If you have kidney stones, what pain? What symptoms indicate the presence of kidney stones? What is the treatment for urolithiasis?

Pain due to kidney stones is one of the main symptoms of this condition. As a rule, it is when they appear that people go to the doctor for diagnosis.

It is worth noting that pain from kidney stones appears only when the formations are large enough to irritate the tissue. In the early stages, this condition does not manifest itself in any way. This is precisely the main danger of this disease: in most cases, patients see a doctor when it is already advanced and it is necessary to use aggressive methods of therapy.

The nature of pain with kidney stones

Unpleasant sensations, and especially pain, with kidney stones begin when the stone reaches a large enough size to irritate and damage tissue.

Small stones, up to 1-2 millimeters in size, and sand are often simply washed out of the kidneys into the bladder and out through the urethra. But in some cases, small formations remain and large formations begin to grow around them. In some cases they reach the size of a tennis ball. But such cases are rare; as a rule, the patient consults a doctor when the stones reach a size of about one centimeter.

If the stone is in the kidney and irritates it, then the pain may be constant, but not severe, localized in the lumbar region on the side of the affected kidney (only in 15% of cases are stones formed simultaneously in both of them). The main difficulty is to distinguish kidney pain from others. Most often, people mistake them for problems with the spine. The similarity is reinforced by the fact that the pain often intensifies after walking or physical activity.

But in some cases, the pain takes on a completely different character: it becomes acute, extremely strong, and sometimes unbearable. This condition is called renal colic. It indicates that the stone has moved from its place and entered the ureter.

This condition can last quite a long time. It is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, flatulence, frequent urination, and the appearance of blood in the urine. In such cases, it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis with other emergency surgical conditions, such as acute appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gallstones, and so on.

Other symptoms of kidney stones

Pain due to kidney stones is a typical and main symptom of this condition. But still, there are other manifestations of this condition. Most patients complain of:

. The degree of manifestation of this symptom can vary from microhematuria, which can only be detected with a laboratory blood test, to severe forms of massive hematuria, when the urine becomes pink or reddish.
Burning and other unpleasant sensations during urination.
Discharge of sand and individual small stones.
Frequent urge to urinate.

If such signs appear, it is advisable to visit a doctor and, if necessary, undergo a test to clarify the cause.

Where to go for diagnosis and treatment

Pain from kidney stones is an alarming symptom that requires an immediate visit to a urologist. In such conditions, it can be difficult to come to an appointment at a municipal clinic, which requires an appointment in advance.

An alternative could be private clinics in Moscow, many of which have a practitioner on their staff. . And you can make an appointment in the near future using the “Your Doctor” online service, which allows its visitors not only to collect information, but also to make an appointment.

Publication date: 2019-10-14

This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.

The presence of kidney stones in women and men is called urolithiasis in medicine, or called “urolithiasis”. Stones can form not only in the kidneys, but also in other organs of the urinary system of an adult.

Kidney stones are a hard, crystal-like mass made up of salts found in human urine in small quantities.

They may vary in shape and size. Stones can be in the form of small grains that pass painlessly into the urine, or large formations of complex shape, reaching 5 cm.

Reasons for education

Why do kidney stones form, and what are they? There are no absolute reasons why kidney stones can form. But doctors can tell exactly what factors can provoke such a pathology:

drinking hard water saturated with salts;
hereditary predisposition;
disruption of the parathyroid glands;
frequent consumption of foods that can increase the acidity of urine (sour, hot, salty, spicy);
lack of ultraviolet rays;
lack of vitamins, especially group D;
geographical factor (residents of hot countries make up the bulk of the risk group);
injuries and diseases of the skeletal system (causes of kidney stones - osteoporosis and osteomyelitis);
prolonged dehydration of the body due to poisoning or infectious diseases;
chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and various organs of the genitourinary system (the causes of kidney stones here may be adenoma, etc.).

Kidney stones come in different sizes, form anywhere in the genitourinary system and, depending on the actual cause of their formation, have different compositions.

Concretions are divided into:

Phosphate - consist of salts of phosphoric acid. Occurs with urinary tract infections, grows quite quickly with alkaline urine;
Cholesterol - occur due to high cholesterol content. Rarely encountered;
Oxalate - formed from calcium oxalic acid in alkaline or acidic urine;
Urates are salts of uric acid. They are one of the most common types;
Cystine - consists of compounds of the amino acid cystine.

Knowing the composition of the stone allows the doctor to competently carry out a course of treatment, and the patient to understand the meaning of his recommendations, their seriousness and importance.

Calcium oxalate stones

Black or dark gray, when moving inside the body they cause severe pain due to the surface equipped with sharp spines. The mucous membrane is damaged and this causes blood to appear in the urine. As a rule, they have to be removed by surgery. Other methods of treatment can only get rid of oxalate sand.

A common cause of formation is excess intake of oxalic acid from food. Regular consumption of large quantities of juices, carrots, beets, and vitamin C causes their formation and growth.

Symptoms of kidney stones

In the presence of kidney stones, characteristic symptoms are caused by disturbances in urodynamics, changes in kidney function and the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the urinary tract.

