Kidney Stones Pain

Kidney stones are crystal structures made from crystalline materials—materials which are normally excreted through the urine. The exact etiology of kidney stones formation in unknown; it is however linked to certain disorders of the metabolism. Everyone excretes crystals in urine, but about 10% of the population form stones. Kidney stone pain is the most common symptom of kidney stones.

Kidney stone pain may not always be present in all cases; however, it kidney stone pain is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of kidney stones. Depending on the location, there are two different types of kidney stone pain: renal colic and non-colicky renal pain.

Renal colic is the term used to describe the colicky kidney stone pain that comes with the stretching of the urinary tract’s collecting system or the ureter. Kidney stone pain associated with renal colic is a result of the obstruction of the urine flow, caused by kidney stones which are 1 to 5mm in size and are able to move into the ureter.  Ureteral colic is commonly manifested by acute, sporadic, and severe pain in the flank lasting around 20 to 60 minutes. The upper outer quadrant of the abdomen may also manifest pain, depending on which part of the ureter the stone is located. The pain may also spread to the lower abdominal quadrant, the bladder area, the scrotum (in males), or the perineal area.

Renal colic may be accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Clamminess and coolness of the skin may also be felt. Urinary urgency, restlessness, and sweating are also some of the common manifestations associated with renal colic. Obstruction of the urine flow also results to post renal azotemia and hydronephrosis.

Non-colicky kidney stone pain, meanwhile, is caused by kidney stones that distend the renal calices or the renal pelvis. The pain associated with this kidney stone location if often deep and dull. The pain can either be located in the flank or in the back, and varies in intensity—ranging from mild to severe. Many patients claim that non-colicky pain can be heightened by drinking large amounts of liquid.

Aside from pain, hematuria is also a common symptom of kidney stones. Hematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. The blood is usually caused by the scratching of the stones against the urinary tract membranes. Usually the blood appears in scanty amounts—not visible to the naked eye. But there are instances, when the blood is enough to make the urine take a pinkish tinge.

Kidney pain and other kidney stones symptoms are normally treated according to their cause. Since pain is usually most severe during the first 24-36 hours, opioid analgesics are commonly given to manage the intense pain. Pain relievers are often given via intravenous to ensure fast and adequate absorption.

Individuals who suffer from kidney stones most probably know how excruciating kidney stone pain can be. That is the reason why individuals, who have past history of kidney stones, are encouraged to strictly follow the recommended therapeutic regimen. After all, the best treatment for kidney stone formation would always be prevention.

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