Kidney Stones – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The hard deposits of minerals and acidic salts, which stick together in the concentrated urine are called kidney stones. Also known as renal calculi, these stones usually originate in the kidney but can develop anywhere in your urinary tract including kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra. Although they do not cause any permanent damage, they are known to be one of the most painful medical conditions. The type of kidney stone determines its cause.

Types of kidney stones

Different kidney stones are made up of different crystals. These crystals include:

1. Calcium– the most common type of kidney stone is made up of calcium oxalate. Eating less oxalate-rich food will reduce your chances of developing this type of stone. Some high oxalate-rich foods are spinach, peanuts, chocolate, and potato chips, etc. Although kidney stones are made of calcium, you must maintain a balance calcium diet to prevent stones from forming.
2. Uric acid– more often found in men, this type of kidney stone occurs in people with gout or undergoing chemotherapy. When urine becomes too acidic, this type of stone develops. Purine, a colorless substance found in animal proteins like fish, meats, etc, helps increase the urine’s acidic level.
3. Struvite– this type of kidney stone is more common in women who have urinary tract infections. Arising from a kidney infection, these stones are large and cause urinary obstruction. Treating the infection on time works as a preventive for the stones.
4. Cystine– this type of kidney stone develops due to a genetic disorder called cystinuria. Your body produces a naturally occurring acid cystine, and with this kidney stone, cystine leaks into your urine from the kidneys. This stone can occur in both men and women, but it is very rare.

What causes kidney stones?

Apart from these substances, other waste products present in the blood may form crystals and get collected inside your kidneys. With time, the crystals may form a hard stone-like lump or a solid stone. This happens when:

• You do not drink enough fluids
• You take up some specific type of medication
• You have a specific medical condition that raises the levels of certain other substances in your urine.

Symptoms and signs of kidney stone

The smaller kidney stones, which remain in the kidney, do not cause any damage nor they show any symptoms. They begin to cause a problem when they move into your ureter. While some stones won’t cause you any pain and pass without being noticed, some stones cause a lot of pain.

Here are eight common signs and symptoms that you may encounter, if you develop a kidney stone. Remember, you must immediately consult a doctor if you have these symptoms.

1. Pain or burning during urination- you will feel pain while urinating when the stone reaches the junction between the ureter and bladder. This is called dysuria.
2. Pain in the back, belly, or side– the pain starts when a stone moves into the narrow tube of the ureter. This causes a blockage, and pressure builds up in the kidney. This activates nerve fibers that transmit pain signals to the brain. Kidney stone pain often starts suddenly and as the stone moves, the location of the pain keeps on changing. You may feel the pain along your side and back, below your ribs. The severity of pain doesn’t depend on the size of the stone.
3. Fever and chills– fever and chills indicate that you have an infection in some part of your urinary tract. This may be a serious complication but can also mean something besides kidney stones.
4. Nausea and vomiting– nausea and vomiting are common for people with kidney stones because of the shared nerve connections between the kidney and GI tract. It is also your body’s way of responding to intense pain.
5. Urinate a small amount every time– when large kidney stones get stuck in your ureter, they create a blockage. Thus every time you urinate very small amount of urine is passed out. If the urine flow stops entirely, then it is a medical emergency.
6. Smelly urine– smelly urine is a sign of infection in your urinary tract. The smell comes from the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.
7. Blood in urine– Blood in the urine is a common symptom in people with urinary tract stones. This is called hematuria.
8. Urgent need to urinate– the urgency or frequency increases if you have a urinary tract infection.

But if you notice these symptoms, it doesn’t always mean that you might be suffering from kidney stones. Some kidney stones pass without noticing and some stones cause problems. So how do you know when to consult a doctor? Stones cause common symptoms like pain, trouble urinating, cloudy or smelly urine, nausea, and vomiting. You must consult your doctor in case your pain increases and becomes unbearable.

In case you notice any such symptoms, you can always reach out to us. The team of healthcare professionals at Ufinity Life, will help you understand and manage your condition. Based on an exhaustive and comprehensive study of your symptoms and past health issues, our doctors will create a holistic treatment plan for you. And our health coach will help you adhere to the recommendations, and partner with you, in your journey to better health.

Treatment of kidney stone

Just like the cause, the treatment also depends on the type of stone. For the basics the urine samples are stained and stones are collected for the evaluation. There are various treatment methods including medication, clinical methods, etc.

Some of the methods are:

1. Medications– medicines are recommended to people to bear the pain that they suffer. Treatment with antibiotics becomes essential when you get infected.
2. Lithotripsy– in this method extracorporeal shock wave is used. These sound waves are used to break up large stones so they can easily pass down the ureters into your bladder. This procedure may be uncomfortable and may require light anesthesia. Abdomen and back bruising, bleeding in the kidneys and the nearby organs are some of the side effects of undergoing this method.
3. Tunnel surgery– surgery is the process when a surgeon removes the stones through a small incision in your back. A person will need this procedure when:

• the stone starts causing obstruction and infection or is damaging your kidneys.
• the stone has grown too big to pass.
• pain becomes unbearable.

1. Ureteroscopy- an instrument called a ureteroscope is used by doctors to remove a stone that gets stuck in your ureter or bladder. A camera is attached with a wire and passed into the bladder through the urethra. The stone is then snagged into a small cage by the doctor and removed.

Prevention for kidney stones

Medication, surgery everything’s okay but do you know there are home remedies as well? These are certain easy tips and tricks which you can practice to prevent your condition from getting worse. Staying hydrated is the key. Drinking plenty of fluids will help in passing kidney stones and prevent new stones from forming. The fluid flushes out toxins help move stones and, also grit through the urinary tract. Although water is effective enough but adding certain other ingredients can prove to be beneficial. But make sure to consult with your doctor before you get started with any of the remedies mentioned below.

1. Celery juice

• Clear out toxins that help in kidney stone formation
• Can be mixed with water and consumed throughout the day
• Avoid if you have- bleeding disorder, a scheduled surgery, low blood pressure

2. Lemon juice

• They contain citrate, which prevents calcium from forming.
• Break down large stones and help them pass.
• Squeeze some lemon into your water and drink

3. Basil juice

• Reduces pain
• Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in basil Juice, help in maintaining kidney health
• You can add fresh or dried basil leaves to your tea and drink
• Avoid if you have- low blood sugar, low blood pressure, increase bleeding

4. Pomegranate juice

• Prevent kidney stones from developing
• Lower urine’s acidity level
• Avoid if you are taking medication of liver or blood pressure

5. Dandelion root juice

• Stimulates bile production
• Prevents kidney stone for developing
• Avoid if you are taking medication of blood thinners, antacids, antibiotics

We at Ufinity Life understand your problem and the importance of getting correct treatment for better outcomes. A painful condition like a kidney needs the collaborative work of the patient and the doctor. Keeping that in mind, we will also set up proactive monitoring of your vitals, reminders for your medications all these will be kept on track to minimize complications that lead to hospitalization and ensure your speedy recovery.

Especially for kidney stones, we at Ufinity Life provide you a dedicated Health Coach and experienced healthcare professionals to help you manage and monitor your renal health. With regular check-ups, automated reminders, alerts, and intervention as needed to minimize complications and hospitalization, we hope to support you in achieving a healthier body.

With Ufinity Life, round-the-clock, comprehensive and compassionate healthcare is available to you from the safety and comfort of your home throughout the period of treatment.

Join hands with us to ensure your good health & wellbeing.