Uric Acid Kidney Stones
Uric acid kidney stones can form when uric acid levels in your urine are too high. A family history of uric acid stones and certain medical conditions, like diabetes, gout, or chemotherapy treatment, could increase your risk of these stones.
Uric acid stones can also be caused by diets high in animal proteins and not drinking enough water. Meat, fish, and other animal proteins are high in purine, a substance that elevates uric acid.
What Happens During A Kidney Stone Analysis
You will get a kidney stone strainer from your health care provider or from a drug store. A kidney stone strainer is a device made of fine mesh or gauze. It is used to filter your urine. You will also get or be asked to provide a clean container to hold your stone. To collect your stone for testing, do the following:
- Filter all your urine through the strainer.
- After each time you urinate, check the strainer carefully for particles. Remember that a kidney stone can be very small. It may look like a grain of sand or a tiny piece of gravel.
- If you find a stone, put it in the clean container, and let it dry.
- DO NOT add any fluid, including urine, to the container.
- DO NOT add tape or tissue to the stone.
- Return the container to your health care provider or laboratory as instructed.
If your kidney stone is too large to pass, you may need a minor surgical procedure to remove the stone for testing.
Faq Frequently Asked Questions
Author: Dr Bow Tauro PhD, BSc First answered: 18 Sep 2014Last reviewed: 18 May 2018Rating: 4.7 out of 5Votes: 520 Category: Pelvic inflammatory disease
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Always ask your doctor or healthcare provider any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In case of emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 , or dial 112 , or dial 000 immediately.
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When To See A Doctor
In many cases, small kidney stones can pass on their own and dont require any treatment.
If youre able to manage your pain with over-the-counter medications and dont have any signs of infection or severe symptoms like nausea or vomiting, you may not need treatment.
However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:
- blood in the urine
Kidney Stones Are More Common In Summer And In Hotter Climates
Theres a reason summer is called kidney stone season.
Hot weather leads to dehydration, which causes more kidney stones in warmer climates, Nabhani says. The southeastern United States is known as the Stone Belt, because the incidence of kidney stones is higher in this warm region. Drink your water, especially if its hot!
If you regularly sweat a lot during exercise, such as with hot yoga, be sure to stay hydrated as well.
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The Right Kidney Stone Treatment
Kidney stones disease treatment is the same for adults and children. Examining the size and the type of stone first leads to the right course of treatment.
If the stones are small in size, the first recommendation is to drink lots of water. Keep yourself hydrated so that the stone passes. As a result, there will be no surgery required. However, if there are large kidney stones, any chance of infection or noticeable blockage: an essential surgery for kidney stones is recommended by the doctor. There are three surgical options:-
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can vary in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the stone, the more severe the symptoms. Symptoms of kidney stones can include:
- Severe pain in the back, side, or groin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Urine that smells bad
- Cloudy or pink urine
The best way to determine if you have a kidney stone is to see your doctor. They will likely do a physical exam and order some imaging tests such as a CT scan or an ultrasound to help determine the size and composition of your stone.
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What Causes Cystine Stones
Cystine stones are caused by a rare disorder called cystinuria. The disorder causes a natural substance called cystine to leak into your urine. When there is too much cystine in the urine, kidney stones can form. These stones can get stuck in the kidneys, bladder, or anywhere in the urinary tract. Most people with cystinuria have recurring stones. It is a lifelong condition that can be controlled, but not cured.
How Big Are Kidney Stones How Can They Be Removed
Have you ever wondered how big are kidney stones? Stones of > 5mm size are considered as large kidney stones.
Large-sized stones cannot pass through the kidneys without any medical intervention. If they are left to pass on their own, they may take longer time, about a year or more than that and there is a risk of complications. Large sized stones may get struck in the urinary tract and cause extreme pain and bleeding during urination.
The methods involved in the removal of large-sized kidney stones are as follows:
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Diagnosis Of Kidney Stones
Many kidney stones are discovered by chance during examinations for other conditions. Urine and blood tests can help with finding out the cause of the stone. Further tests may include:
- ultrasound
- x-rays, including an intravenous pyelogram , where dye is injected into the bloodstream before the x-rays are taken.
Chanca Piedra: Benefits Dosage Side Effects And More
Chanca piedra is an herb that grows in tropical areas, like the rainforests of South America. Its scientific name is Phyllanthus niruri.
It also goes by a number of other names, such as:
- stone breaker
- shatter stone
- chance pierre
The plant has thin, leaf-covered branches and can grow up to about 2 feet tall. It gets the name seed-under-leaf because its seed pods, which bloom into small green flowers, grow beneath the leaves.
The entire plant including the leaves, stems, and flowers is used to make chanca piedra supplements.
As a supplement, chanca piedra is reported to help with a variety of conditions related to the digestive system, liver, and kidneys.
Supposedly, it contains phytochemicals or plant compounds that can increase urine flow, kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and relieve inflammation (
However, theres little evidence that its effective.
Chanca piedra is available in teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets.
According to some claims, chanca piedra may have several beneficial effects on different body systems. However, theres little research to support these claims.
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What Does The Treatment Involve
You will be positioned on an operating table. A soft, water-filled cushion may be placed on your abdomen or behind your kidney. The body is positioned so that the stone can be targeted precisely with the shock wave. In an older method, the patient is placed in a tub of lukewarm water. About 1-2 thousand shock waves are needed to crush the stones. The complete treatment takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
Sometimes, doctors insert a tube via the bladder and thread it up to the kidney just prior to SWL. These tubes are used when the ureter is blocked, when there is a risk of infection and in patients with intolerable pain or reduced kidney function.
