Kidney Stones

Kidney stones (also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys.

Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.

Passing a kidney stone(s) can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage if they’re recognized in a timely fashion. Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink plenty of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances, for example, if stones become lodged in the urinary tract, associate with a urinary infection, or cause complications, surgery may be needed.

Kidney Consultants of El Paso may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you’re at increased risk of developing them again.

Symptoms

A kidney stone usually will not cause symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into on of the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

If a kidney stone becomes lodged in the ureters, it may block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell and the ureter to spasm, which can be very painful. At that point, you may experience:

• Severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs.
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin.
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity.
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating.

Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Pink, red or brown urine.
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
• A persistent need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever and chills if an infection is present.

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change, for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

When to consult a physician

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, contact Kidney Consultants of El Paso for an appointment.

Seek immediate medical attention if your experience:

• Pain so severe that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position.
• Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• Pain accompanied by fever and chills.
• Blood in your urine.
• Difficulty or inability to pass urine.