Month: October 2018

When you’re writhing in agony from the pain caused by kidney stones, there’s only one thing on your mind and that’s to get treatment right away. Pain meds might help in reducing the pain to some degree, but the relief won’t last. What you’ll need is to see your doctor. When you get to the doctor or the emergency room if you can no longer stand the pain, you’ll first undergo a short physical exam to determine the location of the pain. If the doctor suspects kidney stones, you’ll need to undergo further laboratory tests, an x-ray, or a ct-scan to determine the presence, size, and location of the stones. It’s important to understand that whenever possible, doctors will attempt to encourage your body to rid the stones as naturally as possible. You’ll be given intra-venous fluids for rehydration and pain meds to help you cope with the pain. If the doctors determine that the stones are too large to pass through the urinary pathway, they’ll break the stones down using a non-invasive procedure called lithotripsy. During this procedure a machine that produces shock waves will be used to break down the stones into smaller pieces so the body can get rid of them naturally. Depending on the size of the stones, you might need to undergo the procedure several times. The procedure will be painful but doctors will provide pain medications. Larger stones may require surgery. There are three basic types: Ureteroscopy, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or PCNL for short, and …

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Developing kidney stones is one of the worst nightmares you’ll have. Even if you could eventually get rid of the stones without medical intervention, the pain you’ll experience will definitely leave you wondering if you could somehow prevent developing stones in the first place. Fortunately, you can. There’s a wide consensus among scientists, researchers, and medical professionals that majority of kidney stone cases can be prevented. If you follow these simple tips, you can reduce the risk of developing stones dramatically. The top reasons why a person develops stones are: Diet Dehydration Obesity Family History Diet Doctors believe that people who are fond of eating processed foods, high amounts of sodium (salt), or sugary foods and beverages, have a higher risk of developing stones. Processed foods contain excessive amounts of salt and other minerals for preservation and flavor. The kidneys will attempt to filter these waste products and excrete them from the body through urine, but they can build up in the kidneys over time forming stones. To reduce the risks of developing stones, you’ll want to avoid processed foods as much as you can. If you can’t totally avoid these products, then reducing your consumption by a third will help prevent these stones from developing. Dehydration A lot of people don’t drink enough water. They replace water with other drinks, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices, sports drinks, or even alcoholic beverages. It’s important to remember that no other type of drink can replace water when it comes …

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Kidney stones are quite prevalent in the United States according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). They estimate that 11 percent of the male population and 6 percent of female population in the US have experienced this condition. However, many cases of kidney stones go undiagnosed because some people don’t experience any symptoms. Small kidney stones often pass through the urinary system without causing any pain. Only when a stone becomes large enough to block the passage of urine in the ureter or kidney will it cause symptoms. Symptoms of kidney stones The first and most noticeable symptom you’ll experience if you have kidney stones is pain in your flanks or near the lower back. This pain is caused by one or more kidney stones blocking the passageway from the kidney down to the bladder. You will also feel a significant amount of pain if the stone becomes stuck in the kidney preventing urine from flowing down to the bladder. The build-up of urine in the kidney will be painful, to the extent that you may not even be able to stand from a sitting position. The pain usually comes in waves. Though it can be excruciating at times, it may also subside for a few minutes before returning. The other symptoms of kidney stones can include: Bloody urine Nausea Vomiting A need to urinate but lack of urine output Frequent urination Can kidney stones be detected before any symptoms appear? Kidney stones are often …

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