After the procedure, you will usually stay for about an hour then be allowed to return home if all goes well. You will be asked to drink plenty of liquid, strain your urine through a filter to capture the stone pieces for testing, and you may need to take antibiotics and painkillers. Some studies have reported stones may come out better if certain drugs are used after SWL.
The End Of A Very Long Post
Thats my parade.
The common animals and the rarer animals have gone by, and you have glimpsed the main ones, big and small.
The one point is what it was at the beginning. Each kind of kidney stone has its own ways, and treatment requires we know which one you have.
Likewise, for whatever that one may be, it is good to know as much about it as you can know. For long term prevention of stones is hard to come by and ultimately what the patience and and consistency of patients themselves matters most.
Track down old reports and pull them together.
Keep copies and send everything to the doctors who care for you.
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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.
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What Is The Treatment For Cystinuria
Treatment starts with doing things to keep stones from forming. For adults and children, this means drinking more water, reducing salt, and eating less meat. If these steps are not enough, you may also need to take special medicine to help keep stones from forming.
- Drinking more water. Drinking lots of water will lower the ability for the cystine to form stones in the urine. Ask your healthcare provider how much water you should drink each day to help keep stones from forming.
- Changing your diet. Cystine stones are less able to form in urine that is less acidic. Eating more fruits and vegetables can make the urine less acidic. Eating meat produces urine that has more acid, which can increase your risk for cystine stones.
- Reducing salt. Eating less salt can help keep cystine stones from forming. Try not to eat salty foods, including potato chips, French fries, sandwich meats, canned soups, and packaged meals.
- Medicine. Some people may also need to take prescription medicine to help keep stones from forming. Different medicines work in different ways. Some types help to keep your urine less acidic. Other types help keep cystine stones from forming by not allowing crystals to come together. Your healthcare provider can explain these different options and help you find the right medicine for you.
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What Will Happen After I Leave The Hospital
After treatment, you will have blood in your urine and possibly abdominal pain or aching for several days. Other people experience a severe cramping pain as shattered stone fragments make their way out of the body. Oral pain medication and drinking lots of water will help relieve symptoms.
Sometimes, the stone is not completely broken up, or big pieces remain and additional treatments may be needed.
Rarely, more serious problems occur, such as bleeding near the kidney that might require a blood transfusion, damage to the area around the stone, or pieces of the stone blocking the flow of urine.
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 .
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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.
When Can Swl Be Used
SWL works better with some stones than others. Very large stones cannot be treated this way. The size and shape of stone, where it is lodged in your urinary tract, your health, and your kidneys’ health will be part of the decision to use it. Stones that are smaller than 2 cm in diameter are the best size for SWL. The treatment might not be effective in very large ones.
SWL is more appropriate for some people than others. Because x-rays and shock waves are needed in SWL, pregnant women with stones are not treated this way. People with bleeding disorders, infections, severe skeletal abnormalities, or who are morbidly obese also not usually good candidates for SWL. lf your kidneys have other abnormalities, your doctor may decide you should have a different treatment. lf you have a cardiac pacemaker, a cardiologist will decide if you can have SWL.
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy :
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is mostly used to treat kidney stones that are between 4 mm and 2 cm in diameter. Here are the steps on how ESWL is performed to treat kidney stones.
- General anesthesia is given to the patient by an anesthesiologist.
- High energy shock waves are transmitted through water and directed at the kidneys to break the stones into smaller pieces.
- The small pieces of kidney stones can now pass easily through the urinary tract.
Once the procedure is done, the patient may take several weeks to pass all fragmented kidney stones. However, patients may need to undergo a revision or a second procedure in a few cases.
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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Can Dehydration Cause Kidney Stones
Dehydration and not drinking enough water is one of the most common causes of kidney stones and a known risk factor for developing kidney stones. When you dont drink enough water, your urine may become too concentrated, increasing the risk of urinary saturation of stone-forming salts and mineral crystals in the urine sticking together and form a stone. This is the most common cause of kidney stones. Making sure you are well hydrated is especially important if you live in warm climates, physically active or sweat a lot. Studies have documented the association between increased environmental temperatures and increased kidney stone rates .
The bottom line: A high intake of fluids, especially water, is still the most powerful and certainly the most economical means of prevention of kidney stones .
Different Types Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in your kidneys. Theyre a common urologic problem and in the United States, with 11% of men and 6% of women experiencing kidney stones at least once in their lives.
Kidney stones vary in shape, size, and makeup, but they often have one thing in common: Theyre extremely painful. Treatment and prevention might depend on the type of kidney stones you have, so nows the time to learn more about the different types and why they form.
No matter what type of kidney stones you have, our team at Advanced Urology, with offices in Los Angeles, San Pedro, Culver City, and Redondo Beach, California, can help you find relief. We treat existing kidney stones with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and surgery, and we offer medication to help prevent them in the future.
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There Are A Number Of Reasons To Treat A Kidney Stone Even If It Is Not Causing Any Painful Symptoms
Recurring urinary tract infections
Some kidney stones may be infected, and in many cases, despite proper antibiotic treatment, the infection cannot be cleared from the stone. In such cases, the only way to remove the infection completely is to remove the stone.
Staghorn stones
These are extremely large stones that grow to fill the inside of the kidney. There are serious health risks associated with these stones, and left untreated they are associated with an increased risk of kidney failure.
Occupational requirements
For example, the Federal Aviation Administration will not allow a pilot to fly until all stones have been cleared from his or her kidney. Other occupations also do not allow for the unplanned passage of a kidney stone.
Extensive travel
The patient who, whether for business or otherwise, travels to locales where medical care is not reliable may wish to consider preventive treatment.
Patient preference
After thorough consideration of all options available to them, many patients elect to remove their stones at a time when it is convenient for them.