Whats The Outlook For People With Uric Acid Stones
The outlook for uric acid stones and other kidney stones is positive. Many times, stones pass on their own. You may not even need treatment. If you do need treatment, the treatment options are very successful. Youll likely make a full recovery.
But there is a risk of the stones coming back. Talk to your provider about dietary changes and other steps you can take to prevent another stone.
What Are The Symptoms Of Simple Kidney Cysts
Simple kidney cysts usually don’t cause any symptoms. In fact, most people who have them don’t know they have them. The cysts become a problem if they rupture and start to bleed, become infected, or grow so large that they push against other organs within the abdomen.
When simple kidney cysts do cause symptoms, they might include:
- Pain in the side between the ribs and hip, stomach or back.
Depending on where the cyst is located, it can affect how the kidney works. It can also lead to a type of high blood pressure if the cyst prevents the kidney from filtering extra fluid from the blood.
Tip : Taking Pain Killers
First things first, I do not recommend taking painkillers or medications without consulting your doctor. However, in some instances, when the pain is so severe and you have been diagnosed with a past history of stone, taking a tablet like paracetamol or any other low dose NSAID may help.
Never, take these medications on an empty stomach though. Take them after food preferably with a glass of water. Never take two or more different painkillers together. Also, avoid all opioid-based painkillers!
Again I strictly do not recommend medications without a prior consultation. I hope I made myself clear!. Furthermore, when you are popping in a painkiller, take a minute to read the instructions on the label before taking the tablet.
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What Causes Simple Kidney Cysts
Kidney cysts occur when the tube of a nephron begins to get bigger and fill with fluid. Researchers don’t know what causes this to occur, but they do know that simple cysts aren’t inherited. It is believed that injury or microscopic blockages in the tubules may lead to the development of some simple kidney cysts.
How Effective Is Shock Wave Lithotripsy At Treating Kidney Stones
The success rate of shock wave lithotripsy varies. It depends on the size, location, and type of kidney stone and your body type.
Overall, 70% to 90% of people who are good candidates for shock wave lithotripsy are stone-free three months after treatment. You have a higher chance of success if the kidney stone is inside certain parts of the kidney or in the upper part of the ureter.
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How Long Do Kidney Stone Symptoms Last
As mentioned, the time frame for these symptoms can be as short as a week or up to a month and beyond. So, even if it feels like your kidney stone pain has subsided, it’s important to reach out to your doctor since sporadic pain is common with this condition.
“While some kidney stones pass on their own, others require treatment such as medications or procedures to help break up the stone or even surgical removal. Your doctor can perform the tests needed to determine whether the stone is likely to pass on its own or if you might need treatment. In addition, your doctor can help you manage the pain associated with passing the stone,” adds Dr. Kannady.
What Is A Uti Anyway
A UTI, or urinary tract infection, happens when bacteria enters into any part of your urinary system, which includes the urethra, the bladder, the kidneys or the uterus. If not flushed out of the system, the bacteria can lead to an infection, or a UTI.
If youve ever had a UTI , you probably havent forgotten the symptoms. UTIs are very unpleasant, to say the least, and are often accompanied with one or more of the following:
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A burning sensation when urinating
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A strong urge to urinate often, usually passing only small amounts of urine at a time.
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Cloudy and/or strong smelling urine
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Pelvic pain
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Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented
Rather than having to undergo treatment, it is best to avoid kidney stones in the first place when possible. It can be especially helpful to drink more water since low fluid intake and dehydration are major risk factors for kidney stone formation.
Depending on the cause of the kidney stones and an individual’s medical history, changes in the diet or medications are sometimes recommended to decrease the likelihood of developing further kidney stones. If one has passed a stone, it can be particularly helpful to have it analyzed in a laboratory to determine the precise type of stone so specific prevention measures can be considered.
People who have a tendency to form calcium oxalate kidney stones may be advised to limit their consumption of foods high in oxalates, such as spinach, rhubarb, Swiss chard, beets, wheat germ, and peanuts. Also drinking lemon juice or lemonade may be helpful in preventing kidney stones.
What To Do To Speed Up The Process
There are ways that you could use to hasten the process. Medication should be the best option. Some of the medications that you may receive from your doctor includes some alpha blockers which are meant to relax the muscles of the ureteral wall.
In addition taking alkalinizers for an acidic kidney stone will help a lot in the ionization and neutralization of the stone. This makes it dissolve and get eliminated easily and faster.
Pain relievers will be good to augment the process as reduction of pain will help you remove the stones easily. Such includes ibuprofen and naproxen. Aspirin should be avoided in such cases for their exercabation of kidney stones.
The presence of an infection will require that you take antibiotics. For gout as a cause, allopurinol is normally prescribed to reduce hyperuricemia.
