5 Symptoms of Kidney Stones You Shouldn’t Ignore

The National Kidney Foundation says that more than half a million people visit the emergency room for kidney stones yearly. Aside from severe pain, kidney stones can cause nausea, vomiting, and urinary tract infections.

If you think you may have kidney stones, it’s essential to know the symptoms so you can seek medical attention immediately.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are small, irregularly-shaped, hard deposits that develop in your kidneys. They’re made up of calcium, phosphorus, or other minerals and salts.

These deposits can block urine flow and cause pain when they build up. Kidney stones can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.

Causes and Risks

Several factors influence your risk of developing kidney stones. These include:

• Dehydration
• Family history
• Certain medical conditions, such as gout, diabetes, or obesity
• Certain medications, such as diuretics and calcium supplements
• A diet that is mainly animal protein, salt, or sugar

5 Kidney Stone Symptoms to Look Out For

Kidney stones usually only cause symptoms when they move from the kidney and into your ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. As such, you may have no symptoms, even if you have kidney stones.

But if you do develop kidney stones, symptoms may include the following:

1. 1. Severe pain in the back, side, or groin
   
   The pain usually manifests as a cramping sensation that can start with dull aches and then intensify. You may also feel pain and cramping in your lower abdomen or your genitals if the stone is near the opening of the urethra.
   
   The pain may come as the stone moves around in your kidney or passes down the ureter.
    
2. Blood in the urine
   
   You may also observe that your urine has a pink, red, or brown tinge. When kidney stones cause bleeding, it’s usually a sign that they’ve moved into the ureter.
    
3. Burning sensation during urination
   
   If you have developed kidney stones, you may also experience a burning sensation when you urinate. This is because kidney stones can irritate the lining of the urinary tract.
   
   In some cases, you may also feel the urge to urinate more frequently than usual.
    
4. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
   
   Cloudy or foul-smelling urine can also be a sign of kidney stones. This is usually due to the presence of bacteria in the urinary tract.
    
5. Fever and chills
   
   If the kidney stones are causing an infection, you may experience fever and chills. This is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain, nausea, and vomiting.
   
   If you have any of these kidney stone symptoms, it’s essential to see a doctor right away. They can confirm whether or not you have kidney stones and help you find relief from the pain.

Treating Kidney Stones

As soon as they are detected, there are several ways to treat kidney stones. These treatments will depend on the size of the stone and its location.

Your doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids for small kidney stones to help pass the stone. You may also be given pain relief meds to help ease the discomfort.

If the kidney stone is too large to pass, you may need surgery to remove it. In some cases, kidney stones can be fragmented using sound waves.

If you have kidney stones, it’s essential to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Doing so can help alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from returning.

Get Immediate Help From Legacy ER & Urgent Care

Legacy ER & Urgent Care is here to meet your medical care needs by providing affordable pricing and quality care. As part of Intuitive Health’s innovative hybrid model ER and urgent care system, patients are only billed for the level of care they receive by professional and highly trained medical staff. With six facilities located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, emergent and non-emergent care are accessible and transparent, focusing on superb customer service.

Legacy ER & Urgent Care has six convenient locations in the DFW area:

• Allen – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 1310 W. Exchange Pkwy Allen, TX 75013, and may be reached at 972-526-5819.
• Coppell – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 330 S Denton Tap Rd Coppell, TX 75019 and may be reached at 469-702-9917.
• Frisco East – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 16151 Eldorado Pkwy Frisco, TX 75035 and may be reached at 972-526-7009.
• Frisco West – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 9205 Legacy Dr. Frisco, TX 75033, and may be reached at 972-526-7020.
• McKinney – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 2810 Hardin Blvd McKinney, TX 75072 and may be reached at 972-573-6688.
• North Richland Hills – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 8950 N. Tarrant Pkwy North Richland Hills, TX 76182, and may be reached at 817-663-1247