Urolithiasis occurs in both men and women. Despite the fact that kidney stones are most common in the stronger sex, the symptoms of the disease are stronger and more severe in women. According to experts, this is primarily due to the structural features of the female body. Until the stone begins to move from its place, a person does not feel any signs of kidney stones. However, if the movement of the stone has begun, then the symptoms are so vivid that the person suffers from severe pain.

To the main Symptoms of the presence of urolithiasis include:

sharp or stabbing pain in the lower back or side, pain in the kidney area (renal colic);
irradiating pain in the kidney, radiating to neighboring organs;
pain in the lower abdomen;
attacks of nausea and vomiting;
urination problems (retention or frequent urination);
frequent urge to urinate;
removal of sand or stones;
increased body temperature;
cold sweat;
bloating;
increase in pressure.

The main symptom of urolithiasis is renal colic. It occurs when the ureter is obstructed by a stone and is characterized by sudden, cramping pain. The pain syndrome is caused by increased peristalsis and spasm of the urinary tract. The pain can be so severe that the sick person cannot find a comfortable position and walks from corner to corner.

Pain syndrome can develop with varying frequency: from several times a month to once over several years. Usually colic lasts about 1-2 hours, but sometimes it can last up to a day or more with short breaks. Often, after the pain subsides, so-called sand or small stones are excreted in the urine.

Blood in urine due to kidney stones

The advancement of the stone causes damage to the walls of the urinary tract, which is accompanied by the appearance of such symptoms as. Sometimes it is visible to the naked eye; this symptom is called gross hematuria.

In other cases, blood in the urine is detected only by microscopic examination, this is called microhematuria. In 85% of cases of stones, blood appears in the urine. However, the absence of this symptom does not exclude the presence of a stone.

Diagnostics

Before figuring out how to treat kidney stones in women or men, it is necessary to get a proper diagnosis. They will help us with this modern diagnostic methods:

ultrasound examination of the diseased organ;
laboratory testing of urine and blood;
urography (survey and/or excretory).

As an additional examination prescribe:

multislice computed tomography - this method allows you to determine the size and type;
nephroscintigraphy - the level of functional disorders in the kidneys is determined;
determination of sensitivity to antibiotics - the level of development of the inflammatory process is determined.

Naturally, the patient is examined and questioned - it is necessary to find out the possible reasons that provoked metabolic disorders before the formation of kidney stones. Such a diagnosis is basic - based on the results obtained, a conclusion can be drawn and treatment can be prescribed.

Treatment of kidney stones

“I developed kidney stones. What to do?" - this question is asked by many people who are faced with this disease. There is only one way out in this situation - to get rid of the stones. This can be done surgically or conservatively; in the latter case, stone-breaking tablets are prescribed. They can be taken at home.

As for the likelihood of spontaneous passage of a stone, it all depends on its size and shape, the individual characteristics of the structure of the human urinary system.

Stones up to 5 mm in size leave the urinary system on their own in 67-80% of cases; with a size of 5 to 10 mm, this figure is only 20-47%.

Often, abnormalities in the structure of the patient’s urinary system, for example, narrowing of the ureter, make it impossible for even a small stone to pass independently. Stones larger than 10 mm in diameter require medical intervention.

Into the complex of conservative therapeutic activities include:

diet therapy;
correction of water and electrolyte balance;
physiotherapy;
antibacterial therapy;
phytotherapy;
physiotherapy;
balneological and sanatorium-resort treatment.

For all forms of nephrolithiasis, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, stone-expelling, analgesic and antispasmodic drugs are used. Antibacterial therapy is also carried out; it is recommended to take antiplatelet agents, angioprotectors and herbal preparations. Treatment is carried out in courses under strict medical supervision.

Diet is also one of the main components of conservative treatment. Based on the composition of the stones and the characteristics of their structure, it is determined which products are subject to exclusion.

Drugs for dissolving kidney stones

To combat kidney stones, a number of drugs are used, most of them based on herbs, which help slow the growth, dissolve or remove stones from the kidneys.

– herbal preparation of complex action. Used for urate and calcium oxalate stones.
Cyston is a complex herbal preparation. Suitable for all types of stones.
Blemaren, Uralit U– preparations for dissolving stones and alkalizing urine. Effective against urate and mixed stones.
Phytolysin, Fitolit– preparations based on herbal extracts. Promote the removal of small stones and prevent the growth and formation of new stones.

In the case of an infectious nature of the disease (staghorn stones), in addition, a course of treatment with antimicrobial drugs is required to neutralize the infection.

Crushing kidney stones

Remote crushing of stones - shock wave lithotripsy. This method has become widespread due to the fact that it is the most gentle. There is no need to make any punctures, cuts, etc. The stones are destroyed by remote wave action and then removed from the body naturally.

External shock wave lithotripsy is quite effective, when kidney stones are no more than 2 cm in diameter. The device that destroys stones is called a remote lithotripter. There are electrohydraulic, ultrasonic, laser, piezoelectric, and pneumatic lithotripters. Not everything is so good - there are contraindications, not all stones are suitable for lithotripsy, etc.

Surgical removal of stones

The choice of surgical treatment method for urolithiasis depends on the size and position of the stone, the condition of the urinary tract, the activity of the infection, the patient’s build, the doctor’s experience and individual factors.

