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Kidney stones - Symptoms

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney stones.

Alternative Names

Calcium stones; Nephrolithiasis

Symptoms:

In many cases, kidney stones do not produce symptoms. However, if a stone becomes stuck in the ureter (the thin tube between the bladder and the kidney), symptoms can be very severe. Often, symptoms vary depending on the stone's location and its progress.

Kidney stone attacks tend to be most common late at night or in the early morning, possibly because of minimal urine output or constriction of the ureters during the early morning hours. Kidney stone attacks are least common during the late afternoon.

  • Pain usually begins abruptly on one side and then continues as intense, constant pain. (In some cases it lasts for a few minutes, disappears, and then returns after about 10 minutes.)
  • The patient cannot find a comfortable position and usually stands, sits, paces, or reclines in a failed search for a position that will bring relief.
  • If the stone is in the kidney or upper urinary tract, the pain usually starts in one flank area (to the side of the back near the waist). It typically moves to the groin as the stone passes down.
  • If the stone is too large to pass easily, the pain follows the muscle contractions in the wall of the ureter as they try to squeeze the stone along into the bladder.
  • Nausea and vomiting may occur.
  • Blood may be present in the urine.
  • As the stone passes down the ureter closer to the bladder, a person may feel the need to urinate more often or a burning sensation during urination.
  • An infection may be present if fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms.

The size of the stone does not necessarily predict the severity of the pain. A very tiny crystal with sharp edges can cause intense pain, while a larger round stone may not be as distressing. Struvite stones can often occur without symptoms.

Resources

References

Cameron MA, Maalouf NM, Adams-Huet B, Moe OW, Sakhaee K. Urine composition in type 2 diabetes: predisposition to uric Acid nephrolithiasis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 May;17(5):1422-1428. Epub 2006 Apr 5.

Cameron MA, Sakhaee K. Uric acid nephrolithiasis. Urol Clin North Am. 2007;34(3):335-346.

Chandhoke PS. Evaluation of the recurrent stone former. Urol Clin North Am. 2007; 34(3):315-322.

Finkielstein VA. Strategies for preventing calcium oxalate stones. CMAJ. 2006;174(10):1407-1409.

Krambeck AE, Gettman MT, Rohlinger AL, Lohse CM, Patterson DE, Segura JW. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension associated with shock wave lithotripsy of renal and proximal ureteral stones at 19 years of followup. J Urol. 2006;175(5):1742-1747.

Lingeman JE, Matlaga BR, Evan AP. Surgical management of upper urinary tract calculi. In: Wein AJ, ed. Wein: Campbell-Walsh Urology, 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2007:chap 44.

Miller NL, Evan AP, Lingeman JE. Pathogenesis of renal calculi. Urol Clin North Am. 2007; 34(3):295-313.

Monk RD, Bushinsky DA. Kidney Stones. In: Kronenberg HM, Shlomo M, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008.

Pietrow PK, Preminger GM. "Evaluation and Medical Management of Urinary Lithiasis." In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al. (eds.) Wein: Campbell-Walsh Urology, 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2007.

Sinha MK, Collazo-Clavell ML, Rule A, et al. Hyperoxaluric nephrolithiasis is a complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Kidney International. 2007;72:100-107.

Straub M, Hautmann RE. Developments in stone prevention. Curr Opin Urol. 2005;15(2):119-126.

Taylor EN, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Fatty acid intake and incident nephrolithiasis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2005;45(2):267-274.

Taylor EN, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Obesity, weight gain, and the risk of kidney stones. JAMA. 2005;293(4):455-462.

Taylor EN, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Diabetes mellitus and the risk of nephrolithiasis. Kidney Int. 2005;68(3):1230-1235.

Wasserstein AG. Nephrolithiasis. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 45(2);2005:422-428.

Wen CC, Nakada SY. Treatment selection and outcomes: renal calculi. Urol Clin North Am. 2007;34(3):409-419.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/27/2009
  • Reviewed by: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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