Patients who try to pass stones from the urinary tract may experience this period very distressingly. The reason for the pain, which can be worse than birth pain, is that the stone blocks the urinary tract during this process. Most kidney stones can be passed by patients, more or less painfully, without medical help.
Stones that cannot be passed within a certain period of time, in addition to pain, carry risks such as infection, bleeding in the urine, and deterioration of kidney functions, so they should be seen by a urologist and receive appropriate treatments. It needs to be planned.
The following situations may be early signs of kidney stones. It is absolutely necessary to consult a urologist:
- Severe pain in the kidney areas (towards the side and back)
- Nausea-vomiting
- Blood in the urine
- Fever-chills
- Cloudy urine
- Burning during urination
- Stones that do not block or partially block the urinary tract may not cause any discomfort and grow to very large sizes before diagnosis.
The probability of a stone with a diameter of 5mm falling is approximately 50%.
Stones larger than 10mm are considered not to fall.
Nowadays, Urinary tract stones can be treated quickly and safely by planning appropriate treatment methods - without the need for open surgery.
After the interventional treatments, the kidney and lower urinary tract should become as stone-free as possible. The remaining stone pieces form the core for new stone formations.
What is Kidney Stone?
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It is unnecessary for the body to be filtered from the blood by the kidneys. While excess liquid is excreted in the form of urine, some solid substances excreted with it sometimes precipitate in the urinary tract and form kidney stones.
The fact that the water that forms the urine is low and the substances excreted with it are high, as well as the lack of some substances in the urine that prevent stone formation, causes the formation of different crystals in the urine. causes it to collapse.
Stones of many different numbers, sizes and structures are seen.
Why Do Kidney Stones Form?
PreviousNextAlthough most of the stones contain calcium, the levels of calcium and some other chemicals in the urine are usually within normal limits. People who exercise excessively, live in hot climates, or have to work in hot environments lose more fluid through sweating, so their urine volume decreases. The probability of stones forming in the concentrated urine increases.
Excessive levels of chemicals such as calcium, oxalate, urate and cystine in the urine facilitate stone formation.
In the presence of infection in the urinary tract, abnormalities of normal structure are present. Stone formation is more common in the kidneys and in those with a family history of stone disease.
In addition, drugs that reduce stomach acid (antacids), calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, cortisone, some antibiotics and diuretics can cause stones. It may pave the way for its formation.
Are All Kidney Stones the Same Structure?
Stones of many different structures can form in the urinary tract.
Calcium stones are the most common stones. They often occur in calcium oxalate and sometimes calcium phosphate structures. If calcium and oxalate are excessive in the urine, they cause the formation of such stones. Excess parathyroid hormone in the body, cancer, and some kidney diseases may predispose to such stones.
Infection stones usually appear as large kidney stones. They are stones that precipitate in the urine, which becomes alkaline due to the secretion of enzymes that break down the urea in the urine by some microorganisms. It is more common in women.
Uric acid stones are stones that precipitate in the acidic urine of people who eat a meat-rich diet. Gout disease and some chemotherapy facilitate its formation. These are stones that cannot be seen on direct x-rays. Diagnosis is made by ultrasonography and computed tomography examinations.
Cystine stones are stones that can be seen in cases where cystine metabolism is impaired. It is very rare, but they recur frequently.
Who Occurs Kidney Stones?
It is 2-3 times more common in men. Half of the patients with a history of stones experience stone formation again in the next ten years.
Some other risk factors:
- Those between the ages of 20-40
- Family history of stones
- Single or abnormal kidneys
- Those who have frequent urinary tract infections
- Medications used (some diuretics, antacids, goiter drugs)
- Those who eat protein-rich foods
- Those who generally drink little water
- Those who do not move much , bedridden patients
- Those who have had some small intestine diseases or surgeries
- High levels of minerals such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid in the urine
- Low citrate in the urine (citrate is found in stones). It has a preventive effect on the formation)
- Changes in urine pH (too low or too high)
What are the Findings in Kidney Stones?
Inside the kidney If settled stones do not block the flow of urine, they do not cause severe pain. There may be complaints such as mild muscle pain in the waist and back areas. Even though the entire kidney is full of stones, the patient may not feel any discomfort.
- Pain: Pain, one of the most important findings of urinary tract stone disease, occurs when the stone blocks the urinary tract. Sudden and near-complete blockage causes severe stone pain. The cause of the pain is the increase in pressure in the urinary tract behind the stone. Nausea and vomiting are often observed during the pain, which can be described as worse than birth pain. Pain is usually felt over the kidney or on the side of the back if the stone is blocking the kidney outlet or has just entered the ureter (the channel between the kidney and bladder). As the stone moves down, the pain moves towards the groin.
- Bleeding in the urine:Another finding that can be seen in patients with stones in the urinary tract is that the color of the urine is usually light. It is bleeding in the urine, described as turning pink. There may also be symptoms such as cloudy and sedimentary urine and smelly urine.
- Infection: Urinary tract stone disease is often accompanied by infection. Symptoms such as burning during urination and frequent urination may be observed. In cases where the infection affects the kidneys, high fever may be observed.
Diagnosis of Kidney Stones. � How to Put?
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Some kidney stones are detected incidentally in films taken during general health examinations. More often, the diagnosis is made by urinalysis and ultrasonographic imaging in patients with severe pain and color change in the urine.
Ultrasonographic examination is insufficient in the diagnosis of stones that have entered the channel (ureter) between the kidney and bladder, and a clear diagnosis can be made with computed tomography. is possible. With contrast-based imaging methods, it is possible to evaluate the anatomy of the urinary tract as well as kidney functions.
What Cause Kidney Stones?
If kidney stones can be passed easily, they generally do not pose a serious problem. Stone-related blockage does not cause permanent damage unless it lasts too long. However, if the obstruction continues without being noticed, infection and permanent kidney damage may occur. Changes in kidney function may be observed over time in patients with frequently recurring stones, in the presence of infection with obstruction, in patients with large stones, and in patients who have undergone frequent surgery.
Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented?
Approximately half of those suffering from stone disease. He experiences problems with stone formation again in the next 10 years. The risk of stone formation can be minimized by paying attention to some things:
- You should drink enough fluid to produce approximately 2 liters of urine per day (the important part being water).
- Since most of the stones contain calcium. While foods containing calcium were banned in the past, today it has been determined that calcium even has a preventive effect on stone formation. However, in very rare cases (such as patients with excessive intestinal calcium absorption and taking very high doses of calcium tablets), calcium increases the risk of stone formation.
- Vitamin D-fortified foods and calcium-based antacids should be avoided.
- Animal foods should not be consumed excessively.
- Salt should be restricted in the diet.
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