Open surgery- the oldest, most reliable, but at the same time the most traumatic and therefore dangerous method. The stone is mechanically removed through an incision in the kidney or bladder. Used when it is impossible to use ESWL or endoscopic techniques.
Endourethral technique– endoscopic equipment is inserted into the renal pelvis through the urethra or through a puncture in the skin. The device is brought to the stone, which is removed or destroyed in one of the following ways: mechanically, with a contact ultrasonic wave, or with a laser beam.

Before the operation, medications are prescribed to ensure improved blood microcirculation; in addition, antibiotics and antioxidants are prescribed. In situations in which the ureter is blocked by a stone, treatment accompanying the movement of the stone begins with the removal of urine from the kidney. This effect is a kind of surgical intervention, it is carried out under local anesthesia, the possibility of significant blood loss, as well as the development of complications, is not excluded.

Diet for kidney stones

If you have been diagnosed oxalate stones in the kidneys, then treatment should be combined with a certain diet.

First of all, you will need to limit the consumption of foods rich in oxalic acid: spinach, sorrel, potatoes, lettuce, oranges and milk. The diet should include apples, pears, grapes, dried apricots, as well as dishes with a high content of magnesium, which binds oxalic acid salts.

Diet when detected phosphate stones should be aimed at acidifying urine.

To do this, it is useful to drink more cranberry or lingonberry juice. The treatment of kidney tumors of this type is facilitated by a meat diet and the intake of sufficient quantities of fish and meat protein into the body. This should be the basis of nutrition. Greens, vegetables, milk and dairy products should be excluded.

As for urate stones, the diet should not contain meat and other meat products, chocolate, lemons and some other products. The diet should include fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Melons and watermelons provide a good healing effect. Drinking diet is of great importance in the treatment of kidney stones. You need to drink more fluid. The water should not be hard.

For all types of stones In nutrition, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Increase the volume of fluid intake to 2.5 liters per day;
If necessary, take diuretic herbal infusions;
Do not overeat, avoid fatty, fried, smoked foods and excess salt in your diet.

There are also a number of recipes for folk methods that can be used to remove small-sized stones of any type, as well as sand.

How to treat kidney stones with folk remedies

In addition to medications, folk remedies are also used for kidney stones. The most effective folk remedies that will help remove kidney stones at home are the following:

Ideal for crushing stones rose hip root. 35 grams of dry crushed raw materials are poured with two glasses of boiling water and simmered in a water bath for about a quarter of an hour, and then wrapped and left for another 6 hours. The filtered broth is drunk ½ cup half an hour before meals 4 times a day. The drug is potent, so the duration of use, which usually ranges from 1 to 4 weeks, and the exact dosage must be prescribed by a herbalist or urologist.
For oxalates and urates, you need to take this folk remedy. Mix the ingredients, taken in 200 milliliters each: honey, vodka, olive oil, lemon juice. Mix everything thoroughly and set aside for two weeks, in a tightly closed bottle, in a dark and cool place. Use it for medicinal purposes three times a day, a tablespoon. After two weeks, take a break for 5 days and then repeat the treatment.
Pass through a meat grinder 10 lemons, pitted and peeled, put in a 3-liter jar and pour 2 liters of boiled water, add 2 tbsp. l. medical glycerin. Leave for half an hour, strain. Drink liquid over 2 hours at intervals of 10 minutes: take 1 glass every 10 minutes. Place a warm heating pad on the area of the sore kidney. After some time, the pain will intensify and sand will begin to come out. When preparing the medicine, remember that lemon juice decomposes quickly, so you need to squeeze out fresh juice for each dose.
Watermelon rinds. Only raw materials from watermelons grown in your own garden are suitable for therapy, since the cultivation of fruits for sale uses a large amount of nitrates, which mostly accumulate in the skin of the berries. Dried in an oven or electric dryer, watermelon rinds pre-cut into pieces are poured with water (1:1), boiled over low heat for about half an hour, filtered and taken a glass 3 to 5 times a day before meals.
A fairly simple remedy - apple peel tea. Drink apple peel tea constantly, and it will help get rid of kidney stones, sand formation, and urolithiasis. The most important thing is that you need to be treated constantly and not miss days. You can brew dried or fresh peels. It will be better if you dry the peel, then grind it to a powder and pour boiling water over it. There should be two teaspoons of powder, pour it in for twenty minutes, and then just drink it like tea.

It is best to treat urolithiasis with folk remedies in combination with traditional medicine. You need to select a traditional method of treatment in accordance with what treatment was prescribed to you by your doctor.

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Urolithiasis develops as a result of metabolic disorders and is manifested by the formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system.

The condition when stones form in the kidneys is called nephrolithiasis; in the ureters - ureterolithiasis; in the bladder - cystolithiasis.

Causes

All causes leading to the formation of stones in the urinary system are divided into exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal).

The following can be classified as exogenous:

prolonged drinking of hard water;
living in climatic zones where there is a lack of ultraviolet rays;
large consumption of sour, salty, spicy foods;
not drinking enough water during the day;
sedentary lifestyle.

