Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are the hard deposits which are made of minerals & salts which form in our kidneys. There are many causes behind kidney stones & they may affect any area of our urinary tract, right from kidneys to our bladder. Stones are often formed when urine gets concentrated thus allowing the minerals to crystalize & get stuck together.

Passing the kidney stones is often very painful; however, these stones generally do not cause a permanent damage, if they are identified on time.

Depending upon the situation, we may require nothing more than taking a pain medicine besides drinking plenty of water to pass the stone. In other circumstances, such as when the stones get stuck within urinary tract, are linked to urinary infection or result in complications, surgery could be required. The doctor can suggest the preventive treatment to lower the risk of recurring kidney stones, if one is at an increased risk of developing them again.

Symptoms of kidney stone

Kidney stone may not result in symptoms until it gets around our kidney or it passes in to the ureter which is the tube linking our bladder & kidney. We may then experience below signs & symptoms:-

• Sever pain on side & back, below ribs
• Pain which increases in waves & fluctuates in intensity
• Pain which radiates to lower abdomen & groin
• Pink, brown or red urine
• Pain while urinating
• Foul smelling or cloudy urine
• Nausea & vomiting
• Increase in the frequency of urination
• Urination in small amounts
• Fever & chills due to presence of some infection

Pain resulting from kidney stone can change, i.e. shifting to another location or rise in intensity with the movement of stone across the urinary tract.

When to visit a doctor

We shall visit a doctor if we experience any sign or symptoms which worry us. We shall seek quick medical attention if we experience:-

• Severe pain which does not allow us to sit still
• Pain along with nausea & vomiting
• Pain along with fever & chills
• Difficulties in passing urine
• Blood in urine