Oh! Those Troublesome Kidney Stones

28-11-2014
By Sehat

How many times have you not heard of people complaining about these very painful kidney stones. It is rather difficult for us to visualize or imagine the torture they undergo when suffering the pain from kidney stones. Do you have any idea what these kidney stones are and why they cause so much trouble?

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are formed as a result of accumulation of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys. These deposits start small, but they can even grow to the size of a table-tennis ball.

Kidney stones are minute and can pass unnoticed through the urinary tract, but those kidney stones that remain in the body can lead to many complications. They may lead to blockage of the ureter (the tube that connects the kidney and the bladder) obstructing the passage of urine. The movement of kidney stones through the narrow pipes of the ureter and the urethra are responsible for causing severe pain.

What Causes Kidney Stones?

The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water through the day. Stones are very commonly found in people who consume less than the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day. When there is not enough water in the body to dilute the uric acid formed - uric acid is a component of urine - the pH level comes down and becomes more acidic. An extremely acidic environment in the kidneys results in the formation of stones.

Who Can Get Kidney Stones?

Formation of kidney stones is a very common among both, men and women, but the incidence is found more in men than women. Kidney stones usually make their appearance between the ages of 30-50. Do you have a family history of kidney stones? If so, you stand a pretty good chance of developing them at some point of time in your life. Then again, if you have had kidney stones earlier, you stand a risk of developing stones again, but don't worry there is good news. You can take preventive action.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

You will not have any indication or symptoms of kidney stones till it moves into the ureter. When the urine is clear and not yellow colored, you have fewer chances of stone formation.

If You Have Kidney Stones, You Will Notice the Following Symptoms:

Severe pain in the groin and or/sides
Fluctuating intensity of pain which comes in waves
White blood cells or pus in the urine
Reduced amounts of urine
Presence of blood in the urine
Pink, red, or brown colored urine
Nausea and vomiting
Burning sensation during urination
Frequent urge to urinate
Fever and chills in the event of an infection
Cloudy or foul smelling urine
Change in intensity of pain as the stone moves through the urinary tract

Types of Kidney Stones

There are different types of kidney stones, and knowing the type of kidney stone you have, may help you in preventing further incidence of stones.

These Type of Kidney Stones Are Normally Found:

Calcium stones
Struvite stones
Uric acidic stones
Cystine stones

Diagnostic Tests

When you approach a doctor with your problem, he may order the following tests to confirm the presence of kidney stones.

Blood tests: Blood tests can confirm the presence of too much of calcium or uric acid in your blood.
Urine tests: A 24-hour urine collection may show that you are passing out too many stone-forming minerals or it may show that you have too few stone-preventing substances.
X-rays
CT scan
Ultrasound scan
Intravenous pyelography

Treatment

The method of treatment varies from person to person, and on the size of the stone.

Small stones that do not cause any pain do not require any invasive treatment and can pass out naturally through the urine. Drinking as much water as possible will help you flush out your urinary system. It is recommended that you drink about 2.5 to 3 liters of water every day to produce clear or nearly clear urine.

Medical therapy: Your doctor may give a medication to help pass your kidney stones easily. This medication, known as alpha blocker, relaxes the muscles in the ureter and allows you to pass the kidney stone with ease and less pain.

Kidney stones that cannot pass out trough the urine naturally may require invasive treatment. It is possible that either the stones are too large to pass out or they may cause bleeding, kidney damage, or urinary tract infections.

There Are Various Types of Procedures for This and They Are:

Sound Wave Lithotripsy: This method is used for certain kidney stones, depending on the size and location. Sound waves are used to create strong vibrations that breaks the stones into tiny pieces, small enough to pass out through the urine.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: This procedure involves surgically removing the kidney stone using small telescopes and instruments inserted through a small incision in the back.

Ureteroscope: This method is used for removal of small stonesin your ureter or kidney. The doctor passes a thin lighted tube, fitted with a camera, through the urethra and bladder, to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special instruments are used to catch the stone and crush it into small pieces that will pass out through the urine.

Parathyroid Gland Surgery: Sometimes calcium stones are formed due to overactive parathyroid glands which are located at the four corners of the thyroid gland. Sometimes a small tumor forms in one of the parathyroid glands that makes these glands to produce more parathyroid hormone. Removing the growth stops the formation of kidney stones.

Prevention is definitely better than cure. We suggest you follow these preventive measures to ensure that you do not go through the hassles of kidney stones.