The endogenous ones include the following:

impaired renal function as a result of chronic diseases;
genetic predisposition to stone formation;
infectious diseases accompanied by dehydration;
severe diseases in which the patient requires long-term immobilization;
pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (due to disruption of the processes of digestion and absorption);
metabolic disorders (hyperparathyroidism, gout);
congenital anomalies of the structure of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Most often with urolithiasis, inflammatory kidney diseases (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), gout, hyperparathyroidism, cholelithiasis, cystitis, prostatitis, pancreatitis, colitis are present.

There are 5 types of stones:

urate, appear in cases of uric acid metabolism disorders (gout);
oxalate, appear with an increased content of oxalate salts;
phosphate, appear due to disturbances in phosphorus metabolism;
cystine, they appear in hereditary pathologies;
mixed, a combination of several types of metabolic disorders.

Symptoms of urolithiasis

In men, this pathology is detected three times more often than in women. The clinical manifestations of urolithiasis are the same in men and women.

The severity of symptoms depends on the size of the stones and where they are located.

In the presence of small stones, the disease is asymptomatic, or after heavy physical activity discomfort may appear in the lumbar region. At this stage, stones are most often diagnosed accidentally during examinations.

Localization of pain in urolithiasis

The most integral symptom is pain.

The pain can be constant or paroxysmal; aching or acute in nature; The severity of pain depends on the size of the stone and its location.

Pain from kidney stones

When stones are found in the kidneys or upper parts of the ureter, pain occurs in the lumbar region and is aching in nature.

However, if a stone causes obstruction (blockage) of the ureter, the outflow of urine is disrupted and the pain increases significantly. The patient develops renal colic. It is characterized by severe pain that does not go away when changing body position. The pain can last from a few minutes to several days. Patients rush about, and there is a frequent urge to urinate.

The pain is most often unilateral, but can rarely be bilateral.

As the stone moves through the urinary tract, the pain decreases.

Pain in the lower abdomen in men can spread to the external genitalia and scrotum. The pain resembles prostatitis, testicular torsion.

In women, pain in the lower abdomen radiates to the labia and vulva.

Urination becomes difficult, it becomes frequent and painful.

Pain from bladder stones

When there are stones in the bladder, the pain is localized in the suprapubic region; with small stones, the pain is aching. Irradiation of pain also into the area of the external genitalia.

Blood in urine and sand

The second most common symptom is hematuria (blood in the urine).

Hematuria occurs when stones move through the urinary tract due to damage to the mucous membranes. When passing small stones, blood can only be detected by examining urine. And when large stones pass, the patient himself may notice a pink coloration of the urine.

The patient may also see small stones (sand) in the urine sediment.

Diagnostics

If signs of urolithiasis are detected, you must consult a urologist or nephrologist and undergo the necessary examination.

General urine analysis:

Allows you to detect hematuria - the appearance of red blood cells in the urine. In the presence of inflammation in the urinary system, an increased number of leukocytes and an increase in urine density are detected. Salts (oxalates, phosphates, urates) are found in urine sediment.
If there are stones in the urine sediment, they are examined. The character of the stone is established.

Biochemical blood test:

Aimed at identifying metabolic disorders. The level of uric acid, phosphates, oxalates, kidney function (creatinine, urea, glomerular filtration rate) are assessed.

General blood analysis.

Anemia (decreased hemoglobin) can be detected with prolonged blood loss; an increase in the number of leukocytes and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate of ESR during the inflammatory process.

Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder.

Allows you to identify the presence of stones and signs of inflammation.

To detect stones in the ureter, clarify their location and the degree of obstruction of the urinary tract, excretory urography is performed. The study is carried out by introducing a radiopaque substance and then assessing its removal rate.

If there is a blockage in the lower urinary tract, retrograde ureteropyelography is performed. The contrast is injected not into the kidneys, but from bottom to top - along the ureters.

Computed tomography may also be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis. It allows you to clarify the size of the stone and its position.

Treatment of urolithiasis

If there are small stones, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Therapy is prescribed by a nephrologist or urologist.

If the stones are large or the patient develops renal colic, then treatment is inpatient. The duration of hospitalization depends on the treatment performed, on average 10-14 days.

Treatment of urolithiasis is aimed at removing stones and correcting metabolic processes to prevent their recurrence.

Methods for removing stones depend on the size of the stone and its location.

Small stones can pass through the urinary tract on their own.

To alleviate the condition and reduce pain, the patient (if renal colic occurs) is prescribed antispasmodics and painkillers.

Drotaverine;
Papaverine;
Duspatalin;
Analgin.

Dissolving stones using medications

If urates are present, the following are used:

Allopurinol;
Etamide;
Ugly.

If phosphate stones are present, the following are prescribed:

Cyston;
Marelin;

For oxalate stones use:

Blémarin;
Spilled;
Pyridoxine.

For cystine stones use:

Penicillamine;
Potassium citrate;
Uralite.

Crushing stones and then removing them

Shock wave lithotripsy.

Using a shock wave, the stone is crushed and then removed through the urinary tract. The method is not suitable for large stones.

Stones are also destroyed using ultrasonic waves and lasers.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Endoscopic intervention using instruments to break up the stone, followed by removal of parts of the stone from the kidney.

Litholapaxy.

This is an endoscopic removal of stones from the bladder.

