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The First Signs of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones, also known as renal colic, are a medical condition characterized by small, hard deposits of acid salts and minerals such as calcium inside the lining of the kidney. Under normal circumstances, the salts present in the human body dilute by themselves and are removed from the body through the urine; however, sometimes these salts crystallize and aggregate together, forming kidney stones. Kidney stones often cause severe and often unbearable pain, especially in the abdomen and groin region, and in certain severe cases may even lead to hematuria (condition in which blood is given out along with urine). There are various signs associated with initial stages of the condition; some of the most common symptoms are elucidated and discussed at length below.

  1. Pain

    • Pain is one of the first symptoms that is often associated with kidney stones. Individuals often experience pain in the groin, abdomen, lower back, and just near the ribs. The pain generally fluctuates in its intensity and often lasts between 20 minutes and 1 hour with small periods of relief in between. Many times this pain becomes quite unbearable, causing a lot of discomfort and even nausea in patients suffering from kidney stones.

    Excessive Urination

    • Another common symptom or sign often associated with individuals suffering from that initial stages of kidney stones is a persistent urge for urination. The urine that is discharged is often cloudy and foul smelling. Individuals also experience extreme pain in the urethra and thus a great deal of discomfort and difficulty while urinating. However, in certain rare cases of kidney stones, patients may also develop a condition known as hematuria, which is defined as a medical condition characterized by discharge of blood along with the urine.

    Loss of Appetite

    • Loss of appetite is another common symptom associated with kidney stones. Individuals often experience a significant loss of appetite due to the severity of pain that is caused by kidney stones. This loss of appetite can often lead to a radical loss of weight patients suffering from kidney stones and is one of the most common signs that help detect kidney stones.

    Other Common Signs

    • Various other common signs that are often linked with individuals suffering from kidney stones include high fever and chills, abdominal distention, and hydronephrosis, which is a condition characterized by dilation of the renal pelvis.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Some of the most common preventive measures that are often recommended by doctors to patients suffering from kidney stones include drinking large quantities of water and a glass of lemonade daily and reducing the intake of calcium-rich foods, among others.

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