What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

The kidney stones They are a fairly common disease and according to the Spanish Association of Urology (AEU), one in ten people may suffer from this pathology at some point in their life.

A kidney stones or calculi it is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney due to substances in the urine. They can be large or small and are transmitted from the body without medical assistance. However, on some occasions They can get stuck in the urinary tract, blocking urine flow and causing great pain.

Typically diet, excess body weight, certain medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder, but if caught early they shouldn’t cause permanent damage.

Symptoms

• Sharp, stabbing pain in the sides and back or under the ribs
• Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Constant need to urinate, needing to urinate more frequently, or urinating in small quantities
• nausea and vomit
• Fever and chills if there is an infection

Pain caused by a kidney stone can change or increase as it moves through the urinary tract.

Causes

The kidney stones They occur when the amount of crystal-forming substances in the urine, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, is more than the fluids in the urine can dilute. At the same time, it may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, which creates an ideal environment for their formation.​

Types of kidney stones

1) Calcium Stones:

Most cases are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance produced daily by the liver or obtained through the diet. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolates, are high in oxalate.

Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery, and various metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in the urine.

Calcium stones can also be produced in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic disorders, such as renal tubular acidosis. It can also be combined with certain medications used to treat migraines or seizures, such as topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR, Qudexy XR).

2) Struvite Calculations:

Struvite stones form due to a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with very few symptoms or little warning.

3) Uric Acid Stones:

Uric acid stones can form in people who lose too much fluid due to chronic diarrhea or malabsorption, in those on a high-protein diet, and in those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Certain genetic factors can also increase your risk of developing uric acid stones.

4) Cystine stones:

These stones form in people with an inherited disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete a specific amino acid in large quantities.

Doctors diagnose kidney stones through urine, blood, and imaging tests. If a stone doesn’t pass on its own, it may need treatment. This can be done with shock waves (an endoscope inserted through the tube that carries urine out of the body, called the urethra) or with surgery.