Physiotherapeutic treatment is also used for urolithiasis:

diadynamic amplipulse therapy - used to relieve pain;
inductothermy - used as antispasmodic therapy and pain relief;
exposure to sinusoidal currents - used to relieve swelling of the ureteral mucosa and spasms. Used during remission.
Magnetic therapy - used to relieve pain.

Diet

More information about the diet for kidney stones is written in our separate article.

Be sure to drink about two liters of liquid during the day;

For urate stones, it is necessary to limit:

meat; fish;
mushrooms;
legumes;
beer.

For oxalate stones:

chocolate, cocoa;
beets, lettuce, spinach;
foods rich in oxalic acid;

For phosphate stones:

salt;
carbonated drinks;
alcohol;
currants, cranberries;
dairy products.

Prevention of stones

The main direction in the prevention of urolithiasis is the normalization of metabolism.

If metabolic processes are not normalized, then relapse of the disease is inevitable.

giving up alcohol;

maintain normal weight;

drink about 2 liters of liquid per day;

reduce salt intake;

When determining the type of stones, follow dietary recommendations.

promptly treat inflammatory diseases of the urinary organs.

be regularly examined by a urologist or nephrologist.

Complications

If urolithiasis is not treated correctly, the most common complications are:

The development of an inflammatory process in the kidneys, ureter or bladder. This is the most common complication. Caused by stagnation of urine and damage to the mucous membranes.

The inflammatory process can spread to the perinephric tissue (paranephritis). It develops in the absence of treatment of pyelonephritis or inadequate treatment of nephritis.

Due to a long-term inflammatory process (chronic pyelonephritis), chronic renal failure develops.

If the urinary tract is completely blocked on both sides, which is extremely rare, acute renal failure may develop.

With timely diagnosis, proper treatment and subsequent adherence to recommendations for the prevention of the disease, the prognosis is favorable. Compliance with preventive measures will help avoid relapses of stone formation.

Severe nagging pain due to kidney stones is the most common symptom of urolithiasis, occurring in half of the patients who seek help from a urologist. Regardless of the location of the stone, the pain spreads to the entire lumbar region.

Often, with stones in the ureter, the symptoms are the same as with kidney stones. To solve the problem, you should undergo a comprehensive examination, which will include an ultrasound and a general urine test.

You should be as careful as possible with urolithiasis, because if you ignore the primary pain, the pathology can lead to serious injuries to the urinary canals.

Nature of the disease

Modern medical experts insist that the formation of stones in the cavity of the pelvis is a complex chemical process. The impetus for the development of urolithiasis is an increase in the concentration of salts and their crystallization.

At the same time, stones in the kidneys and ureter can have completely different characteristics (composition and diameter). In most cases, doctors diagnose formations no larger than 2 cm.

Very often, when visiting a specialist with dysfunction of the urinary system, patients hear the diagnosis – sand in the kidneys.

Often secondary formations have a round shape and a smooth surface. Much less common is a non-standard form of formations, which are usually called coral crystals.

Occurrence of stone

A kidney stone is formed after a breakdown of the colloidal substance occurs against the background of a general transformation of the outer membrane of the kidney. In the presence of a number of additional factors, molecules turn into micelles. They are then covered with various layers of salt-type deposits.

It should be noted that the growth of the stone depends on the concentration of salts in urine, the type of protein compounds and the level of acidity.

The formation of stones does not bring discomfort or pain to a person. But a whole stone, which sooner or later begins to move through the urinary canals, can literally turn life into hell.

Severe pain when urinating, blood in the urine, nagging pain in the kidneys, dizziness, fever and swelling of the extremities - this is not a complete list of problems that patients with urolithiasis face.

There is a classification of stones, which includes the following types of stones:

White-yellow stones of a round shape belong to cystine formations.
In patients with pyelonephritis, the stones are gray in color and have a smooth surface. These are called phosphate.
The flattened oval shape and white color are characteristic of proteinaceous stones.
A large number of spines and a rigid structure are characteristic of oxalates. They are diagnosed in the vast majority of cases.
The finely pinpointed surface and smoothness indicate that the stone in the renal pelvis is a urate.
At high concentrations of calcium in the urine, carbonates are formed.
The soft structure and black color indicate that the stone is cholesterol.

In order to determine which stones caused discomfort and pain in the body, you should consult a urologist.

He will conduct an examination to identify the chemical composition of the crystal and the reason for its formation.

Causes of the disease

Today it is not known exactly what precedes the development of the formation of kidney stones, but there are a number of factors that influence this. The main one is considered to be genetic predisposition. The basis for the stone may be the accumulation of salts. However, in some individual cases, stones form completely without any reason.

People who have clearly expressed disturbances in acid and salt metabolism can encounter kidney stones.

At the same time, all disturbances in the body arise due to internal (soil composition, physical inactivity and characteristics of the composition of fluid consumed) and external factors (enzyme dysfunction, infectious diseases, pathology of the gastrointestinal tract and lack of physical activity).

Types of pain

Symptoms characteristic of kidney stones can appear in people of different genders and ages. The risk group includes people from 20 to 60 years old.

Very often, a patient with urolithiasis is completely unaware that there are already problems in his body. Severe pain with various kidney stones occurs when they move directly. Even a slight change in position can lead to severe pain.

