A blocked kidney stone can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the size and location of the stone in the urinary tract. The most common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, especially in the lower back, side, and groin area that can come in waves; nausea and vomiting; pain while urinating; cloudy or bloody urine; and a strong urge to urinate, even if there is only a small amount of urine to pass.
Additionally, pain may also be felt in other areas of the body, such as the groin, testicles, and penis in men; inner thighs and labia in women; and lower abdomen in children. Other potential symptoms may include chills, fever, fatigue, and the persistent urge to urinate more frequently.
Depending on the size of the stone, symptoms may be mild or more severe. A blocked kidney stone should be treated by a healthcare professional as soon as possible to help reduce pain and to help prevent the stone from growing or causing additional complications.
What do you do when a kidney stone is stuck?
If a kidney stone is stuck, it is important to seek medical care right away. Depending on the size, location, and type of stone, your doctor may use one or more treatments to remove the stone. The most common treatment for a kidney stone that is stuck is shockwave lithotripsy (SWL).
This technique involves using shockwaves to break u the stone into smaller pieces that can then pass naturally through the urinary tract. If that does not work, a doctor may use a ureteroscope, which is a thin tube with a camera on the end, to locate and remove the stone.
If the stone is too large to pass or remove, a doctor may recommend surgery such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to remove it. Your doctor can discuss your treatment options with you and help you determine the best course of action.
How long can a kidney stone be stuck in the kidney?
Kidney stones can be stuck in the kidney for varying lengths of time, depending on their size and composition. Smaller stones typically pass on their own within a couple of weeks, while larger stones may become lodged in the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder.
In some cases, stones can remain in the kidney for months or even years without causing symptoms. The longer a stone remains in the kidney, the greater the chance that it will cause blockage or inflammation, and the greater the risk of developing complications such as a urinary tract infection or sepsis.
Larger stones may require medical or surgical intervention in order to remove them.
When should you go to the ER for kidney stones?
If you experience any of the more serious symptoms related to kidney stones, you should go to the ER as soon as possible. These symptoms include severe abdominal pain, pain that radiates to the lower back, groin, or toward the genitals, a fever, urinary tract infections, nausea or vomiting, blood in the urine, or extreme difficulty with or inability to urinate.
If any of these symptoms occur along with the diagnosis of kidney stones, medical attention is advised. Additionally, if you have small kidney stones and are unable to pass them on your own, you should visit the ER, as this may require an intervention by a medical professional.
How do you know if a kidney stone is moving?
If you think you might have a kidney stone, it’s important to keep track of your symptoms. Pain is the primary symptom of a kidney stone and the location of the pain can help determine if the stone is moving.
If you feel pain in the back, side, groin, or abdomen, it could indicate that the stone is moving down the ureter towards the bladder. Other signs that a kidney stone is moving include urinary changes, pain that increases and decreases in intensity, and the presence of blood in the urine.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
What will ER do for kidney stone pain?
When it comes to relieving kidney stone pain, the main approach is typically through medication and diagnoses with the help of a healthcare provider. For example, if the kidney stone is causing discomfort, the healthcare provider may recommend a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the pain.
In some cases, the healthcare provider may also suggest imaging tests such as an ultrasound, X-rays or CT scans to find out the size and location of the kidney stone. Once the size and location have been determined, the healthcare provider can then suggest the best treatment option, which might be medication or something more involved, like extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).
ESWL is a non-surgical procedure that uses sound waves to break up small stones into smaller particles for easy passage within the body. Additionally, depending on the size of the kidney stone and its position, the healthcare provider may recommend that the stone be surgically removed.
In severe cases, if the stone is too large to pass naturally and cannot be removed through medication or ESWL, the healthcare provider may suggest percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which is a more involved surgical procedure designed to remove larger stones.
Regardless of the course of treatment, the goal for kidney stone pain is to relieve the discomfort, flush out the stones or remove them, and prevent further stones from forming.
Is it OK to leave kidney stones untreated?
In most cases, it is not advised to leave kidney stones untreated. Kidney stones are hard masses made of minerals and salts that can form in the kidneys. If left untreated, they can cause severe pain and blockage in the urinary tract.
If a stone is small enough and is passed out of the body on its own, it is not necessarily cause for concern and treatment may not be necessary. However, if the stone is large or is causing symptoms, then medical intervention is recommended.
Treatment options typically involve medications, special diets and/or medical procedures. Surgery may be used to remove stones that are too large to pass naturally and antibiotics may be used to prevent infection of the kidney.
Therefore, it is generally best to consult a doctor and receive treatment for kidney stones rather than leave them untreated.
What medicine breaks up kidney stones?
Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that can form inside the kidneys when high levels of certain minerals or salts are present in the urine. The medical term for a kidney stone is nephrolithiasis.
The most commonly used medications are alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin, which relax the muscles in the ureter and allow the stone to more easily pass. Other medications that can be used are diuretics and antispasmodics, which can help increase the amount of urine produced by the body and help the stone pass more easily.