Diuretics are good for compelling expulsion through water excretion. Good thing alkalinizers such as Citro Soda may contain both sodium citrate and sodium bicarbonate. The former is important for the removal of kidney stones caused by reduced citrate in urine.
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How Successful Are These Treatments
In short dubious at best. There have been many reports of people using these natural methods, but the efficacy is unsubstantiated. Some people report success, but none of these treatments are based in scientific fact. For every anecdotal success story posted online, there are hundreds more stories of failures . So, what natural remedies DO work?
4. Lab Grade Chanca Piedra
Lab grade chanca piedra has shown high rates of success in kidney stone treatment. This herbal remedy breaks down and prevents the development of new kidney stones. The clinical benefits of all-natural Chanca Piedra are related to ureteral relaxation and to a putative reduction of the excretion of urinary crystallization promoters such as calcium. It first grabbed the attention of the scientific community in a 2002 study on rodents which demonstrated it slowed or halted kidney stone growth. Further studies indicated lab grade Chanca Piedra actually interferes with the process that would normally cause stones to form.
Professor Dr. Nestor Schor speaking about his research on lab grade Chanca Piedra:
Treatment with Phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the stones and reduced the number of stones
These results show that Phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal growth
Signs Your Dog Has Kidney Stones
It might not be obvious that your dog is suffering from kidney stones. Some of the signs your dog has them mimic other maladies like kidney disease and diabetes. As you’ll hear everywhere on this website, consult your veterinarian to determine whether kidney stones are present. Here are some common signs and symptoms, per Tracey and Clements:
- Increased urination
Tracey adds that Dalmatians can sometimes be predisposed to kidney stones as well because they have a genetic mutation that makes it hard for them to process one of the acids that can lead to stones.
So: If you have one of these breeds and the dog is experiencing some of the above symptoms, it’s time to set up a vet appointment.
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Getting A Kidney Stone To Pass
After identifying the size and location of your kidney stone, follow the recommended treatment by your doctor. The vast majority of small kidney stones are able to be passed without medical intervention and can be helped with these steps:
Drinking water: By consuming as much as 3 liters of water a day, this will help flush out your renal system.
Take pain medication: Kidney stones can be extremely painful, therefore, taking pain medication like ibuprofen can help make the passing less agonizing.
Get an alpha-blocker from your doctor: An alpha-blocker can help relax your ureter and progress the kidney stone through your system.
Cut out the right foods: Removing high-oxalate foods like spinach, beets, potatoes, and nuts, as well as animal protein can help limit kidney stone minerals from forming.
Drink juice: Consuming juices from lemons, basil, and dandelion roots can provide compounds that regulate uric acid levels and help breakdown calcium deposits.
For larger stones , medical treatment is often required to enable kidney stones to be passed through the body. Common methods of care include soundwave therapy, surgery, and using a ureteroscope.
Shock Wave Therapy: A process called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy creates vibrations targeted at kidney stones to break the larger minerals into smaller pieces that can be passed by the body.
What Causes Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are formed from substances in your urine. The substances that combine into stones normally pass through your urinary system. When they dont, its because there isnt enough urine volume, causing the substances to become highly concentrated and to crystalize. This is typically a result of not drinking enough water. The stone-forming substances are:
- Calcium.
- Cloudy, foul-smelling urine, fever, chills or weakness which might be a sign of a serious infection.
- Blood in the urine.
Most pediatric kidney stones remain in the kidney, but up to a third may migrate from the kidney and get stuck in a ureter. Stones that remain in the kidney, although often painless, can be the source of recurrent urinary tract infections. Those that lodge in the ureter can create severe colicky pain.
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What If Shock Wave Lithotripsy Doesnt Work
In some cases, shock wave lithotripsy doesnt break up a stone enough for all pieces to pass on their own. If that happens, you may need another procedure.
Depending on your situation, your provider may recommend a second shock wave lithotripsy. Or your provider may suggest clearing any remaining stones through a minimally invasive procedure called ureteroscopy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the different types of kidney stone treatments.
Medication For Kidney Stones
For most people with recurrent calcium stones, a combination of drinking enough fluids, avoiding urinary infections, and specific treatment with medications will significantly reduce or stop new stone formation.
Certain medications such as thiazide diuretics or indapamide reduce calcium excretion and decrease the chance of another calcium stone. Potassium citrate or citric juices are used to supplement thiazide treatment and are used by themselves for some conditions where the urine is too acidic.
For people who have a high level of uric acid in their urine, or who make uric acid stones, the medication allopurinol will usually stop the formation of new stones.
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Signs You Could Have A Kidney Stone
Sometimes, a kidney stone can pass through your system with little more than lots of water and medication. But, they can also cause symptoms that are difficult to manage or become stuck, creating painful ureter spasms and bladder swelling.
