Having sleepless nights with unbearable pain in the side of the abdomen and back that radiates to the groin area can be due to kidney stones. This condition can develop due to several factors including family history, obesity, poor diet, dehydration, excess of certain medicine consumption, or other medical condition. Although it is difficult to detect in the early stages, it is better to get early and timely treated.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are generally referred to as renal calculi or nephrolithiasis. They are nothing but the accumulation of complex minerals and salts in the form of uric acid or calcium that gets deposited in the kidney. Although they are formed in the kidney, they can also travel to other parts of the urinary tract system. A stone develops in the kidney when there are many minerals collected in the urine. Inadequate consumption of water intake in the body can fail to pass out higher levels of minerals through the urine, causing them to accumulate in the kidney itself. High levels of accumulation in the kidney results in kidney stone.
Kidney stones can occur in people who are already suffering from diabetes or excess weight issues. It could be genetic as well, known as, cystinuria. Those who have a tiny accumulation of stones usually do not show any symptoms, but once these stones start traveling to the bladder, it causes pain and other symptoms. The smaller size of these stones on treatment exits the body through the urine. However, it is necessary to consult an expert before self-treating or taking any medication.
Kidney stone symptoms to look for:
As mentioned above, someone with a small size of kidney stone may not have any symptoms as it can easily pass out through the urinary system without triggering any issues further. In some cases, with kidney stones smaller than 5 mm, there can be a 90% chance that they can pass out without further intervention with or without treatment. The probability however decreases further with the increase in the size of the kidney stone.
They are a few symptoms one should look for, to diagnose the condition at the initial stage.
1. Painful back, side abdomen, and belly
Kidney stones can develop severe pain in some people and patients have even compared the pain with sharp stabbing-like pain. Such sharp pain usually develops when the stone travels into the narrow ureter, causing blockage while building pressure on your kidney to function. This pressure can further activate nerve fibers and send pain signals to the brain. This kind of pain can commence suddenly forming waves as per the stone traveling or moving from one location to another. Having small-sized multiple kidney stones can also trigger pain, resulting in blockage.
2. Pain, discomfort, or burning while urinating
A major discomfort develops when the stone reaches anywhere between the ureter and bladder. It further develops a sensation in the urination process, which is also called dysuria. A lot of time, the symptoms are confused with UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) as well. Hence, get yourself diagnosed under expert supervision to understand the main cause.
3. Cloudy or smelly urine
Having clear urine with no smell or peculiar odour is considered healthy urine. A strong pungent smell with a cloudy texture can be one of the symptoms that something is wrong with your kidney or your urinary tract system.
4. Blood in the urine
The next common symptom of kidney stones you must look for is the spotting of blood in the urine. The condition of blood in urine can be referred to as hematuria as well. The colour of the blood in the urine may vary from anywhere between red, brown, or pink. It is essential to immediately reach out to your specialized doctor and get your urine tested to diagnose UTI or kidney stones.