Today, it is possible to diagnose kidney stones at the initial stages of its development. The pathology is accompanied by the following types of pain:

Severe pain in the lumbar region. Dull pain is diagnosed, which intensifies as the formations grow. They appear both on both sides at the same time, and on one. To exclude radiculitis and other pathologies, you should pay special attention to the nature of the pain. The main symptom is an increase in pain even with a slight change in body position.
Transfer of pain to other parts of the body. The localization of pain may change if the stone leaves the cavity of the renal pelvis. When a calculus is located in the ureter, the main pain symptoms will appear: in women - in the labia, in men - in the groin and genitals.
During an attack of renal colic, the pain shifts to the inner thighs and again to the genital area. The pain does not decrease even when taking a lying position. Sweating increases, the temperature may rise and the stomach may swell. The process is often accompanied by vomiting and nausea. The final stage in case of colic in the kidneys is the immediate passage of the stone from the body.

The intensity of pain depends on the characteristics of the stones and their location. Also, one should not lose sight of the factor of the presence of inflammatory processes and infections.

Doctors recommend calling an ambulance at the first appearance of pain. You should not assume that renal colic can be “waited out” or “endured.” In some cases, the syndrome can last for many years.

Treatment

Back in the nineties of the last century, two completely different methods of combating this disease began to be used: surgical intervention and a conservative method.

The conservative method of therapy is applicable only in cases with medium-sized stones. They use herbal infusions with a diuretic effect and medications that lead to the dissolution of stones.

Almost every drug used to treat urolithiasis or to suppress the symptoms of the disease has an antispasmodic, diuretic and antimicrobial effect. Medicines can only be used as prescribed by the attending physician.

As for surgical intervention, in case of severe pain in the groin and lower abdomen, it is performed immediately. In this case, an ultrasound is initially performed, which makes it possible to determine the localization of the problem.

Abdominal surgeries are used very rarely. Mainly in cases where the stones reach a large diameter. Such a crystal will not be able to leave the body without severe damage to the urinary canals and the mucous membrane of the internal organs.

For non-cavitary operations, a laser or a directed ultrasonic wave with a high energy potential is used. Crushing of stones is carried out under local anesthesia.

After the operation, the patient will need to stay in the hospital for some time.

The doctor will monitor the patient’s health and prescribe rehabilitation therapy.

Every person suffering from kidney stone disease, having experienced pain from kidney stones, must be aware of the fact that the problem can recur. Therefore, after the first case, it is recommended to seriously reconsider your approach to nutrition and attitude to physical activity.

Pain in the side, abdomen, or lower back may indicate that there may be stones in the kidneys. These are the first symptoms of this disease. Another symptom of kidney stones may be changes in the urine - it becomes thin and light-colored. Also, yellow or red sediment in the urine may indicate kidney stones. How to identify kidney stones?

The pain can be in the suprapubic or groin area, as well as in the thigh. The cause of excruciating pain is a stone moving from the kidney along the ureter. The disease may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, bloating and frequent urination. To alleviate the condition, doctors prescribe painkillers.

The pain associated with kidney stones is especially acute. To tell how to identify kidney stones, you need to know the nature of the pain. If the pain that occurs in the lower back is usually dull and not sharp, then these are most likely signs of coral stone, which delays the passage of urine. The general health of the patient may indicate the size and location of the stone.

It happens that after sudden attacks, stones can come out on their own in the urine. But it also happens that when they get stuck, they injure the walls of the ureters; this is evidenced by blood in the urine.

Identifying kidney stones by the location where it hurts

When the stones are small, the pain is usually not acute and tolerable, and in this case there is a chance that the stones will pass out unnoticed on their own. However, consequences of the disease may still be present, such as kidney infection.

If the stone is in the renal pelvis or ureter, then pain manifests itself in the groin area. When the location of the stone is at the outlet or in the lower part of the ureter, the pain is radiated to the genitals.

A patient with kidney stones may have concomitant pyelonephritis, noticeable in the form of high blood pressure or the discharge of pus in the urine.

As a rule, people with kidney stones have previously suffered from various kidney diseases, stress, were often hypothermic, experienced fears, or had sexual promiscuity. Also, people who are hereditarily prone to this are susceptible to the disease.

At the very first manifestations of pain in the kidneys, you should visit a qualified doctor, only he will answer how to identify kidney stones. It is much easier to cure a disease at its beginning than at an advanced stage.

Symptoms

Depending on the location of the stone, the patient may exhibit various symptoms; the main symptoms for this disease are:

Paroxysmal pain. ” href=”http://www.aif.ru/health/life/mozhno_li_rastvorit_kamni_v_pochkah_rasskazyvaet_vrach-urolog”>A stone in the kidney and in the upper part of the ureter is usually characterized by pain from the back or the side directly under the ribs. The pain can be sharp or dull, and the intensity can vary from 20 to 60 minutes. This is often preceded by physical activity, taking large amounts of fluid or diuretics. As the stone moves along the ureter, the location of the pain changes, the pain moves from the lower back to the abdomen, lower abdomen, perineum, inner thigh, and scrotum. These manifestations are complemented by a frequent urge to urinate. It is very important not to confuse renal colic with acute surgical diseases, such as acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, strangulated hernia, ectopic pregnancy, perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers. Therefore, if you have these symptoms, it is extremely important to urgently consult a doctor and determine the cause of the illness as quickly as possible.