Common signs of a kidney stone include:
- Intense, sharp pain below your ribs in your back and side
- Radiating pain that moves into your lower abdomen and groin
- Pain that fluctuates in intensity, often coming in waves
- Burning or pain during urination
- Discolored, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine
- A persistent urge to urinate
- More frequent urination
- Passing the small amounts of urine
- Nausea and vomiting
You can also experience a fever and chills if you develop a urinary tract infection at the same time. As the stone moves, you may notice changes in your pain. Fortunately, you dont have to wait to find relief.
Whos Most Likely To Get Kidney Stones What Are The Risk Factors
White men in their 30s and 40s are most likely to get kidney stones. However, anyone can develop kidney stones.
There are several risk factors for developing kidney stones. These include:
- Not drinking enough liquids.
- Having a diet that includes the substances that form the stones .
- Having a family history of kidney stones.
- Having a blockage in your urinary tract.
Certain medical conditions can also increase your risk of developing stones. This is because they may increase or decrease levels of the substances that make up a kidney stone. These conditions can include:
- Hypercalciuria .
Certain foods can also place you at risk of a kidney stone. These foods include:
- Meats and poultry .
- Sodium .
- Sugars .
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Difference Between Dog Kidney Stones And Bladder Stones
The difference here is the location. While the bladder and kidneys are both part of a dog’s urinary system, bladder stones form in the bladder and kidney stones form in the kidney, VCA Hospitals says.
Signs of both kinds of stones will appear in the urineblood or crystals for instancebut they still come from different places.
The Causes Of Kidney Stones
Like many other ailments, a poor diet is the leading cause of kidney stone formation. While genetics and environmental factors can play a role, your diet is the easiest thing you can change.
Specifically, sodas and sugary drinks are major culprits behind the causes of kidney stones. This reason being sodas are filled with unhealthy chemicals, including high levels of processed bleached sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and high fructose corn syrup. These ingredients are harmful to your body and especially harsh for your urinary system.
These drinks cause kidney stones thanks to the high fructose corn syrup which metabolizes into oxalate and increases excretion of uric acid and calcium. This combination encourages kidney stone formation at a higher rate than normal. Plus, the phosphoric acid in soda can create an acidic environment in your kidney tract, leading to more kidney stones. Diets high in sodium are also associated with this condition. The amount of calcium in your urine contributes to kidney stones and should therefore be reduced in your diet.
Instead, eat a diet for optimal urological health that is full of fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid processed foods and sugar to avoid kidney stones and maintain a healthy urinary system. Dont forget to keep hydrated!
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If You Meet All Of The Following This Information Is For You
- You have had a kidney stone in the past.
- Your doctor told you that your kidney stone was a calcium stone . The research for this summary was only on people with calcium stones. If you do not know what type of stone you had, the information in this summary may still be useful to you.
- You want to know about options to lower your chance of getting another calcium stone.
- And you are age 18 or older. The information in this summary is from research on adults.
When To See Your Urologist
While it would be nice to avoid the doctors office for kidney pain, its not always possible. Sometimes, the pain is not treatable using an at-home remedy and youll need to see your doctor or urologist to get relief. It should also be noted that just because you experience pain relief, doesnt mean that your infection is gone. To make sure that the infection doesnt spread to other parts of your body and cause further complications, you need to get a proper diagnosis and treat the problem. If you have a high fever, blood in your urine, vomiting, or chills, see your doctor immediately.1 If you experience back, groin, or abdominal pain, see your doctor.3 always better to seek medical treatment early to treat any serious infections and reduce the risks of complications or severe problems.
If you have kidney stones, but the pain is persistent and youre unable to pass them on your own, your urologist will recommend additional treatments. There are a number of different things that can be done to reduce the size of kidney stones and make them easier to pass naturally. Call your doctor if the pain persists and youre unable to pass kidney stones on your own.
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How Are Uric Acid Stones Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask you about your medical history and do a physical exam. Then your provider will do other diagnostic procedures, including:
- Blood tests: A blood test can detect too much uric acid or calcium in your blood. These tests can also suggest or rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
- Urine test: Your provider may ask you to do a 24-hour urine test. You collect your urine over 24 hours so your provider can test it for calcium and uric acid.
- Imaging: You may need a CT scan or ultrasound to find uric acid stones in your urinary tract. These imaging scans can help find even small stones. Usually, providers dont use abdominal X-rays because they may miss smaller stones.
- Stone analysis: You may need to urinate using a special strainer to catch any stones you pass. Your provider will send the stone to a laboratory for analysis to figure out what type of kidney stone it is. Analyzing the stone helps your provider determine the cause and how you can prevent it from happening again.