"Unbearable." "Worse than labor." "Brought me to my knees." These are just a few of the many ways people describe the extreme back and side pain that can come from having a kidney stone. Other common kidney stone symptoms include fever and chills; urine that's bloody, burns or smells bad and nausea and vomiting. Although the stone or stones may pass on their own, medical attention is required.
Causes
A build-up of calcium in the kidneys can be blamed for the majority of kidney stones. Urinary tract infections can also be a cause, as can excess acid in the urine.
Size and Shape
Kidney stones may be as tiny as a grain of rice or as large as a golf ball. Some are smooth; others jagged. They may be yellow or brown. No matter what the size or shape, however, the result is generally severe pain.
Treatments
Most small stones pass out of the body without any other treatment than drinking extra fluids. Non-prescription pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprophen are also often prescribed. However, if the pain is too severe, or the stones block the urinary tract, shock waves may be used to break up a large stones into smaller ones that can be more easily passed. Or, surgery may be recommended to remove the stones through a small cut in the back, or by a thin tube being inserted into the urinary tract.
Recurrence
People who have one kidney stone episode are likely to have another.
Prevention
Drinking more water is the best prevention. Experts recommend people prone to kidney stones drink as many as 12 8-ounce glasses a day to flush away excess calcium and other potentially harmful substances. People who've suffered calcium stones may also need to limit their intake of chocolate, beets, spinach and rhubarb. Those who've suffered an acid-related stone may be advised to eat less meat.
Tags: kidney stone, kidney stones, stones pass