Blood in the urine. In case of urolithiasis, the appearance of blood in the urine is preceded by renal colic. Cloudy urine with sediment or a foul odor may also indicate a stone has passed.
Deterioration in general health, in particular nausea, vomiting. These symptoms are especially characteristic of the occurrence of inflammation - pyelonephritis.
Passage of sand or stone- When the stone passes, chills and high fever may occur.

Examination for urolithiasis

In case of the above-described complaints, it is necessary to consult a urologist, who, if necessary, will prescribe additional examinations and decide on further treatment.

Basic examination includes:

taking anamnesis, examining the patient;
general clinical analysis of blood and urine;
Ultrasound of the urinary system. This non-invasive, safe and painless examination method can be used repeatedly for dynamic monitoring during the treatment process;
survey and excretory urography.

Additional examinations may include:

Multislice computed tomography, which allows you to see the stone, calculate its density, volume, see the architectonics of the urinary system, and the condition of the surrounding tissues. If necessary, it is possible to perform 3D reconstruction.
Dynamic and static nephroscintigraphy, which allows you to study renal function and the degree of its impairment.
Urine culture with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics allows us to identify the presence of infection in the urinary tract and the degree of inflammation.

Treatment

After receiving the examination results, the urologist determines treatment tactics in a specific clinical case. Today, urologists have in their arsenal many different treatment methods, including:

drug treatment aimed at spontaneous passage of the stone;
drug treatment aimed at dissolving the stone;
open surgical interventions;
external shock wave lithotripsy;
endoscopic contact lithotripsy;
percutaneous nephrolithotripsy;
endoscopic surgical interventions.

Until recently, open surgical operations in the treatment of urolithiasis were the leading method, however, due to the development of medical technology, they fade into the background and are used only for strict indications. Increasing importance is being given to minimally invasive methods, such as external shock wave lithotripsy, endoscopic methods (contact lithotripsy), and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. The “gold standard” for the treatment of urolithiasis is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, which allows the removal of about 90% of urinary stones of any location. When performing remote shock wave lithotripsy, shock waves, penetrating through tissues and without injuring them, destroy the stone into small fragments, into sand, which is then gradually released with urine during urination. All existing treatment methods are complementary, and an individual treatment method is selected for each patient with a stone of a certain location, size, volume, density, a certain anatomy of the urinary system, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

The question of choosing a method of providing medical care (observation, conservative treatment, surgery) should be decided by qualified urologists who have modern equipment for diagnosing and treating all types of urolithiasis.

Diet for kidney stones
Why are kidney stones dangerous?

Renal colic is one of the symptoms of a disease of the urinary system, namely kidney stones.

Kidney stones are a disease in which stones form in the kidneys. They consist of mineral salts and various acids.

The disease is in second place in terms of prevalence among inflammatory nonspecific kidney diseases. Kidney stones can appear at any age. Quite often, and this is in 30% of cases, they form on both the right and left sides.

Why do kidney stones form?

There are many reasons for the formation of kidney stones. One of the obvious signs is a change in the composition of urine. This happens in epidemic areas where the tap water is too hard.

Perhaps kidney stones develop due to an infectious disease or narrowing of the ureter. Its stenosis can occur when it becomes blocked by dead epithelium, a blood clot, or bacteria. In hot climates, the disease develops faster because people drink large amounts of water.

Stones, which consist of salts and uric acid, are more likely to form in people who eat large amounts of meat. Phosphates, on the contrary, are found in people who are vegetarians and eat foods that are rich in calcium. Cystine stones are formed when the liver is not functioning properly.

There are also xanthine, oxalate and carbonate stones. One group is also distinguished as mixed. Such stones develop from several types of salts and are gradually layered on top of each other.

Risk factors for kidney stones include:

1. Hereditary predisposition;

2. Insufficient sun exposure;

3. Dehydration, poisoning or infectious diseases;

4. Bone injuries;

5. Lack of vitamin D in the body;

6. Abuse of salty, spicy and sour foods;

7. Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.

Pain from kidney stones occurs when it moves through the urinary tract. Most often they are localized in the side and back, but sometimes they can extend to the groin area and lower abdomen.

How do kidney stones appear?

The disease is manifested by the presence of dull pain that occurs due to blockage of the ureter or renal pelvis by stones. If an infection is also added to this, the urine becomes cloudy in color with streaks of blood.

Pain can be expressed in the back and side, and often occurs when urinating.

When an infection occurs, a high temperature rises and vomiting occurs. Nausea can accompany the patient constantly, this is especially pronounced during an attack of renal colic. Renal colic can be triggered by several factors, such as driving, shaking, lifting heavy objects, or exercising.

In addition, patients are often tormented by high blood pressure and frequent urination, which may be accompanied by pain. When the water balance is disturbed, swelling appears.

Between attacks, mild pain in the area of one of the kidneys is possible. But in some cases the disease does not manifest itself at all. And it is detected by chance, during an ultrasound examination, a urine test or an x-ray.

