Kidney Stone Pain & Symptoms

Kidney Stones are solid concretions of dissolved minerals in your urine. They may be very small, like a grain of salt or quite large sometimes resembling an orange. Kidney Stones may stay in your kidneys for a very long time. Small Kidney Stones are often passed through the body during urination without causing discomfort. Larger stones, however, may cause blockage or the urinary tract. When the muscles try to force these stones through, it can cause great discomfort and pain.

Most Kidney Stones are made up of calcium. While it has long been thought that an excess of calcium in the body may cause stones, it is now known the the reverse it true - a lack of calcium may cause the body to retain what little it has, often resulting in the formation of Kidney Stones. Other types of Kidney Stones include struvite stones, uric acid stones, calcium phosphate stones and cystine stones.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

There are many different indicators of the presence of Kidney Stones in your body.

If the stone causes damage to the wall of the ureter and/or urethra you will see some blood in your urine. This is sometimes called Hematuria.
Urination can become quite painful when attempting to pass the stones This condition is called Dysuria.
In some extreme cases, both urinary tracts can become blocked making it impossible to urinate. This condition usually requires immediate care such as surgery.
Often, the embryological link with intestine can cause nausea and/or vomiting.

Can I Manage Kidney Stones through Diet?

According to the National Kidney Foundation, you may be able to manage your stones with a special diet. This depends on what type of stones you have. Once your doctor has diagnosed your condition, he may make recommendations to increase or decrease your calcium or salt intake. If you have oxalate stones, you make need to monitor your intake of foods such as peanuts, tea, beets, beans and berries.

If you experience any of these symptoms you should consult with your physician. Additional links and resources can be found elsewhere on this page.