Stomach Pain: Where Does It Hurt
Each year, over 10 million Americans go to an emergency room for abdominal pain more than for any other complaint. When you think about all of the organs that are in there, it’s easy to understand why stomach pain often needs a professional diagnosis. Like chest pain, which is another warning sign that should never be self-diagnosed, stomach pain could indicate a number of different illnesses or conditions.
Gi Issues Caused By Kidney Stones
Normally, kidney stones cause symptoms such as pressure and pain in your lower back, fever, frequent urination, discomfort urinating, and bloody or discoloured urine. However, sometimes kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
If youre experiencing sudden low back pain and gastrointestinal discomfort, dont ignore the possibility that it might be kidney stones.
What Are The Specific Types Of Feline Kidney Disease
There are many types of kidney disease in cats. Some are congenital and some are developmental.
Your veterinarian will be able to tell you which type your cat has.
While I cant get into every specific type of renal disease, here are some types you may encounter.
- Renal agenesis is the failure of kidney formation: sometimes kidneys dont form at all.
- Renal dysplasia: means abnormal kidney development.
- If one or both kidneys are displaced, your cat may be diagnosed with renal ectopia.
- And then there is polycystic kidney disease which comes with the formation of cysts throughout the kidney tissue.
Kidneys are complex.
That means there are a lot of things that could go wrong.
Structural issues, blood vessel problems, responses to outside influences, all the way down to the cells that make up the kidneystheres so much to know about these small but important organs.
While listing all of the exact diseases and congenital problems are beyond the scope of this article, I found a comprehensive list right here.
This informative video can also help shed some light on kidney failure in cats:
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Signs Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is generally without symptoms and painless in its early stages, except in situations where an underlying condition causes pain. Chronic kidney disease takes a long time to develop. If the affected personâs symptoms develop over a number of hours or a few days, it is more likely that the kidney problem they are experiencing is acute kidney injury .
Chronic kidney disease is a common disorder, with an estimated 1 in 10 people in the US having some degree of the disorder. Chronic kidney disease can occur at any age, but is more common in the elderly, and it is more common in women than in men. In the elderly, CKD is often a result of ageing rather than an underlying disorder.
A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease is often made only in the later stages of the disorder. In the early stages, the disorder may not cause disturbances that can be clinically measured. Symptoms only appear later, and once they do, the affected person will be tested by a physician to confirm that CKD is present.
Some conditions predispose people to chronic kidney disease. These include:
- Nosebleeds
- Rash
If these symptoms appear, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Seek emergency help if you experience problems with breathing or pain in your chest area, canât stay awake despite trying or canât keep fluids down at all.
For more information on chronic kidney disease, read this resource on chronic renal failure.
Can A Kidney Stone Cause Severe Abdominal Pain
If the pains are related to infections, there will definitely be abdominal pains and if the kidney pains are as a result of kidney stones, most definitely severe pains in these kidney regions. Loss of weight and general malaise. Frequent urination with a feeling of incontinence and sometimes accompanied by either dark coloured urine or with blood.
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When Should You Contact Your Doctor
If your abdominal pain is severe, doesnt go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Ideally, mild abdominal pain normally goes away without treatment. However, in some cases, abdominal pain may need an urgent visit to the ER. Call 911 if your abdominal pain is severe and associated with trauma or pressure or pain in your chest, or experiencing any of the following:
- Bloody stools
- High fever
- Vomiting up blood
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
The Link Between Gastrointestinal Issues And Kidney Stones
If youve been diagnosed with gastrointestinal issues, you may be surprised to know that they may increase your risk of kidney stones. Additionally, sometimes kidney stones can even cause symptoms that mimic gastrointestinal issues as well.
Thats why its so important to know the relationship between these two types of health conditions. At Preva Surgicare – Surgery Center Of The Woodlands in Texas, our urology experts can help you understand your risk for kidney stones, while our specialized Stone Relief Center can help you treat them.
