Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a hard mass that develops from crystals that have separates from the urine in the urinary tract. Typically the crystals remain tiny enough and pass through the urinary tract and out of the body in the urine without being noticed. Normal urine will have chemicals to prevent or inhibit the formation of these crystals.

Unfortunately, the inhibitors do not always work for everyone, and so some people form stones.

It is not uncommon that there are no symptoms for kidney stones. If symptoms occur, many times the first feeling is extreme pain. It begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract to block the flow of urine. In this case, you would feel a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur and it is possible the pain can spread to the groin.

A large stone does not pass easily so pain continues as the muscles in the wall of the narrow ureter try to squeeze the stone into the bladder. As the stone moves and the body tries to push it out, there may be blood in the urine, which makes the urine pink or cola colored. As the stone moves down the ureter and closer to the bladder, you may feel the need to urinate more often or feel a burning sensation while urinating.

Fever and chills that accompany any of these symptoms, probably means an infection could be present. In this case, you should contact your NEIU physician immediately.