The patient’s well-being may depend on the location, type and size of the stone. For example, oxalates have sharp edges, so when moving through the urinary tract they injure the mucous membrane. Therefore, an infection may subsequently occur. But phosphates cause much less injury.

What types of kidney stones are there?

Based on their chemical composition, they are divided into phosphates, oxalates, urates and carbonates. In rare cases, cystine, protein and xanthine stones can be found.

There are 5 types of kidney stones:

1. Uric acid stones are urates that are found in older people.

2. Inorganic calcium compounds are phosphates and oxalates, which are found in 80% of cases.

4. Protein stones are very rare and indicate a violation of amino acid metabolism.

5. Mixed types of stones are formed in almost 50% of cases.

How are kidney stones diagnosed?

The pain during attacks of renal colic is so severe that the patient does not care, sooner or later, seek help from a doctor. He will carefully examine the medical history, localization of pain and send you for an ultrasound or x-ray examination of the kidneys, as well as give a referral for a general urine test.

Still, the best method of confirming the diagnosis of kidney stones is x-ray diagnostics. After all, overview photographs clearly show the location of the stones and their number.

On ultrasound, unfortunately, stones can only be seen when they reach 3 mm in diameter. Only the most modern devices can see smaller pebbles.

Excretory urography is important in diagnosing kidney stones. It helps determine the performance of the kidneys and urinary tract and identify impaired functions.

Computed tomography is the most modern way to identify stones.

But, unfortunately, not all cities have a tomograph, and even if they do, the examination is sometimes very expensive. And many cannot afford it.

How to get rid of kidney stones?

There are several types of surgeries to remove kidney stones. For example, lithotripsy or litholysis. For severe pain, painkillers are used, and the patient is prescribed a diet.

Litolysis - dissolution of stones

Dissolving kidney stones is a breakthrough in modern medicine. It is carried out through the use of a mixture of sodium citrate, citric acid and potassium. These drugs are taken orally. To determine the dose of the drug and how long it should be used, your doctor may order weekly urine pH measurements to help create a schedule.

Lithotripsy – crushing stones

Lithotripsy - this procedure is performed in water in a semi-sitting position. A special device is directed to the area specified by the doctor. The procedure is very unpleasant, but tolerable. Stone crushing is used in cases of frequent attacks of renal colic and the presence of large stones.

Smaller stones may pass on their own, after drug therapy or drinking a lot of water.

Painkillers for kidney stones

For acute pain, it is possible to use Baralgin, Fortran, Trigan or Maxigan tablets. These drugs help relieve spasms and reduce pain.

Once the diagnosis has been established, a good pain reliever for kidney stones is to use a hot heating pad on the lumbar area or a bath with a water temperature of no more than 45 degrees.

If you cannot relieve the pain on your own and urine output decreases sharply, you should immediately call an ambulance!

Diet for kidney stones

The diet depends on what stones were found in the patient.

The diet for urate stones includes the consumption of cereals, bread products, mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and dairy products. You cannot eat canned food, meat soups, pates, pickles, liver sausage and offal.

The diet for phosphate stones includes: meat, canned food, pasta, cereals, vegetable fats, butter, rosehip tincture, honey, sweets. Do not consume: dairy products, alcohol, eggs, pickles, nuts, berries, fruits, vegetables and strong tea and coffee.

Oxalate stones are formed at an increased concentration of oxalic acid, so fatty meat, poultry, smoked meats, meat broths, fish broths, vegetables, and mushrooms should be excluded from the diet. You can eat boiled meat and fish, drink juices, bread, and fruit salads.

Prevention of pain due to urolithiasis

1. Maintain drinking regime. It is very important to drink up to 3 liters of purified water per day to facilitate the passage of small stones and sand. You should not drink mineral water; it may contain salts that contribute to the formation of stones.

2. Follow the diet prescribed by your doctor.

3. Treat diseases of the genitourinary system. Contact your doctor at the first signs of illness. Don’t waste time, citing your busyness, your health is more important than anything else!

Why are kidney stones dangerous?

Urolithiasis is a rather dangerous disease that can lead to hydronephrosis, chronic renal failure and even the loss of one or both kidneys.

If you have kidney stones, what pain? What symptoms indicate the presence of kidney stones? What is the treatment for urolithiasis?

The nature of pain with kidney stones

Other symptoms of kidney stones

Where to go for diagnosis and treatment

Reasons for education

Calcium oxalate stones

Symptoms of kidney stones

Blood in urine due to kidney stones

Diagnostics

Treatment of kidney stones

Drugs for dissolving kidney stones

Crushing kidney stones

Surgical removal of stones

Diet for kidney stones

How to treat kidney stones with folk remedies

Causes

Symptoms of urolithiasis

Localization of pain in urolithiasis

Blood in urine and sand

Diagnostics

Treatment of urolithiasis

Diet

Prevention of stones

Complications

Nature of the disease

Occurrence of stone

Causes of the disease

Types of pain

Treatment

Identifying kidney stones by the location where it hurts

More articles on this topic:

Symptoms

Examination for urolithiasis

Treatment

Litolysis - dissolution of stones

Lithotripsy – crushing stones