By the age of 70, slightly more than 19% of men and 9% of women in the United States have had kidney stones. What most of these people can report is that kidney stones are hard to ignore, thanks to the pain and discomfort they often cause.
Still, not everyone takes the same journey with kidney stones, which is why Dr. Robert J. Cornell wants to take this opportunity to review some obvious and not-so-obvious symptoms. Recognizing the signs of kidney stones as early as possible is a great way to save yourself from considerable discomfort down the road.
Before we dive into the symptomatology of kidney stones, we want to briefly review this common condition.
As the name suggests, kidney stones are hardened objects that are formed from chemicals in your urine. There are 4 different types of kidney stones, including:
Whatever they’re composed of, the symptoms are often the same, and we get into those next.
Not only can kidney stones form from different chemicals, they can also vary in size — from a small kernel of rice to a large pebble. And this size plays no small role in the severity of symptoms, which include:
The symptom that will really grab your attention is pain, which can come and go as the stone moves around. If it creates a blockage or tries to pass through your urinary tract, you can experience mild to severe pain on one side of your lower back. This pain often flares when you urinate.
Some people also report generalized abdominal pain with kidney stones.
Another common sign of kidney stones is the presence of blood in your urine, which can range from a slight pink tinge to a brighter or darker reddish color.
If you have an infection in your kidney or in your bladder due to the kidney stone, you can develop fever and chills, as well as nausea and vomiting.
If the stone is blocking a passageway or it’s making its way through your urinary tract, you can have issues with urination, which can range from feeling the urge to urinate a lot to not being able to urinate at all.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, we urge you to come see us as soon as possible. Not only can we bring you much-needed relief from the pain and discomfort, we can also prevent larger problems that are related to kidney stones, such as chronic kidney disease.
We offer a number of treatment options for kidney stones that range from helping the stone to pass on its own to surgery to remove the stone if it becomes problematic.
If you have more questions about kidney stones or you suspect you’ve developed the condition, contact our office in Houston, Texas, to schedule a consultation.
