What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are basically small rocks that attach themsleves to the inisde of the kidney wall. They are formed when minerals and salts bond together in urine within the kidneys. They can vary considerable in size. Some are no bigger than a grain of sand while some can become as big as a golf ball. They can either stay inside the kidney or make their way to the bladder so that they can be urinated out. During this journey, depending on the size of the kidney stone, either no pain or intense pain can be experienced
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
People who have suffered the pain of a kidney stone explain it as “the worst pain they have ever felt”. The pain is usually sudden and severe as the stone detaches itself from the kidney wall and begins its journey from the kidney to the bladder. The pain can often expand like a wave moving to the lower abdomen and genitals as the stone gets closer to being ‘passed’. The pain also varies in intensity, with severe attack lasting 20 mins to an hour alternated with less painful periods. Sufferers also report feeling sick to the stomach and vomiting is not uncommon. They will often be blood in the urine and infection can also occur, generating foul smelling urine.
How Do I Get Diagnosed?
If you experience the above symptoms, then you need to visit your doctor. If your doctor is satisfied your symptoms could be kidney stone then X rays and urine samples are usually taken to confirm the diagnosis.
So What Happens If I do Have Kidney Stone?
8 times out of 10 the doctor will give you pain medication and tell you to drink plenty of water to help flush the stone out. Once the stone leaves the kidney’s there is nothing that can be done so you have to ‘ride it out’ at home until it has passed. In some cases the stone may be too big and you will need additional treatment other than simply going through the pain of passing the stone at home.
Are There Natural Remedies?
Often kidney stone formation has a dietary source. Avoiding certain foods and eating more of others can go a long way to reduce the risk of developing another stone. To find out more about this, visit kidney stone symptom.
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