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Is Kidney Stones More Painful Than Childbirth

Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones In Pregnancy

Medical Minute: Kidney Stones

There are lots of ways to prevent stones in general, and during pregnancy. Patient education after a bout with stones is important, so they can prevent stones from happening in the future. When I had mine, the ER doctor very patiently went through quite a lot of teaching of things I could do to prevent them in the future. Things mentioned:

  • Make sure Im drinking enough water it helps to flush out small stones without pain and also reduces kidney stone formation in general. It also improves your kidney function.
  • Stop calcium supplements since my stone was calcium oxalate, it is possible that calcium tablets could increase my risk for those.
  • Frequent urination always good for your urinary tract, it also helps prevent the backup of urine into the kidneys.
  • Drink lemonade to help your urine stay more acidic and break up stones easier.

If you have kidney stones, be sure to speak with your provider about ways that you can specifically help them in your body.

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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. Hereâs why:

âDuring 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,â 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.

âOnce 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,â says Dr. Kannady.

What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Stones

At first, a kidney stone may not cause any symptoms. But as it moves from the kidneys to the bladder and into the ureter, there can be sudden sharp pains and discomfort.

Other common symptoms of kidney stones include:

  • Pain while urinating
  • Sharp pain in the back or lower abdomen
  • Nausea and vomiting accompanying extreme pain

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If Youve Had A Stone The Problem Is Likely To Recur But It Doesnt Have To Use These Strategies For Prevention

The pain associated with kidney stones has been described by some as more excruciating than childbirth. Kidney stones are small, hard stones, formed when high levels of minerals in your urine start to crystallize in your kidneys, forming a pebble-like mass. The pain comes when these stones migrate from your kidneys through the ureters, which are the narrow tubes that carry urine from your kidneys into your bladder.

âKidney stone pain is not subtle,â says Dr. Gary Curhan, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It typically starts in the flank, at the side of the lower back. Sometimes if the stone moves, the pain migrates to the front of the body.

Occasionally a stone gets stuck as it enters the bladder and causes symptoms such as a feeling of urgency or frequent urination that can be mistaken for a urinary tract infection or bladder irritation.

There are actually several different types of kidney stones with different causes. The most common types are

  • struvite stones

  • cystine stones.

The stones themselves vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball.

When To Go To The Hospital For Kidney Stones

The pain was worse than childbirth

Kidney stones usually arent damaging to your overall health, but some kidney stone symptoms may require you to visit your primary care provider or the emergency room. You should see a doctor right away if you experience:

  • Severe pain that makes it hard to get comfortable
  • Nausea and vomiting combined with pain
  • Fever and chills combined with pain
  • Blood in your urine

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How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will discuss your medical history and possibly order some tests. These tests include:

  • Imaging tests: An X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound will help your healthcare provider see the size, shape, location and number of your kidney stones. These tests help your provider decide what treatment you need.
  • Blood test: A blood test will reveal how well your kidneys are functioning, check for infection and look for biochemical problems that may lead to kidney stones.
  • Urine test: This test also looks for signs of infection and examines the levels of the substances that form kidney stones.

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How Can I Prevent Kidney Stones

There are several ways to decrease your risk of kidney stones, including:

  • Drink water. Drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses every day . Staying hydrated helps you urinate more often, which helps flush away the buildup of the substances that cause kidney stones. If you sweat a lot, be sure to drink even more.
  • Limit salt. Eat less sodium. You may want to connect with a dietician for help with planning what foods you eat.
  • Lose weight. If youre overweight, try to lose some pounds. Talk to your healthcare provider about an ideal weight.
  • Take prescriptions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe some medications that help prevent kidney stones. The type of medication may depend on the type of stones you get.

Also Check: What Helps A Kidney Infection

How Will I Know If I Passed A Kidney Stone

When a kidney stone enters the bladder, any pain you may have felt while trying to pass the stone will significantly decrease. Instead of pain, you may feel pressure and the need to urinate frequently as your body tries to get rid of the stone. In most cases, you can assume the stone has passed completely once you begin to feel relief from your symptoms.

