Kidney stone symptoms

Nephrolithiasis, also called kidney stones or renal calculi, are hard deposits made of salts and minerals formed inside one’s kidney. These are among the most common health problems associated with the urinary system. There are around 600,000 kidney stone cases every year in the United States itself. Where small kidney stones i.e. less than 4mm in size are more likely to pass itself within 31 days, as the size of kidney stone increases it possibility to naturally come out of the body decreases. In such cases, surgical removal is last resort. In this article, we will understand causes, risk factors and symptoms of kidney stones.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

In case, you have small kidney stones, you are less likely to experience any symptom. These stones usually pass through the urinary tract on their own. But as the size of kidney stones increases, one could experience number of symptoms. Some widely recorded symptoms of kidney stones are:  

Pain in the belly, back, or side

Kidney stone pain or renal colic is one of the severe pains. People who have experienced this pain, compare it to the pain of childbirth, the pain is very intense. Kidney stone pain most of the time occurs all of a sudden. As the stone moves, the intensity and location of pain change. It comes and goes in waves. The pain is felt most of the time below your ribs or belly or side and back. Generally, large stones are more painful, but it is not necessary because a small stone can also cause pain as it moves.

Pain or burning feeling during urination

Another kidney stone symptoms is feeling pain when urinating. It happens when the stone reaches the junction between bladder and ureter, and it feels burning or sharp pain. You can also mistake this pain for UTI. Sometimes it is possible to have both infection and kidney stone at the same time.

Urgent need to pee

Going to the bathroom more frequently or urgently than usual is also a sign that the kidney stone has probably moved to the lower part of your urinary tract. Sometimes, you would also be running to the bathroom or feel the need to go too many times throughout the day and even at night.

Blood in the urine

Seeing blood in your urine is a very common kidney stone symptoms. It is also called hematuria, and the blood can be brown, red, or pink. Sometimes, you may not see blood because the blood cells are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. In suspected cases, urine samples are sent to pathology labs to check the same.

Having smelly or cloudy urine

Healthy urine does not have a strong odor and is clear. If it has a cloudy or foul smell, it may be a symptom of an infection in the kidney or another part of the urinary tract. If you see Cloudiness, it can signify pyuria or pus in the urine. The odor can be from bacteria which causes UTIs. If you have a UTI with kidney stone with or without symptoms of fever, it is considered a surgical emergency.

Vomiting and nausea

You may have frequent vomiting or nausea if you have a kidney stone. This is because the nerve connections get shared between the GI tract and the kidneys. Stones in the kidney can trigger the nerves, setting off an upset stomach. You could also have nausea and vomiting if your body has intense pain.

Chills and fever

If you have fever or chills, it can be a kidney stone symptoms, an infection in your kidney, or some other part of the urinary tract that can be the reason for it. However, if you have pain with fever, it may require urgent medical attention.

What causes kidney stones?

There are various reasons what cause kidney stones. It may happen due to concentration of minerals like calcium, uric acid, oxalate, and other such substances. When the urine does not have enough fluid to push these mineral and other substances out of the body, these start accumulating. The crystals stick together, and keep accumulating and turning bigger leading to formation of stones. You could get kidney stones, even from some medications, and what you eat. If your family has a history of kidney stones, you are more likely to have it compared to rest of the population.  

Risk factors

•    The members of a family with a history of kidney stones are more vulnerable to develop them too.
•    Dehydration can increase the risk of developing kidney stones. People who live in warm places and sweat more have a higher chance of developing kidney stones.
•    A higher body mass index and having obesity is linked to an increased chance of kidney stones.
•    Specific medication such as vitamin c, dietary supplements, and certain medicines to treat migraines can increase the risk.

When should you see a doctor?

When you start seeing kidney stones symptoms or any signs that worry you, you should make an appointment with a doctor. Seek immediate medical care if-
•    You have difficulty passing urine
•    You have fever and chills with pain
•    You get pain along with vomiting and nausea
•    You see blood in your urine
•    You feel such severe pain that you cannot sit or stand comfortably.

Conclusion

You must be clear on what kidney stones are, their symptoms, and what causes kidney stones. If you see any signs or want to know more, you can contact your doctor for the same. And kidney stones are not that serious and, if treated early, will not cause you any problem. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is a must.

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