 |
| |
 |
Kidney Stones
What is a kidney stone?
Kidney stone = nephrolithiasis
Ureteral stone = ureteral lithiasis
Simply urolithiasis is a stone in the urinary tract. Sometimes they cause symptoms
such as pain (colic), hematuria (blood in urine), fevers, chills, nausea and vomiting.
Ureteral stone disease is among the most painful and prevalent of urologic
disorders. As many as 5 percent of Americans will be affected by urinary stones at
some point in their lives.
How does the urinary tract work under normal conditions?
The kidneys act as a filter system for the blood. It cleans the blood while getting rid
of the wastes. Urine is the waste product. It flows from the kidney to the bladder
through two small tubes called the ureters. The ureters are tiny. The ureters dump
the urine into the bladder in a rhythmic pattern. The bladder is able to expand and
acccomodate large volumes until it is convenient to urinate. When it is time to
urinate, the bladder forces the urine out through the urethra and out of the body.
What is a kidney stone?
Stones (urolithiasis) form in the kidney. A stone gets its name from where it is
located in the body. Therefore, a kidney stone (nephrolithiasis) is located in the
kidney. Once it moves out of the kidney and moves into the ureter it is called
ureteral lithiasis. I usually tell patients that stones form the same way crystals form in
a glass or water. Lets say you mix a table spoon of salt into a glass of water. The
individual molecules are in solution. Over time the water evaporates and crystals
form at the bottom of the glass. The molecules fall out of solution, a process called
precipitation. A stone is the molecules in your urine coming out of solution and
forming a crystal.
What are the signs of a problem?
In general, a stone does not cause any symptoms unless it obstructs. When the
stone moves from the kidney into the ureter it goes into smaller openings or tight
areas. The stone gets caught and prevents urine flow. The pressure builds up
behind the stone. This causes stretching of the ureter and thus causes pain. Think
of it as pluming in your house. If there is something blocking the pipes in the
basement, the toilet upstairs will overflow.
The symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. Having been described as being
worse than childbirth, the pain often begins suddenly as the stone moves in the
urinary tract, causing irritation and blockage. Typically, a person feels a sharp,
cramping pain in the back and in the side of the area of the kidney or in the lower
abdomen, which may spread to the groin. Also, sometimes a person will have blood
in the urine, nausea and/or vomiting.
Occasionally, stones do not produce any symptoms. But while they may be "silent,"
they can be growing, even threatening irreversible damage to kidney function. More
commonly, however, if a stone is not large enough to prompt major symptoms, it still
can trigger a dull ache that is often confused with muscle or intestinal pain.
The size of stones is small. Some often wonder why something so small can cause
so much pain. Remember it is all relative to the size of the ureter. Statically, a
person should be able to pass a stone 4mm or less. Stone larger than 4mm have
less of a chance to pass. Some people are able to pass stones 8mm in size, others
are unable to pass stones 2mm in size.
How are ureteral stones diagnosed?
Sometimes "silent" stones — those that cause no symptoms — are found on X-rays
taken during a general health exam. These stones would likely pass unnoticed. If
they are large, then treatment should be offered. More often, ureteral stones are
found on a X-ray or sonogram taken on someone who complains of blood in the
urine or sudden pain. These diagnostic images give the doctor valuable information
about the stone's size and location. Blood and urine tests also help detect any
abnormal substance that might promote stone formation.
If your doctor suspects a stone but is unable to make a diagnosis from a simple X-
ray, he/she may scan the urinary system with CT scan. Completing a CT scan is fast
and painless. No needles are needed.
What is a kidney stone?
Kidney stone = nephrolithiasis
Ureteral stone = ureteral lithiasis
Simply urolithiasis is a stone in the urinary tract. Sometimes they cause symptoms
such as pain (colic), hematuria (blood in urine), fevers, chills, nausea and vomiting.
Ureteral stone disease is among the most painful and prevalent of urologic
disorders. As many as 5 percent of Americans will be affected by urinary stones at
some point in their lives.
How does the urinary tract work under normal conditions?
The kidneys act as a filter system for the blood. It cleans the blood while getting rid
of the wastes. Urine is the waste product. It flows from the kidney to the bladder
through two small tubes called the ureters. The ureters are tiny. The ureters dump
the urine into the bladder in a rhythmic pattern. The bladder is able to expand and
acccomodate large volumes until it is convenient to urinate. When it is time to
urinate, the bladder forces the urine out through the urethra and out of the body.
What is a kidney stone?
Stones (urolithiasis) form in the kidney. A stone gets its name from where it is
located in the body. Therefore, a kidney stone (nephrolithiasis) is located in the
kidney. Once it moves out of the kidney and moves into the ureter it is called
ureteral lithiasis. I usually tell patients that stones form the same way crystals form in
a glass or water. Lets say you mix a table spoon of salt into a glass of water. The
individual molecules are in solution. Over time the water evaporates and crystals
form at the bottom of the glass. The molecules fall out of solution, a process called
precipitation. A stone is the molecules in your urine coming out of solution and
forming a crystal.
What are the signs of a problem?
In general, a stone does not cause any symptoms unless it obstructs. When the
stone moves from the kidney into the ureter it goes into smaller openings or tight
areas. The stone gets caught and prevents urine flow. The pressure builds up
behind the stone. This causes stretching of the ureter and thus causes pain. Think
of it as pluming in your house. If there is something blocking the pipes in the
basement, the toilet upstairs will overflow.
The symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. Having been described as being
worse than childbirth, the pain often begins suddenly as the stone moves in the
urinary tract, causing irritation and blockage. Typically, a person feels a sharp,
cramping pain in the back and in the side of the area of the kidney or in the lower
abdomen, which may spread to the groin. Also, sometimes a person will have blood
in the urine, nausea and/or vomiting.
Occasionally, stones do not produce any symptoms. But while they may be "silent,"
they can be growing, even threatening irreversible damage to kidney function. More
commonly, however, if a stone is not large enough to prompt major symptoms, it still
can trigger a dull ache that is often confused with muscle or intestinal pain.
The size of stones is small. Some often wonder why something so small can cause
so much pain. Remember it is all relative to the size of the ureter. Statically, a
person should be able to pass a stone 4mm or less. Stone larger than 4mm have
less of a chance to pass. Some people are able to pass stones 8mm in size, others
are unable to pass stones 2mm in size.
How are ureteral stones diagnosed?
Sometimes "silent" stones — those that cause no symptoms — are found on X-rays
taken during a general health exam. These stones would likely pass unnoticed. If
they are large, then treatment should be offered. More often, ureteral stones are
found on a X-ray or sonogram taken on someone who complains of blood in the
urine or sudden pain. These diagnostic images give the doctor valuable information
about the stone's size and location. Blood and urine tests also help detect any
abnormal substance that might promote stone formation.
If your doctor suspects a stone but is unable to make a diagnosis from a simple X-
ray, he/she may scan the urinary system with CT scan. Completing a CT scan is fast
and painless. No needles are needed.
| Alta Vista Urological Specialists 108 Legion Drive, Suite D Las Vegas, NM 87701 (505) 454-4000 fax: 505-454-4004 |