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Stop Gout Before It Strikes Again

Here’s how to prevent kidney stones during pregnancy

Changing your lifestyle can help you prevent new gout attacks and slow the diseases advancement. Your doctor may recommend:

  • Eating one less portion of meat or seafood per day

  • Drinking wine instead of beer, or avoiding alcohol completely

  • Drinking one glass of skim milk per day, since low-fat dairy appears to lower uric acid levels and have a protective effect

Anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids can treat the symptoms of gout attacks. Your doctor may also prescribe newer medications that reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood.

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Kidney Stones More Painful Than Childbirth

Dr Greggory Pinto

As a urologist I have treated thousands of men and women with kidney stones, particularly as a postgraduate fellow with world-leading kidney stone surgeon Professor Andreas Gross, in Hamburg, Germany.

I have seen macho men cry like babies from the pain of kidney stones.

An interesting study conducted in London sought to assess whether women who had a natural child birth experienced more pain passing kidney stones or having babies.

Nineteen women participated in this survey. Surprisingly, 14 out of the 19 stated that having kidney stones was more painful than giving birth.

These results were published in the scientific Journal of Pain Research.

About one in 11 persons will experience a kidney stone in his or her lifetime.

Persons may experience unbearable pain in either side of their flank/back, underneath their lowest ribs, with the pain often moving towards their groin. Blood in the urine is common as are repeated urinary tract infections.

Kidney stones often result from poor fluid intake and high salt and red meat consumption, and rarely from inherited disorders.

Another recent fascinating study found that riding a roller coaster could help in passing a kidney stone.

This study was conducted using the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at Florida’s Walt Disney World, and was conducted by a Michigan State University Urology Professor.

What Is A Kidneystone Made Of

Generally speaking,16 types of kidney stones can be created in the human body. And what they are made of can help you prevent additional kidney stones in the future.

The two major types of kidney stones are made up ofcalcium and uric acid. Calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid, alongwith struvite and cystine stones are the major groupings. Technical names likecalcium oxalate monohydrate, hydroxyapatite, and magnesium hydrogen phosphateare a mouthful, to be sure, but knowing exactly what kind of kidney stone youhave can give you the best clues for preventing kidney stones in the future.

Start by collecting your urine to capture the stone as itcomes out. Or by using a coffee filter to catch the stone. After collecting it,take it to your physician they can send it out for tests. Once the testresults come back you two can craft a treatment plan to help prevent kidneystones in the future. In addition to your customized treatment plan, drinkingmore water, eating less meat, consuming more citrus, and reducing your saltintake are general guidelines that can help reduce the odds of kidney stones inthe future.

Read Also: What To Eat When Trying To Pass A Kidney Stone

Get Professional Kidney Stone Treatment Asap

Kidney stones offer an uncomfortable and excruciating experience. Its important that you dont ignore the symptoms of severe pain kidney stones can only worsen as they grow. While your kidney stones will eventually pass, there are many methods of kidney stone treatment in Los Angeles that can help reduce the pain and discomfort you will feel throughout the process. Get care for your kidney stone ASAP.

Urology At Tufts Medical Center Community Care

Kidney Stones And Your Pregnancy

Tufts Medical Center Community Care is pleased to offer coordinated, community-based treatment to patients with kidney stones and other kidney disorders. Our team includes seasoned urologists who work hand-in-hand with primary care physicians and other specialists as necessary to ensure world-class care and support. And, with multiple easily accessible locations throughout north suburban Boston and prompt appointment availability, we make it simple to find relief from kidney stone pain. Contact Tufts Medical Center Community Care today to learn more.

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    Why Is It So Painful

    When there is a kidney stone blocking the flow of urine, your body will still try to push the urine out. There is intense pain from the body using muscles to try to push out the backup of urine that is blocked by the stone. The pain is often described as a sharp and persistent pain on one side.

    For some people, the pain may come in waves and resurface every 10 minutes or so. In this way, it is similar to labor pains. However, for those who have persistent pain that doesnt ebb and flow, it can be worse than childbirth pains because there is no respite. There is only intense, sharp pain for a long period of time as the stone makes its way through the body.

