Kidney Stone symptoms - Ananthapuri Hospitals, Trivandrum

DID YOU KNOW? 

A kidney stone could be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. People who’ve experienced kidney stone pain compare it to childbirth or a stab with a knife! OUCH! 

Sounds scary, right? Don’t you want to know the signs of kidney stones? 

KEEP READING! 

Kidney stones are hard, crystalline mineral pieces that form within the kidney or urinary tract. The stone may get stuck in the urinary tract, block urine flow and cause excruciating pain. In such situations, you will need immediate medical help. 

Here are some signs of kidney stones. If you experience a combination of any of these symptoms, you need a doctor’s help:

• Extreme pain in your back or side

The pain associated with kidney stones is severe and sudden. You may feel the pain in your side or back. As the stone moves down the urinary tract, you may feel pain in your belly or groin area. Pain occurs due to a pressure build up in the kidney as a result of blockage caused by the stone in the narrow ureter. 

• Burning sensation while urinating

You’ll start to feel a burning sensation or a sharp pain while you urinate. This occurs when the stone reaches the junction between the ureter and the urinary bladder. Some people mistake this for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Sometimes, you could have a UTI along with kidney stones. 

• Urgency to urinate

Urinary urgency or the need to urinate more frequently than usual is often mistaken for UTI. This may indicate that the stone has moved to the lower part of the urinary tract. 

• Blood in your urine

Passing blood through urine is a common sign of kidney stones. Your doctor may call this hematuria. The colour of your urine may be brown, pink or red. In some cases, the blood content in the urine may not be visible to the human eye. A urine routine examination can find out the amount of blood content. 

• Cloudy or smelly urine

Urine should ideally be clear and have no odour. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine is a sign that you may have an infection in your kidney or urinary tract. Cloudiness and odour occur due to the presence of pus cells and bacteria that causes UTI. In 8% of the cases, people with acute kidney stones had UTI. Therefore, you could be tested for kidney stones as well.

• Passing urine in small amounts at once

If a stone is large enough to get stuck in the ureter, it will slow down or block the flow of urine. If there is a blockage, urine passes only in small amounts at a time. If your urine flow stops completely, consider it a medical emergency. 

• Vomiting

Kidneys and the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract have shared nerve connections. Having kidney stones can trigger the GI tract, which leads to an upset stomach. Most people who have kidney stones experience vomiting or nausea. 

• Fever and chills

Having fever or chills are an important sign of an infection in your kidney or another part of your urinary tract. It could be a sign of other serious complications too. If you experience a fever with pain, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible.  

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Your urine and blood samples will be tested. You may also have to go through imaging tests. If your stone does not pass on its own, you will need treatment. The doctor may prescribe medications to control pain and to facilitate passage of urine. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need treatment 

If you experience a combination of any of these symptoms of kidney stones, consult a urologist help right away. It could be a sign of urinary infection or any other complication too. 

The Urology department of Ananthapuri Hospitals have a panel of very experienced consultants and surgeons providing comprehensive care in all their subspecialties. To book an appointment, call us at +91 9400332777 or visit our hospital at Chacka, NH Bypass, Thiruvananthapuram. 

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