In certain cases, medications such as potassium citrate or allopurinol may be prescribed to prevent stones from occurring again. If medication does not work, other treatments such as shock wave lithotripsy or surgery may be necessary.
Is it better to go to the ER or urgent care for kidney stones?
It depends. If the pain is severe and you experience nausea, fever, or chills, or if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease, then it is best to go to the emergency room.
In the ER, you will be under the care of a physician, and they can provide more specialized care and a higher level of pain relief medication than an urgent care center. However, if the pain is relatively mild, you do not have a fever, and you do not have any other medical conditions, then an urgent care center may be the better option.
At an urgent care, you may be able to be seen faster than an ER, but they may not offer the same level of specialized care or pain relief medication. Additionally, they may provide tests such as imaging studies and blood tests to diagnose the exact cause of your pain.
Regardless of whether you choose the ER or urgent care, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor can provide the best recommendation for your treatment plan.
Will a hospital keep you for kidney stones?
Yes, a hospital will keep you for kidney stones depending on the severity. If the kidney stone is small and able to pass through the urinary tract, then hospitalization may not be necessary. However, if the kidney stone is too large or is blocking the flow of urine, hospitalization may be necessary.
The stay in the hospital will prevent the formation of any further stones in the kidney. During the hospital stay, the doctor may use imaging scans and other tests to determine the size and location of the stone.
Treatment options may include surgical removal or medications to break down the stone. Treatment will depend on the size and location of the stone. Depending on the severity, the doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of future kidney stones.
What is the most painful stage of passing a kidney stone?
The most painful stage of passing a kidney stone is known as “renal colic”. This is the period when a kidney stone is moving down the ureter (the tube connecting your kidney to your bladder). During this time, you may experience severe pain in your abdomen, back and side.
This pain can be so intense that it can cause nausea, vomiting and sweating. The pain may start in the abdomen and move down the ureter to the groin area. It can come in waves and be more intense after certain activities like drinking fluids, using the restroom or exercising.
Passing a kidney stone can also be accompanied by blood in the urine. The pain associated with passing a kidney stone typically remains until all the stone fragments have been passed and can take up to several days or longer.
What are the symptoms of a kidney stone stuck in the ureter?
When a kidney stone gets stuck in the ureter, one of the most common symptoms is severe pain, often described as a cramping or spasm with a sharp ache. This pain may be located in the back, side, or groin area and may occur suddenly or gradually worsen.
Symptoms may also include nausea and vomiting, difficulty or pain during urination, blood in the urine, and a frequent urge to urinate. In some cases, the pain may be intense enough to cause sweating and chills.
The sufferer may also experience extreme fatigue and a feeling of general malaise. Additionally, they may experience an increased urge to use their abdominal muscles in order to move the stone, but this will not likely be successful as it can cause the stone to become even more lodged in the narrow ureters.
Is a stuck kidney stone an emergency?
Yes, a stuck kidney stone can be an emergency. If a kidney stone is stuck and causes a blockage, it can cause severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. It can also result in dangerous complications such as urinary tract infections, kidney infections, bleeding, and possible kidney damage.
Therefore, if you think you may have a stuck kidney stone, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Visiting your primary care doctor as soon as possible can help ensure that the blockage is removed safely and quickly.
Additionally, if you are experiencing severe pain associated with a stuck kidney stone, seek out emergency care right away.
Can the ER do anything for kidney stones?
Yes, the ER can do something for kidney stones. Depending on their size and location, doctors may be able to treat them in the ER. If the stone is small enough, they may be able to pass it naturally or use certain medications or treatments to break it down.
In the ER, they may perform tests like a CT scan to find out the size and location of the stone. Depending on the results, they may administer pain medications if the patient is in pain. If the stone is too large or located in a spot that won’t easily pass, they may refer a patient to a specialist to receive additional treatment, such as ultrasound shock wave therapy to break the stones into smaller pieces for easier passing.
What happens if a kidney stone Cannot be removed?
If a kidney stone cannot be removed, it will remain in the kidney and will eventually pass on its own. However, this can take a few weeks or even months, and in the meantime, it can cause pain. Surgery may be required if the stone is particularly large or painful, or if it is blocking the flow of urine out of the body.
In some cases, it is possible to dissolve kidney stones with medication that works to break down calcium deposits. Other medications may be prescribed to help relieve pain caused by the stones. A special diet may also be recommended to prevent the formation of new stones.
In rare cases, if a kidney stone is causing a severe infection, dialysis might be used to remove it.
Ultimately, the best course of action for a kidney stone that cannot be removed will depend on a variety of factors, such as the size of the stone, the amount of pain it is causing, and any underlying medical conditions.
It is important for anyone experiencing kidney stone-related pain to consult with a doctor or healthcare professional for the best possible outcome.