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Can Children Get Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are found in children as young as 5 years. In fact, this problem is so common in children that some hospitals conduct ‘stone’ clinics for pediatric patients. The increase in the United States has been attributed to several factors, mostly related to food choices. The two most important reasons are not drinking enough fluids and eating foods that are high in salt. Kids should eat less salty potato chips and French fries. There are other salty foods: sandwich meats, canned soups, packaged meals, and even some sports drinks. Sodas and other sweetened beverages can also increase the risk of stones if they contain high fructose corn syrup.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
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What Are The Treatments For Kidney Stones
Most stones that cause renal colic are small and pass out with the urine in a day or so. You should drink plenty of fluids to encourage a good flow of urine. Strong painkillers are often needed to ease the pain until you pass the stone. No other treatment is usually needed.
Some stones become stuck in a kidney or in one of the tubes draining urine from a kidney and cause persistent symptoms or problems. In these cases, the pain usually becomes severe and you may need to be admitted to hospital. There are various treatment options which include the following:
Another option for a stone made purely from uric acid is to dissolve the stone. This can be done by drinking plenty of fluids and making the urine alkaline with medication.
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Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Small stones are unlikely to cause you much of a problem. Symptoms dont usually occur until the kidney stone has got to a size where it becomes stuck in either the kidney, ureters or urethra. A stone blocking the ureter can also cause a kidney infection to develop, which can cause a different set of symptoms.
If you have a large stone you may experience:
- Persistent ache in your lower back or groin
- Intense pain that comes in waves in your back, abdomen or groin that can last for several minutes or several hours
- Feeling generally uncomfortable or restless
- Nausea
- The need to urinate more often
- Blood in your urine
Symptoms of a kidney infection include:
- A high temperature of 38C or higher
- Chills and shivering
- Cloudy and/ or foul smelling urine
Causes Of Bilateral And Unilateral Kidney Pains
Flank pains experienced in either one side otherwise known as unilateral, or both sides, which is referred to as bilateral is caused by various reasons .
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Learn About Additional Risk Factors You Can Control
Excess weight is linked to kidney stones. In one study, weight gain from early adulthood on was linked to an increased risk of stone formation. Other factors linked to kidney stone risk were increased waist circumference and high body mass index . Physical inactivity may increase risk. Certain medications such as acetazolamide and indinavir are linked to kidney stone formation.
Possible Interventions For Constipation In Ckd
Constipation in CKD is challenging to treat successfully due to its multifactorial nature. Therefore, every possible approach to ameliorate constipation needs to be considered. The expected goals of the following interventions may include: regular bowel movement, improvement of stool continence and incomplete evacuation, amelioration of gut microbiota composition, and decreased synthesis of harmful uremic toxins.
The urinary tract consists of:
- The kidneys: The majority of humans have two kidneys, one on either side of the abdomen. Kidneys clear poisonous substances from the blood.
- The ureters: Urine passes from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. Each kidney has one ureter connecting it to the bladder.
- The bladder: This is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
- The urethra: A tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. In males, the urethra travels down the middle of the penis to an opening at the end. In females, the urethra runs from the bladder to just above the vaginal opening. The urethra in females is shorter than in males.
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Do Some Medicines Make Kidney Stones More Likely
Taking certain medicines can make you more prone to making kidney stones. Examples include:
- Some chemotherapy medicines for cancer
- Some medicines used to treat HIV
However, many people safely take these medicines without developing kidney stones. If you think that a medicine you are taking is the cause of your kidney stone, you should not stop taking the medicine but discuss it with your doctor.
What Are Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Many kidney stones are painless until they travel from the kidney, down the ureter, and into the bladder. Depending on the size of the stone, movement of the stone through the urinary tract can cause severe pain with sudden onset. People who have kidney stones often describe the pain as excruciating. The lower back, abdomen, and sides are frequent sites of pain and cramping. Those who have kidney stones may see blood in their urine. Fever and chills are present when there is an infection. Seek prompt medical treatment in the event of these symptoms.
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What Causes Kidney Stones
The waste products in the blood can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidneys. Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump.
This is more likely to happen if you don’t drink enough fluids, if you’re taking some types of medication, or if you have a medical condition that raises the levels of certain substances in your urine.
Read more about the causes of kidney stones.
After a kidney stone has formed, your body will try to pass it out when you go to the toilet . This means it will often travel through the urinary system .