    One reason that kidney stones are often considered to be worse than childbirth pains is that there is no epidural or spinal block available to stop the pain of passing a stone. Unlike with labor, which can be made much more comfortable, patients with kidney stones can be given pain medications that can take the edge off the pain, but they arent given anything to take it away completely. There may be several days of pain that a kidney-stone patient must endure, and there is little that can be done to make the process easier to bear.

    If you have any questions about kidney stones, contact us here or call us at 705-5201.

    Urine Contacts The Tissue Plaque

    Most of the plaque you see in the picture is inside the shiny membrane that covers the papillary surface. So long as the membrane covers it stones cannot form. But where the stone grew that membrane gave way. Urine bathed the exposed plaque and minerals from that urine formed the initial hydroxyapatite binding site that shows up at the bottom of the stone in the right hand panel of the picture.

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    How Do Kidney Stones Form

    Your kidney is in charge of removing waste and excess fluid from the body through urine. However, if theres an excess amount of certain minerals, these can then pile up together and attract other substances to form little masses. Examples of minerals and other substances that can form such crystals are calcium, uric acid, struvite and cystine.

    Mayo Study Finds That Pregnancy Increases Risk For Women To Develop First

    How Can I Prevent Kidney Stones? | Duke Health

    ROCHESTER, Minn. Though researchers have long known that several physiological and anatomical changes occur during pregnancy that can contribute to kidney stone formation, evidence of the link has been lacking. But now Mayo Clinic researchers believe they have that evidence.

    An observational study that reviewed the medical records for nearly 3,000 female patients from 1984 to 2012 finds that pregnancy increases the risk of a first-time symptomatic kidney stone. The risk peaks close to delivery and then improves by one year after delivery, though a modest risk of developing kidney stones continues beyond one year after delivery.

    The study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, included 945 women who experienced a first-time symptomatic kidney stone and 1,890 age-matched female control subjects. The study’s objective was to determine whether the risk of a first-time symptomatic kidney stone increased with pregnancy and if the risk varied across different time periods before, during and after pregnancy.

    A symptomatic kidney stone event is the most common nonobstetric hospital admission diagnosis for pregnant women. A symptomatic kidney stone event occurs in 1 of every 2501,500 pregnancies, research shows, most often occurring during the second and third trimesters. Kidney stones, though uncommon, can cause significant complications, ranging from preeclampsia and urinary tract infection to preterm labor and delivery, and pregnancy loss.

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    What Makes Yale Medicines Approach To Kidney Stones Unique

    At Yale Medicine’s Endourology & Stone Disease Program, a multidisciplinary team of experts in urology, nephrology and nutrition works together to develop a preventive, holistic health program for patients with kidney stones.

    Because people with recurrent stones often undergo more CT scan imaging than most people, they are susceptible to cumulative radiation exposure putting them at risk to develop secondary cancers. In an effort to reduce such exposure, our Stone Research Team is researching and testing an ultra low dose CT scan with 87 percent less radiation than standard scans.

    My Experience With Both

    Before we get started, I want to let you know that I am a survivor of both kidney stones and labor. And, I have lived to tell the tale.

    I have also seen MANY patients who have gotten kidney stones during their pregnancy as their nurse, so I have seen this from a variety of angles.

    My first time having a stone was actually after a shift at work. I kept thinking that I had pulled my back muscles or something at work but then it kept getting worse, until I started throwing up. I was not pregnant with my first stone .

    Ultimately, I went to the emergency room where I waited forever to see someone. I will say that was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Mostly because I realized what it was and I just had to sit in the ER and wait. When were ignored it can make us experience pain in a worse way right?

    On that day, the pain of kidney stones was a HARSH ache in my back, most likely due to a backup of urine. I also felt a strong urge to urinate about every 3 minutes (as the stone was sitting on top of my bladder and blocking the flow of urine plus hitting my bladder making me think I needed to pee.

    I went for a CT scan to see how large it was, and they decided it was likely small enough that it would pass on its own as long as I pushed a lot of fluids. It would hopefully not require medical intervention. They hydrated me .

    They tested the stone and decided it was calcium oxalate, the most common type of stone.

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