneys during pregnancy when standard x-rays are discouraged. About 10% of stones do not have enough calcium to be seen on standard x-rays (radiolucent stones) and may show up on ultrasound although they typically are seen on CT scans.

The relatively dense calcium renders these stones radio-opaque and they can be detected by a traditional X-ray of the abdomen that includes Kidneys, Ureters and Bladder—KUB. This may be followed by an IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram; IntraVenous Urogram (IVU) is the same test by another name) which requires about 50ml of a special dye to be injected into the bloodstream that is excreted by the kidneys and by its density helps outline any stone on a repeated X-ray. These can also be detected by a Retrograde pyelogram where similar "dye" is injected directly into the ureteral opening in the bladder by a surgeon, usually a urologist. Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan), a specialized X-ray, is considered the gold-standard diagnostic test for the detection of kidney stones, and in this setting does not require the use of intravenous contrast, which carries some risk in certain people (eg, allergy, kidney damage). All stones are detectable by CT except very rare stones composed of certain drug residues in urine. The non-contrast "renal colic study" CT scan has become the standard test for the immediate diagnosis of flank pain typical of a kidney stone. If positive for stones, a single standard x-ray of the abdomen (KUB) is recommended. This additional x-ray provides the physicians with a clearer idea of the exact size and shape of the stone as well as its surgical orientation. Further, it makes it simple to follow the progress of the stone without the need for the much more expensive CT scan just by doing another single x-ray at some point in the future.

90% of stones 4 mm or less in size usually will pass spontaneously, however the majority of stones greater than 6 mm will require some form of intervention. In most cases, a smaller stone that is not symptomatic is often given up to 30 days to move or pass before consideration is given to any surgical intervention as it has been found that waiting longer tends to lead to additional complications. Immediate surgery may be required in certain situations such as in people with only one working kidney, intractable pain or in the presence of an infected kidney blocked by a stone which can rapidly cause severe sepsis and toxic shock.

One modern medical technique uses a ureter stent (a small tube between the bladder and the inside of the kidney) to provide some relief of a blocked kidney. This is especially useful in saving a failing kidney due to swelling and infection from the stone. This tubing allows urine to drain from kidney and in some cases medicine to be injected directly. Ureter stents vary in shape and size, but most are designed to allow urine to drain and be retained for some length of time as infections reside and as stones are dissolved or sonar blasted. Most stents can be removed during a final office visit with very little associated pain.

Management of pain from kidney stones varies from country to country and even from physician to physician, but may require intravenous medication (eg, narcotic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) in acute situations. Similar classes of drugs may be effective orally in an outpatient setting for less severe discomfort. Intravenous ketorolac (Toradol) has been found to be quite effective in many cases of acute renal colic to control the pain without the need for narcotic medications. Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that is related to aspirin and ibuprofen. Most acute kidney stone pain will last less than 24 hours and not require hospitalization. Patients are encouraged to strain their urine so they can collect the stone when it eventually passes and send it for chemical composition analysis.

In many cases non-invasive Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy or (ESWL) may be used. Otherwise some form of invasive procedure is required; with approaches including ureteroscopic fragmentation (or simple basket extraction if feasible) using laser, ultrasonic or mechanical (pneumatic, shock-wave) forms of energy to fragment the stones. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or open surgery may ultimately be necessary for large or complicated stones or stones which fail other less invasive attempts at treatment.

A single retrospective study in the USA, at the Mayo Clinic, has suggested that lithotripsy may increase subsequent incidence of diabetes and hypertension,[1] but it has not been felt warranted to change clinical practice at the clinic.[2] The study reflects early experience with the original lithotripsy machine which had a very large blast path, much larger than what is used on modern machines. Further study is believed necessary to determine how much risk this treatment actually has using modern machines and treatment regimens.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Since your sister is going to the doctor in an hour, it might be best not to eat or drink, especially if she is experiencing nausea.
Kidney problems often present with localized pain in the mid to lower back, cloudy and/or smelly concentrated (dark) urine, and high fever.
At the hospital they will probably perform an x-ray or ultrasound, depending on what they expect and her medical history. If she is going through emergency she will see a triage nurse who will take her temperature, blood pressure, and a brief medical history. Eventually she will be taken to a room with a cot and seen by doctors who will order tests. Depending on the kinds of tests they want, they may or may not give her pills or an injection for pain immediately, but eventually they will address her pain. They will likely give her some kind of fever reducer immediately if she has one. If infection or kidney stones are diagnosed she will likely be given an IV for administering antibiotics.
Depending on the number of patients and the hospital the visit can take hours.
Hope she begins to feel better soon.

Answer 5

In some cases kidney stones can be very painful. It depends on the size of the stone and the degree to which it is causing obstruction of urine flow. The pain will last as long as the stone remains lodged in the urinary system.

It should be noted that not all kidney stones cause pain. Sometimes the stones are so small that they simply pass out in the urine, unnoticed.

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the amount of obstruction the stone causes. Symptoms could include: blood in the urine, severe pain, severe pain (twice for emphasis), frequent and painful urination, fever and chills.

Hospitalization is not always necessary. Some stones pass on their own. If however, the stone is to large to be dislodged on its own, operation and hospitalization may be necessary. For more information on this, visit the website below.

Answer 6

The pain could last for long. The kidney stones hinders the filtration of a persons urine so it will definitely hurt. Do not drink carbonated drinks and eat salty foods. If you go to te hospital they would give you a medicine that will "melt" the kidney stones, only if the condition is not very severe.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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Answer 9

I couldn't just sit around and do nothing like my doctors suggested.

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This program allowed me to take control of my health. I went from Stage 4 to Stage 3 kidney disease.

It was easy to do and my BUN, creatinine and anemia are all in better ranges.

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Answer 10

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