What is Chronic Back And Waist Pain? Risky Signs of Kidney Stones

     Kidney stones result from the accumulation of various hard mineral crystals, forming solid masses of differing types and sizes. These typically form in the calyces or renal pelvis, leading to highly concentrated urine and mineral precipitation. Kidney stones have a propensity for recurrence.

Causes of Kidney Stones

     Kidney stones can form due to altered concentrations of salts, minerals, and other substances such as calcium, oxalic acid, and uric acid in urine, exceeding the liquid's capacity to dissolve or dilute them, leading to stone formation.

Other contributing factors

     Other contributing factors include dietary habits (e.g., high intake of salt, sugar, and high-protein foods), insufficient daily water intake, urinary tract infections, metabolic disorders, and the use of certain medications for conditions like gout, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, obesity, or hypertension. Excessive supplementation with vitamins D or C can also contribute.

Warning Signs of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are often asymptomatic until they cause complications such as recurrent infections or urinary tract obstruction. When symptoms occur, they include:

• Flank or Abdominal Pain: Localized to one side, characterized by sharp, colicky, intermittent pain similar to menstrual cramps, lasting hours or days.
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Urinary Changes: Cloudy or reddish urine; sometimes small stones or sandy particles may pass with urine.
• Pain Response: No tenderness upon pressing the painful area, or sometimes relief with pressure.
• Severe Pain: Intense abdominal pain if the stone descends into the ureter.
• Fever: Indicating a superimposed urinary tract infection.

Treatment of Kidney Stones

Treatment for kidney stones depends on their type and size:

1.  Non-Surgical Management

     For very small stones, increased fluid intake may facilitate spontaneous passage. Certain types of stones may also be dissolved with medication.

2.  Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

     Used for stones up to 2 cm, ESWL employs shock waves to fragment the stone for urinary passage. Patients may experience mild discomfort and other side effects; hence, treatment should be performed by a skilled specialist.

3.  Ureteroscopy

     An endoscope is inserted into the ureter up to the kidney, and instruments are used to fragment the stone into smaller pieces for passage.

4.  Surgical Management (PCNL)

     Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is utilized for large stones unresponsive to other methods. The surgeon makes a small incision in the patient's back, inserts an endoscope to fragment the stone, and removes the pieces through the same incision. This complex procedure requires a highly skilled specialist.

Preventing Kidney Stones

• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to reduce crystal aggregation and stone formation.
• Adequate Dietary Calcium: Consume sufficient calcium from natural food sources.
• Sodium Reduction: Limit salt intake in meals.
• Moderate Intake of Meat, Milk, and Butter.
• Increased Vegetable Consumption: Eating plenty of vegetables helps reduce stone formation risk.

Revised: September 19, 2022