Kidney stone symptoms

Written by Wang Jian
Urology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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The symptoms of kidney stones depend on the size and shape of the stone, as well as its location in the kidney, whether there are infections, obstructions, and other factors. Smaller kidney stones, which are smooth, can be expelled with the urine without causing noticeable symptoms. Stones lodged in the lower part of the renal pelvis or in the calyces can be asymptomatic. If the kidney stones are larger, located in the calyces or the renal pelvis, they can compress the kidney and cause back pain or dull pain because the stones can lead to the dilation or obstruction of the renal pelvis or kidney. Patients may experience back pain, fever, and if there is an infection, localized fever may occur. Additionally, kidney stones can scratch the mucous membrane of the ureter or kidney, causing bleeding.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should not be eaten with kidney stones

Patients with kidney stones do not have absolute dietary prohibitions. However, it is advisable to consume less food high in calcium, oxalates, and purines. Foods high in purines are mainly found in seafood, animal offal, beer, and beverages. High-calcium foods are primarily found in soy products and dairy products, such as soy milk, tofu, and cow's milk. Foods high in oxalates include celery, spinach, etc. These foods can be consumed in moderation in daily life, but should not be used in large amounts over a long period to avoid further growth and increase of stones. It is also important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and engage in appropriate physical exercise to effectively prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Additionally, for patients who have already developed kidney stones, it is necessary to timely decide on conservative stone expulsion or surgical treatment based on the size 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 Shuai
Urology
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Which department should I go to for kidney stones?

After developing kidney stones, it is necessary to promptly visit the urology department of a hospital for examination and treatment. Diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound, CT scans, and imaging are required to determine the exact location and size of the stones. If the stone inside the kidney is small, around five millimeters, this can often be managed by increasing water intake, frequent urination, exercising, and using medications such as stone-expelling granules and effervescent agents to facilitate the expulsion of the stones from the body. If the stone is large and causes hydronephrosis of the kidney, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. If there is a concurrent infection, it is necessary to control the infection before proceeding with surgical treatment.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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How can kidney stones be expelled from the body?

The method of expelling kidney stones from the body is related to the size of the stones. If the diameter of the kidney stone is less than 0.6 centimeters, it can generally pass smoothly through the ureter and urethra to the outside of the body. This can be facilitated by drinking plenty of water and performing physical activity to naturally expel the stones. If a stone gets stuck in a physiologically narrow part of the ureter during expulsion, conservative treatment methods can be used to dilate the ureter, allowing the stone to pass on its own. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction within the kidney, they can be observed temporarily without treatment. If larger stones get stuck in the ureter or urethra and cannot be expelled on their own, surgery is generally required to remove the stones. After surgery, it is also important to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently.

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Written by Wang Shuai
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Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.