Definition of kidney stones and what cause them
Kidney stones, or their clinical name renal lithiasis, are hard, small deposits that form inside of your kidneys. They are comprised of minerals and salts that build up in the kidneys are combine to form these small structures that can cause severe pain. They can affect any part of your urinary tract, from your bladder to your kidney, and have many causes. The main reason for kidney stones is that there is a lack of fluid in the urine which becomes too concentrated. This allows the deposits to combine into bigger structures. Although they are harmless to you, they are extremely painful to pass. Most of the time you can pass them without surgery and with the assistance of pain medication. There are many things that can cause kidney stones, and in most cases, there are no single factors that cause them but a combination of many. There are many different types of stones that can form. The different types are: Calcium stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones, and other types.
Symptoms of kidney stones
There may not even be any symptoms to indicate that you have kidney stones. The only time an individual will know that they have kidney stones is when it attempts to pass into the ureter, which is the connection between the bladder and the kidney. When that happens, a person can experience many symptoms. Severe pain will result in the side and back, or spread to the groin and lower abdomen. The pain of kidney stones usually comes and goes in intensity. It is normally painful to urinate and the urine can be brown, red, or pink. Your urine may have a foul smell or appear cloudy. You may also experience the sensation to urinate more frequently, or you may urinate more. There are also times when you will experience fever and chills if an infection is looming.
Treatment of kidney stones
Many who experience kidney stones will never know. For those who are experiencing symptoms, it is normally possible for the stone to pass without intervention, and only the assistance of pain medication. If the stone is small enough it may expedite the passing if you drink large quantitates of fluid, water being the most preferred. Pain relievers will help to curb the pain while passing the stone. Over the counter medications such as tylenol, Motrin and Aleve may be enough to help. If not, it may be necessary to get a prescription for a more potent pain reliever. There are other medications that will help to pass the kidney stone, known as alpha blocker. It helps to relax the muscles in the urether so you can pass the stone without as much pain. When the stones are too large it may be necessary to use sound waves to break the stone and make it easier to pass. There may be times when surgery, or a scope, is warranted to remove the stones. Parathyroid gland surgery is necessary when the stone is caused by an overactive parathyroid glands to stop them from recurring.
Kidney Stones,