Symptom Of Kidney Stone: Radiating Pain
Although you may have pain at the blockage point, you can also get pain radiating into other areas, Dr. Zhao says. For example, if a stone is obstructing the tube out of your bladder, you may have generalized pain in the lower abdomen or groin, including the testicles.
You can also get pain with urination, if the stones are lodged in the urethra.
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How Do You Get Flu
Among the symptoms you can get from kidney stones not related to urination are nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. A bad enough case can cause nausea and vomiting, while an infection in the kidney or bladder can cause fever and chills.
Many of these symptoms are also closely associated with bad cases of the flu, which can create confusion over what condition you have. When you have these symptoms in addition to abdominal pain and urinary problems, they may be the sign of an infection, so you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Your doctor can treats the infection in addition to helping you pass the stone.
A blood or urine test can determine if youre dealing with kidney stones. Treatments are available, including anti inflammatory drugs, allopurinol to reduce uric acid levels, shock wave lithotripsy to break up larger stones, ureteroscope , or surgery.
Kidney stones can be painful, but many treatment options are available. If youre dealing with kidney stones and need treatment, make an appointment with Drs. Herman, Kester and Urology Center of Florida today.
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Various Types Of Kidney Pain
There are several types of pains attributed to the kidney, most of which are in the back area of your body and often in the upper region near the ribcage areas, just above the hips. Unlike the lower back pains that are most severe
- Most kidney pains will be dull
- Felt on either side of the spine region.
- However, the pain can be quite painful especially when there is presence of kidney lacerations or kidney stones.
- One paramount difference with other back pains is that all kidney pains will be accompanied by high fevers, nausea and in some cases lead to vomiting.
- The pains caused by kidney stones will be wavy-like, moving from the upper backside to the front hip area .
- Unlike back pains that will restrict back movements, severe kidney pains are comparable to Labour pains, affecting the movement of every other part of the body.
- With back pains, one feels the pain on simple movements of the body it actually becomes difficult to move. Kidney pains will be delayed after a move although in severe cases, the pain may be more elaborated and affect the body movements or exercises.
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When To Seek Medical Advice
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Pain that is not controlled by the medicine given
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Repeated vomiting or unable to keep down fluids
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Fever of 100.4ºF or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider
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Passage of solid red or brown urine or urine with lots of blood clots
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Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
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Unable to pass urine for 8 hours and increasing bladder pressure
What Is A Kidney Stone
A kidney stone is a hard object that is made from chemicals in the urine. There are four types of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. A kidney stone may be treated with shockwave lithotripsy, uteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithomy or nephrolithotripsy. Common symptoms include severe pain in lower back, blood in your urine, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, or urine that smells bad or looks cloudy.
Urine has various wastes dissolved in it. When there is too much waste in too little liquid, crystals begin to form. The crystals attract other elements and join together to form a solid that will get larger unless it is passed out of the body with the urine. Usually, these chemicals are eliminated in the urine by the body’s master chemist: the kidney. In most people, having enough liquid washes them out or other chemicals in urine stop a stone from forming. The stone-forming chemicals are calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xanthine, and phosphate.
After it is formed, the stone may stay in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Sometimes, tiny stones move out of the body in the urine without causing too much pain. But stones that don’t move may cause a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. This is what causes the pain.
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When To Go To The Er With Stomach Pain
It’s a good idea to get medical help for stomach pain that is:
- Severe or prolonged
- Accompanied by
- Other serious or unusual symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or change in behavior
Passing A Kidney Stone
Small kidney stones may pass on their own without treatment. A doctor may recommend drinking more fluids to help flush the stone out of the system.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe the medication Tamsulosin. This drug relaxes the ureter, making it easier for stones to pass. Some people may also require over-the-counter or prescription pain relief medication.
According to the AUA, a person should wait no longer than 6 weeks to pass a small kidney stone. They should seek medical attention sooner if they experience worsening pain or an infection.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery to place a ureteral stent to allow urine to bypass the stone, with or without removing the stone at the same time. According to the Urology Care Foundation, doctors usually reserve surgery for stones that may have caused or lead to infection or stones that do not pass and block urine flow from the kidney.
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