What Is Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease, sometimes called CKD, is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the kidneys, but it generally means permanent and usually progressive damage to the kidneys caused by a variety of conditions.
Learn Your ABCs of Kidney Disease
Johns Hopkins nephrologists Drs. Sumeska Thavarajah and Daphne Knicely offer a free educational class most months, from 5 6 p.m. at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. For more information, call .
Kidney Stone Symptoms You Should Know
Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone knows how miserable it can make you feel. Kidney stones develop when high levels of salt and other minerals in the urine stick together. Over time, these congealed bits can form stones ranging in size from sand-like grains or small pebbles to chunks of gravel.
Some are soft, some are sort of crushable, some are more crystaline and some are more solid, like a petrified rock, says Margaret Pearle, MD, PhD, professor and vice chair of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Kidney stones can pass in your urine without any need for treatment. But when a stone gets lodged in a bad place, especially in the uretersthe narrow passageways that allow urine to move from the kidneys to the bladderthe pain can get pretty intense. Larger stones may even block the flow of urine. That being said, stones that remain in the kidneys may not cause any pain or symptoms at all. As long as theyre not obstructing urine flow or associated with infection, they can be left alone.
A variety of factors like diet, certain medical conditions , and family history of the issue can increase the risk for developing kidney stones. One of the most important and easily correctable risk factors is dehydration. Boosting your daily water intake can reduce your risk of forming kidney stones in the first place.
Here are the key warning signs of kidney stones, plus what you can do to get rid of these little troublemakers.
Can Kidney Stone Symptoms Come And Go
The length of time a stone can hang around is the primary reason that a person may feel like kidney stone symptoms come and go.
Once you start feeling the pain of a kidney stone, it can take anywhere between one to four weeks for the stone to actually pass. In the meantime, the pain can seem sporadic. Heres why:
During a bout of kidney stones, the initial pain is typically caused by the stone making its way through your very narrow ureter tube. There can also be pain if the stone lodges itself there and blocks urine flow out of the kidney, which results in pressure buildup and painful swelling, explains Dr. Kannady.
As your body tries to move the kidney stone through your ureter, some of your pain may also be from the waves of contractions used to force the kidney stone out. The pain may also move as the kidney stone moves along your urinary tract.
Once the stone makes it to your bladder, the pain might subside to some degree and you may notice urinary symptoms in its place. The final push from your bladder to outside of your body can reignite sharp feelings of pain, as the stone is now passing through another narrow tube called your urethra, says Dr. Kannady.
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What Are Some Early
- Pain in stomach, back, side
- Has been compared to the pain of childbirth
- When a stone moves into the ureter, it causes a blockage, creating pressure in the kidney
- Pain can start suddenly and vary in intensity/locations comes in waves that can last for minutes back pain tends to spread
- Please note: the presence of back pain, or even pain that you identify as being near your kidneys, does not mean you should begin worrying you may have kidney stones. Please visit a doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to palpate the area and determine if the pain is coming from the area around your kidneys or the area around your spine.
Men:
How Do Doctors Diagnose Kidney Stones
Doctors diagnose kidney stones based on an evaluation of the patients symptoms and medical history, a physical exam, and a variety of tests.
If you are experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, your doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner will ask you several questions related to your symptoms, including:
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How long have you been experiencing pain?
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Where is the pain located?
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Is the pain radiating to other parts of your body?
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Do you have a family history of kidney stones?
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Do you have other health conditions, such as gout or ?
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How much water do you drink each day?
- What types of foods are in your diet?
Tests your doctor may use to diagnose kidney stones include:
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Urinalysis, which evaluates a urine sample for the presence of blood or minerals that may indicate a stone
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Blood test, to look for elevated levels of certain minerals that can cause kidney stones
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X-ray, which in some cases can show the location of the stone and how it is affecting the urinary tract
- Computed tomography , an imaging scan that may or may not use liquid contrast to highlight the location and size of the kidney stone
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When To Go To The Er With Stomach Pain
Its a good idea to get medical help for stomach pain that is:
- Severe or prolonged
- Other serious or unusual symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or change in behavior
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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Signs Of Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury is a rapid or abrupt decline in kidney function and is considered a medical emergency. It occurs when there is direct injury to one or both kidneys, a blockage in the ureter or another condition causing insufficient blood flow to the kidneys.
In adults, kidney failure can be caused by:
- Low blood pressure that occurs very suddenly and/or is severely low
- Bleeding
- Tenderness or pain in the area of the the lower ribs
Oxalate Restriction In Hyperoxaluria
People who have hyperoxaluria will be advised to limit the amount of oxalate in their diet.
- Foods high in oxalic acid include beets, soy, black tea, chenopodium, chocolate, cocoa, dried figs, ground pepper, lamb, lime peel, nuts, parsley, poppy seeds, purslane, rhubarb, sorrel, spinach, and Swiss chard.
