How to relieve the pain of kidney stones

Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Kidney stones, if mobile within the kidney, can cause intense pain in the patient's lumbar and abdominal area, clinically referred to as renal colic. Patients often experience unbearable pain, heavy sweating, along with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. In such cases, it is crucial to seek timely treatment at the hospital's urology department. Doctors will use medications to alleviate pain and spasm. If there is nausea and vomiting, antiemetic drugs will also be used to relieve symptoms. Once diagnosed with kidney stones, patients are advised to seek treatment at a hospital as soon as possible.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Do you need to be hospitalized for kidney stones?

Patients with kidney stones need to decide on a treatment plan based on the size of the stones, which determines whether hospitalization is necessary. For kidney stones smaller than 1.5 cm, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can be utilized, allowing the patient to avoid hospitalization. After treatment, the patient can go home, where it is advised to engage in physical activity, drink plenty of water, and urinate frequently to facilitate the expulsion of the stones. A follow-up ultrasound of the urinary system should be conducted one week later at the hospital to monitor the status of the stone expulsion. If the stones are larger than 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is required, which necessitates hospitalization.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Patients with kidney stones need to visit the urology department of their local hospital for standard examinations and treatments. Doctors will conduct an ultrasound and CT scan of the urinary system to determine the exact size of the stones. If the stones are relatively small, measuring less than 1.52 centimeters, they can be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. If the stones are larger, surgical treatment is necessary. Currently, the main method is a minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy with holmium laser lithotripsy. Patients generally need about 7-10 days post-operation before they can be discharged from the hospital.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Is urethral calculus the same as kidney stones?

Urethral calculi and kidney stones are not the same concept. Urethral calculi refer to stones located in the urethra, while kidney stones are stones located within the kidney. The cause of urethral calculi is usually due to stones from the kidney or ureter becoming lodged in the urethra, which clinically often results in symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and difficulty urinating. Severe cases may lead to urinary retention. If kidney stones are small and smooth, they may not cause any symptoms. However, larger kidney stones can cause localized back pain, and if infected, may also lead to high fever. The treatment methods for kidney stones and urethral calculi are also different. Urethral calculi can generally be removed through surgery or endoscopic methods, while the treatment for kidney stones depends on the size and location of the stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can kidney stones recur?

Kidney stones are recurrent because their formation is related to daily water intake, diet, genetics, lifestyle habits, and certain diseases. Therefore, even if the stones are treated surgically or expelled from the body through conservative means, recurrence can occur if dietary and lifestyle habits are not monitored or if the primary disease is not controlled. It is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and dilute the urine to reduce the recurrence of stones. If there are specific diseases present, such as hyperuricemia or hyperparathyroidism, active treatment is necessary.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Which department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones should be treated by a urologist. For kidney stones, a urology department will perform an ultrasound of the urinary system to examine them. The symptoms of kidney stones mainly depend on the size, shape, and location of the stones, as well as the presence of any obstructions or complications such as infections. Smaller kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms in patients unless the stone falls into the ureter, which can cause acute renal colic, severe lumbar and abdominal pain, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, urgency, and hematuria. If kidney stones are accompanied by a urinary obstruction or infection, patients may experience persistent high fever. If the kidneys have multiple columnar stones, it can lead to impaired renal function and cause renal insufficiency. Therefore, kidney stones should be taken seriously. If the stones are relatively large, consider surgical treatment or lithotripsy.