Passing kidney stones is often described as an extremely painful and debilitating experience; some patients describe the experience as similar to childbirth. However, nearly 85 percent of stones remain small enough to pass during urination, according to MayoClinic.com. Stones are often passed within 72 hours of first symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Medically referred as renal lithiasis, stones develop over several weeks to years. Several tips aid in passing a kidney stone.
Step 1
Seek medical attention to rule out any additional medical conditions when suspecting a kidney stone. Ask for appropriate pain medications. According to MedlinePlus website, the pain of passing a kidney stone is so excruciating over-the-counter pain medications are not strong enough. Narcotic and other strong prescription drugs are often necessary to take while passing the stone.
Step 2
Drink about six to eight glasses of water a day, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. The medical center suggests drinking one glass before bed and one glass during the night. Set your alarm several hours after going to bed to drink the middle of the night glass of water.
Step 3
Continue to walk and move around instead of sitting or lying down. Shifting the body increases the kidney stone to pass through the urinary tract instead of remaining stationary, and possibly continuing to grow.
Step 4
Return to your medical professional if the stone does not pass in several days. Inquire about taking medications to break down large stones into smaller fragments if the stone does not pass after several days. Common prescription medications that decrease the size of a kidney stone include allopurinol, sodium bicarbonate as well as diuretics.
Tips and Warnings
- A person who has suffered from kidney stones often develops the condition again in the future. Abdominal pain and pain in the groin or testicles in men are common symptoms. Additional signs of kidney stones include abnormal urine color, blood in urine, chills, nausea and vomiting, reports MedlinePlus. When passing the stone attempt to collect it using a strainer so your medical doctor can examine the stone to identify the cause.
- Do not hesitate to seek medical attention. MedlinePlus reports some patients must be hospitalized when attempting to pass a kidney stone. It remains possible the stone is too large to pass and more invasive procedures are necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Pain medications
- Water
