What Causes Kidney Stone Pain in the Body?
If you are experiencing the symptoms of kidney stone pain, you should first understand the types of pain associated with them.
There are several types of kidney stones, such as Calcium oxalate, backed-up urine, Chronic inflammation, and Shock wave lithotripsy.
The first two types of pain caused by kidney stones are non-prescription and prescription. Non-prescription medications include ibuprofen and naproxen.
You should avoid NSAIDs if you have certain medical conditions.
Calcium oxalate
A kidney stone is a solid substance made up of calcium and oxalate. Usually, calcium forms stones when it combines with other substances in the urinary tract.
The most common form of calcium stone is oxalate, which is found in certain types of foods, especially those rich in vitamin C.
Some gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea and ulcerative colitis also contribute to the formation of these stones.
For more information on urinary tract stones, consult your doctor.
While calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth, it can also lead to kidney stones if you are lacking in the mineral.
If you are lacking calcium, you should take a daily calcium supplement.
You should eat dairy products, not calcium supplements if you want to avoid the development of kidney stones.
For best results, consult your doctor for proper treatment.
You can also undergo a 24-hour urine test to determine oxalate levels. The normal level of oxalate in urine is below 45 milligrams per day.
The bladder stores urine, which can be about one and a half to two cups in size.
The urethra is the final stop in the urinary tract, where urine is passed out of the body. Kidney stones may form for years before you notice pain or symptoms.
It will only begin to hurt when the stone moves out of the kidney. Fortunately, this condition doesn’t lead to chronic kidney disease or even death.
Other symptoms of kidney stone pain include fever, chills, and a sudden, intense need to urinate.
You will probably also experience blood in your urine. Blood in the urine can be brown, pink, or red.
These blood cells may be too small to see without a microscope, but it can be difficult to tell unless you take a urine sample and examine it for blood.
Your doctor can perform a urine test to determine whether there’s blood.
Chronic inflammation
Kidney stones are small, hard, and painful masses that form in the kidneys.
Kidney stones cause pain and discomfort when they migrate through the urinary tract and ureter.
They are often located in the groin or flank area. They may also move to the labia or testicles.
The pain may be intermittent and can move in cycles lasting 10 to 30 minutes. If the stones do not move, they can lead to a back-up of urine and pain.
People suffering from kidney stones have no specific cause, but many factors can contribute to their formation.
One of these factors is too much fructose in the diet. High fructose intake is associated with an increased risk of kidney stone formation.
Eating too much sugar and salt can also increase your risk.
Avoid sugary foods or drinks that contain high fructose. Additionally, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, as these can reduce the concentration of stone-forming chemicals in the urine.
Shock wave lithotripsy
Shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of kidney stones uses high-energy shock waves to break up the stones.
Shock wave lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure.
A lithotripter generates the shock waves, which travel into the body and break the stones into smaller pieces that can pass through the urinary tract.
While the treatment does not completely eliminate the stone, it can help the patient avoid painful surgery.
Shock wave lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure that does not require incisions. You will need pain medication and be under general anesthesia.
The procedure can be performed while you are awake or asleep.
You will lie on a procedure table and a water-filled cushion near the location of the stone.
Your provider will then position you so that your body is properly aligned with the shockwaves.
This procedure usually takes about an hour, and you should be able to go home the same day.
Non-prescription pain medication
You may have heard that non-prescription pain medication for kidney stones can be helpful.
The truth is that non-prescription pain medications can cause more harm than good, and should not be used by people with weak kidney function.
These medications have the potential to damage kidney structures and tissue over time, and prolonged use of high doses can lead to an increased risk of kidney failure.
Furthermore, older people may be more sensitive to non-prescription pain medicines and should take lower doses than younger people.
While you might not have experienced any symptoms at the onset of the condition, you should know that most of these stones do not pass on their own.
They can take weeks or even months to pass, so if you can’t bear the pain, non-prescription pain medication can help.
In addition to pain relief, these medications are effective in relaxing muscles in the ureter, which can speed up the process of passing the stone.
Conclusion
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