Kidney stones are a common condition in the United States. Though they sometimes pass without issue, larger stones can be painful. The first step to relieving discomfort is to know when medical treatment is appropriate. Here, the Urology Department at Richmond University Medical Center discusses symptoms of kidney stones, their causes, and how they can be treated and prevented.
What Are Kidney Stones?
The kidneys are fist-sized organs responsible for filtering waste products out of the blood. This waste is mainly composed of mineral byproducts from various bodily functions. They include:
- Calcium
- Oxalate
- Urate
- Cystine
- Xanthine
- Phosphate
After removal from the blood, these minerals are dissolved in water to create a liquid known as urine. The urine is then stored in the bladder until the person goes to the bathroom. Ordinarily, there is enough water to dissolve all waste minerals completely. If there are too many minerals, however, or if the body does not have access to enough water, sedimentation may form. This sedimentation eventually crystallizes into hard lumps. These are kidney stones.
After kidney stones form, they may remain in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract. Tiny stones can pass out of the body without causing problems. Larger stones, however, may irritate the kidney or ureter. This irritation is what causes discomfort and other complications.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones occur when mineral levels in urine reach a critical concentration. There may be excess quantities of waste minerals, or there may be insufficient water to dissolve them properly. This imbalance can arise due to several factors, including:
Dehydration
Most kidney stones are caused by dehydration. Many people drink too little water, meaning the kidneys do not receive enough fluids to fully dissolve all waste products. To reduce the likelihood of kidney stones, patients should strive to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Diet
Over 80% of kidney stones are made up of oxalate. This organic compound is found in high quantities in certain food items, including:
- Spinach
- Nuts
- Tea
- Chocolate
- Black pepper
Eating large quantities of these foods may increase a person’s risk of developing kidney stones. Other foods that raise kidney stone risk include protein-rich foods (such as red meat), salty or sugary foods, and vitamin C supplements.
Health Issues
Some health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and cystic fibrosis, cause malabsorption issues. This means the body struggles to absorb nutrients effectively, resulting in higher waste concentrations and frequent kidney stones.
Previous Surgeries
Bariatric or weight loss surgery works by reducing the size of a person’s stomach or the length of the small intestine. This alters how the body absorbs nutrients. Patients with a previous bariatric surgery may be at risk of kidney stones caused by malabsorption.
Genetics
Kidney stones may also be caused by genetics. If a person has a strong family history of stones, then they may also be susceptible to developing them more often.
What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Most kidney stones do not cause any symptoms. They pass painlessly out of the body with urine, and a person may not ever realize the stone existed. If stones grow too large, however, they may cause irritation or even a total blockage in the urinary tract. This may cause the following symptoms:
- A sense of internal pressure
- Pain in the lower back, side, or groin
- Pain that radiates from the groin to the side
- Pain or discomfort during urination
- Blood in urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Inability to urinate
- Fever or chills
- Nausea and vomiting
In some cases, kidney stone symptoms go away once the stone passes from the body. Very large stones, however, may not leave the body on their own. These may require medical intervention to break up or remove the stone to prevent potentially severe complications.
What Are the Treatments for Kidney Stones?
The best kidney stone treatment depends on the stone’s size and where it is located. The experienced urologists at Richmond University Medical Center apply a variety of methods to help smaller stones pass naturally or to break down larger ones. Options include:
- Stone diet: Patients can pass small stones by consuming 2.5 to 3 liters (about 100 ounces) of water with lemon each day. This helps dissolve and flush the stone.
- Medication: The patient may be prescribed a medication to relax the ureter, reducing internal pressure and helping a small stone pass more easily.
- ESWL treatment: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) applies shock waves to the side of the body, breaking large stones into smaller parts.
- Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy: A tiny camera is inserted into the urethra, where it guides a laser that obliterates kidney stones to a fine dust.
- Stenting: A hollow piece of plastic is inserted between the kidney and the bladder, alleviating pressure and creating additional space for larger stones to pass.
- Surgery: Very large kidney stones may require surgical treatment. Surgeons enter through the back and use precise tools to break up kidney stones.
Small stones usually pass quickly with the right treatment. Larger ones may require multiple treatments to fully eliminate.
Preventing Future Stones
Kidney stones are often a recurring condition. This means that patients who have one kidney stone are likely to develop another within the next five years.
To help prevent future stones, Richmond University Medical Center performs a lab analysis of kidney stones after they pass. They may also request a 24-hour urine test. By learning more about the patient’s urine makeup and what their stone was made of, physicians may be able to determine its cause. They can then recommend long-term prevention plans such as:
- Medication to reduce uric acid
- Reduced seafood, red meat, or alcohol consumption
- Reduced salt consumption
- Increased calcium consumption
- Other diet changes
- Weight loss
- Increased exercise
- Treatment for related health conditions
Kidney stones do not need to be a recurring complaint. By making the right lifestyle changes, patients and physicians can effectively manage stones and prevent future ones from developing – helping the patient find long-term relief and peace of mind.
Seek a Trusted Healthcare Provider at Richmond University Medical Center
If you are struggling with possible kidney stone symptoms, do not ignore the discomfort. Instead, seek help from a trusted healthcare provider. The urologists at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, handle all aspects of kidney stone care, from initial diagnosis to pain management, treatment, and prevention. We will help you find relief and avoid future pain. Contact us to learn more about our urology services or to schedule an appointment.
