Tips for Mild Kidney Stones

Even a mild kidney stone can bring the strongest individual to his knees. Most people do not even realize there is a problem until the pain forces them to go to the emergency room. Unfortunately, the treatment for kidney stones is ultimately a waiting game. The stone will usually pass on its own with time, and the bearer can only wait patiently with or without pain until that time comes.

Pain Management

• The pain associated with kidney stones can become so intense that the patient must be given a prescription pain reliever from his doctor. However, once the patient has the prescription medication, there should be no need to return to the hospital. For most people, the pain of the stone comes on so quickly and strongly that it can terrify the patient into thinking they need to go to the emergency room. But it is important to remember that the pain, no matter how intense, should pass within an hour or two. If you feel the beginning pains, take your prescribed pain reliever immediately.

  Once the pain has set in and you have taken your pain pill, try walking around and staying active as much as possible. The pain you are feeling is caused by the stone moving through a tight space in your urinary tract. Moving around may help the stone move more quickly or adjust it so the pain is not so severe.

  However, some people find the pain so intense that they simply cannot move. In this case, try lying in different positions to find which position is most comfortable. Fetal position works best for most people.

Times Without Pain

• Stones that are too large to pass on their own are usually removed surgically or broken into smaller fragments by way of ultrasound. Since your stone is mild, you have to do this the hard way. Your stone is going to have to naturally remove itself from your system through urination.

  If you are not having any pain, that does not necessarily mean that the kidney stone has passed. It may still lie in wait for you, for the next time it passes through a tight spot. There is no way to predict when or how long you will feel pain. There is also no way to predict when the stone will exit your body. But the sooner it does, the better off you will be. When you are not experiencing pain, make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Think of it as flushing out your system. Drinking eight glasses of water a day is recommended to keep you from getting dehydrated. Try drinking 10 or more glasses a day, or until your urine is virtually colorless, to keep your urinary system on a consistent flushing routine. This will help push the stone out of those tighter spaces and get it on its way out.