Urinary stones and kidney stones

Overview

Urinary (or bladder) stones are mostly formed in the kidneys and cause symptoms when they enter the ureter and block urine outflow. The main symptom is severe pain in the side that comes and goes in waves and can radiate to other areas. Preventive measures include drinking plenty of fluids, a balanced diet and sufficient exercise.

Symptoms

Main symptoms

• Symptoms occur when kidney stones move into the urinary tract
• Severe pain in the side that comes and goes in waves and which can radiate to the lower abdomen, groin, vulva or testicles

Other symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting vomiting
• Bloody urine
• Painful urination
• Fever

Causes and treatment

Causes

The stones develop when the concentrated minerals contained in the urine can no longer dissolve and start to crystallise. The following factors promote the formation of urinary and kidney stones:

• Not drinking enough water so that the urine becomes concentrated and causes crystallisation
• Regularly recurring urinary tract infections
• One-sided diet with a lot of protein (meat, sausages, too many dairy products) or fat
• Metabolic disorders such as an overactive parathyroid gland
• Liver injury and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
• Genetic predisposition
• Congenital metabolic disorders

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Urine test
• Blood test
• Ultrasound
• CT scan (computed tomography)
  

Possible therapies

• Painkillers
• Stone fragmentation using external shock waves
• Ureterorenoscopy to remove a stone
• Operation
  

What can I do myself?

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Sufficient exercise
• Balanced diet
• Losing weight if you're overweight

When to see a doctor?

• Severe pain in the side that comes and goes in waves
• Blood in urine
• Pain when urinating, particularly if accompanied by fever