Kidney stones form due to a concentration of normal substances in your urine. While many kidney stones are small enough to pass without causing much pain, large stones that block the ureter can cause severe pain. A 2008 study by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that approximately one in eleven people in the United States suffer from kidney stones.
Pain caused by kidney stones, also known as renal colic, generally radiates on the left side of the groin or inner thigh, and typically comes in waves as the muscles of the ureter attempt to push out the stone.
There are numerous factors associated with the onset of kidney stones. Some of these risks include: dehydration, animal protein, sodium, refined sugars as well as underlying conditions, such as Crohn’s Disease, Dent’s disease and hyperparathyroidism.
Kidney stone prevention and management involves adjusting your diet and fluid intake. Increasing your fluid intake means a smaller likelihood of stone formation. Fluids can also help reduce the size of the stone through urine alkalinization and diuretics. If the stone is too large to pass however, a non-invasive ultrasonic shock wave therapy can be used to break up the stone, or ureteroscopic surgery, which uses a small, fiber-optic stent to pulverize the stone with a laser.
If you would like more information on kidney stones, or if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact us at 239-226-ASAP (2727). We are happy to answer any of your questions or concerns.
