Kidney stone pain can be crippling in nature. But, how to diagnose kidney stones if you suspect one correctly? Well, I have briefly outlined the various symptoms that a kidney stone causes.
Severe pain on the sides
Kidney stones cause severe pain on the sides or flanks. This pain can radiate downwards into the groin region as well. Moreover, the pain can range from dull aching to stabbing pain depending on the location as well as the size of the kidney stones.
Interestingly, small stones seem to cause more pain than larger stones. Either way, if you have severe intolerable pain in your flank region, you should probably suspect a kidney stone!
Blood in the urine:
In my clinical experience, I have seen numerous patients complaint of blood in the urine. The urine color can range from pink to red and it really depends on the amount of blood that is coming through the tract.
Sometimes, some of the patients may also collect stones in the urine and bring it in. This is helpful because in these patients we can assess stone formation. Assessing the composition of kidney stones helps us tailor appropriate therapy to treat the kidney stone effectively.
Blood in the urine:
In my clinical experience, I have seen numerous patients complaint of blood in the urine. The urine color can range from pink to red and it really depends on the amount of blood that is coming through the tract.
Sometimes, some of the patients may also collect stones in the urine and bring it in. This is helpful because in these patients we can assess stone formation. Assessing the composition of kidney stones helps us tailor appropriate therapy to treat the kidney stone effectively.
In addition, in most patient’s with suspected kidney stones, an assessment of urine routine, 24 hr urine test, combined with renal function tests will usually be done.
Nausea combined with vomiting
Another very common symptom of kidney stone is nausea combined with vomiting. Patients may have bouts of vomiting along with a pain that fluctuates in intensity.
Severe vomiting can lead to dehydration and other problems. In these scenarios, supportive fluid management may be required. Moreover, if you have pain in your flanks along with nausea or repeated bouts of vomiting, you should suspect a kidney stone.
Persistent need to urinate + pain in the sides + nausea sensation
Consequently, some patients may also have a sensation of burning while passing urine.
Furthermore, frequent visits to the toilet and improper urine flow are clearing warning signs for kidney stones.
Fever is the worst
Most importantly, the presence of fever along with chills is something that should not be ignored!
The presence of fever along with flank pain and burning sensation while passing urine, highly suggests an infection that requires active treatment of the stone
My sincere advice…
If you have a fever combined with the other stone symptoms as mentioned above, you must visit your urologist immediately.