- Foods containing moderate amounts of oxalates include beans , blackberries, blueberries, carrots, celery, coffee , concord grapes, currants, dandelion greens, endive, gooseberries, lemon peel, okra, green onions, oranges, green peppers, black raspberries, strawberries, and sweet potatoes.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
A kidney stone does not usually cause symptoms when it remains in the kidney. There, they can sometimes become infected leading to serious kidney infection called pyelonephritis. When the kidney stone passes from the urine collecting system within the kidney into the ureter, it can act like a dam, preventing easy flow of urine from the kidney into the bladder. This causes urine to back up, increasing pressure and swelling within the kidney.
Pain from a kidney stone can be excruciating, particularly as the stone is passing through the ureter. Kidney stone pain of this type is referred to as renal colic and its intensity is often described as akin to the pain of childbirth. The pain often begins in the back or flank of the side of the low back. It may radiate to the front of the abdomen and, in males, may cause testicular or scrotal pain. The pain is often intermittent in waves causing the affected individual to writhe or move constantly to find a comfortable position. There can be associated nausea, vomiting, and sweating.
The intense pain can be continuous or it can wax and wane as the stone passes toward the bladder. Often, in between the intense pain phase, there remains a dull ache in the back or flank. Once the stone passes into the bladder, the obstruction is relieved, urine can flow freely and the pain resolves. The dull flank ache can remain for a few hours or days after the stone has passed.
Kidney Disease: 11 Ways It Can Affect Your Skin
If you have kidney disease, you wont see early warning signs on your skin. However, as the disease progresses, you may develop one or more of the following:
Extremely dry skin. Skin can become so dry that it:
Itchy skin. Extremely itchy skin is a common symptom of advanced kidney disease. The itch can range from irritating to life-disrupting. Your skin may itch all the time.
Some people have itch on one area of their skin. The itch can also spread across most of your body.
Scratch marks and other signs of scratching. When you scratch often, it affects your skin. You can develop:
Color changes to your skin. When the kidneys stop working as they should, toxins build up in your body. This build-up can cause color changes to the skin. You may see any of the following:
Nail changes. Kidney disease can affect the appearance of your fingernails, toenails, or both. People who have advanced kidney disease can develop:
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Purine Restriction In People At Risk For Uric Acid Stones
A high intake of purines can increase the amount of uric acid in the urine. Those at risk for uric acid stones should reduce their intake of foods and beverages that contain purines.
Some diet and lifestyle changes that may help prevent uric acid stones:
- Avoid alcohol, anchovies, sardines, oils, herring, organ meat , legumes , gravies, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, and baking or brewer’s yeast.
- Limit how much meat you eat at each meal.
- Avoid fatty foods such as salad dressings, ice cream, and fried foods.
Blocked Ureter And Kidney Infection
A kidney stone that blocks the ureter can lead to a kidney infection. This is because waste products are unable to pass the blockage, which may cause a build-up of bacteria.
The symptoms of a kidney infection are similar to symptoms of kidney stones, but may also include:
- a high temperature of 38C or over
- chills and shivering
Kidney stones are usually formed following a build-up of certain chemicals in the body.
This build-up may be any of the following:
- calcium
- ammonia
- uric acid a waste product produced when the body breaks down food to use as energy
- cysteine an amino acid that helps to build protein
Certain medical conditions can lead to an unusually high level of these substances in your urine.
Youre also more likely to develop kidney stones if you dont drink enough fluids.
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Finding Relief From Kidney Stone Pain
Not all kidney stones require medical intervention. The smallest stones may pass without you even knowing, but medium-sized stones may cause pain thats often easy to manage with pain medication and drinking plenty of water.
Stones that are about 4mm or larger may need professional care, so they dont get lodged in your urinary tract and cause health complications. Our team offers a number of treatment options for larger stones, including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and surgery.
Talk to our doctors to learn more about kidney stones and the treatment thats right for you. Call the office nearest you, book online, or send our team a message today.
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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
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
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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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How To Get Relief From Kidney Stone Pain
When pain does occur, it can be so severe that many patients have to go to the closest emergency room to seek immediate treatment. Often a single dose of pain medication given by an ER doctor is enough to alleviate the pain for a prolonged period of time, allowing the stone to pass, says Lieske.
While narcotic pain medications can be carefully given for this purpose, studies suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs milder pain medications with fewer side effects can be as effective. A review of 36 clinical trials that compared NSAIDs with stronger pain medications for kidney stone pain relief found that NSAIDs were equivalent when it came to pain reduction and led to fewer side effects. 30977-6/fulltext rel=nofollow> 7)
Tamsulosin is also widely used to help relax the muscles of the ureter, increasing the chance of passing the stone and helping reduce symptoms of pain, Bechis notes. However, new evidence suggests this medication may not add as much benefit as previously thought, he adds. A study published in July 2015 in the Lancet found that tamsulosin didnt help stones pass. 60933-3/fulltext rel=nofollow> 8)
How long does kidney stone pain last? It depends on how long it takes to pass the stone.
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Is Clear Urine A Sign Of Kidney Failure
Its not clear yet or any proof. The answer depends on the type of kidney disease you got diagnosed with before getting to this point.
Means, before this, you could have to go through some pain and kidney problems, so that your doctor will ask you for some medications and precautions. From this moment, you would have to analyze your urine color, frequency, and other factors, which gives a proper understanding of Clear urine a sign of kidney failure.
What Is The Urinary Tract
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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