If you've ever had a kidney stone, you were painfully aware that something was wrong. Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand, the size of a pebble, or rarely, as large as a golf ball. When these clumps of crystals pass from the kidneys to the bladder through the ureters, their presence is unmistakable. The National Kidney Foundation reports that over 500, 000 people visit the emergency room annually for kidney stones.
Flank Pain
Often the telltale sign, flank pain occurs on whichever side the kidney stone is on. Pain and tenderness over either the right or left lower back that seems to come in waves is an indicator of a kidney stone. Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care," explain that the pain is caused by the stone slowly passing through the tube the drains urine from the kidney to the bladder, called the ureter. The pain is intense and often described as spastic.
Nausea and Vomiting
The severity of the pain causes nausea and vomiting in many patients.
Abdominal Pain
Kidney stone symptoms include vague abdominal pain or a stomach ache. The cause may be referred flank pain, or pain as the stone is excreted from the bladder through the urethra.
Sweating and Restless
The severe pain can make you bend over and hold your stomach or your lower back, and you will probably break out in a sweat. The pain can be intense enough to affect your blood pressure, too. The typical kidney stone sufferer is pale, sweaty, nauseated and unable to stay in one position because of the pain.
Painful Urination
Another sign of kidney stone is painful urination. As the stone passes through the urethra, sharp, stabbing, or spastic pain may be experienced.
Blood in Urine
The passing kidney stone may cause inflammation and trauma to the ureters or urethra. Blood may be found in the urine.
Cloudy Urine
If the stone has been blocking the passage of urine for a period of time, the urine becomes concentrated. Your urine may be very dark and cloudy. If an infection is starting, the urine may also be foul smelling.
Fever and Chills
You may experience fever and chills, especially if there is an infection present. If you have not seen a doctor by this point, you should certainly see one now. If you have already been examined and diagnosed with a kidney stone, and have returned home to "wait it out," report the onset of fever and chills to your doctor.
References
- National Kidney Foundation: "Kidney Stones"
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
