10 Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones or in medical terms called nephrolithiasis is the presence of stones in the kidneys due to the crystallization of various minerals or salts in urine. 

Urine itself contains various chemical compounds and minerals, such as calcium or oxalic acid. When the urine concentration is very thick, the chemical compounds contained in it will bind more easily and form kidney stone crystals. 

According to dr. Alberth Ivan Parasian Sp.U, Urology Specialist from Eka Hospital Permata Hijau, kidney stones do not always cause symptoms. Symptoms of kidney stones generally begin to appear when the stone begins to move in the urinary tract to exit the body. 

Even small stones can cause pain, especially in the lower back area on the right or left. Meanwhile, if the stone blocks the urinary tract, you may experience symptoms related to urination problems.

Dr. Alberth emphasized that, in general, kidney stones can pass on their own in the urine, but the process can be very painful. Surgery can be an option for stones in the urinary tract, including large kidneys. Stones that flow and move to other urinary tracts can block and cause inflammation, which can make you have a fever. Check your condition immediately if the above symptoms are also accompanied by a fever.

10 signs and symptoms of kidney stones

Dr. Alberth Ivan Parasian emphasized that there are several signs of kidney stones that you need to be aware of, including:

1. Severe, sharp pain in the waist, lower back, or under the ribs

2. Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin

3. Pain that comes and goes

4. Burning or painful sensation when urinating (dysuria)

5. Pink, reddish, or brown urine

6. Cloudy and foul-smelling urine

7. Unsatisfactory urination sensation

8. Frequent urge to urinate

9. Nausea and vomiting

10. Fever and chills if kidney stones cause infection

Dr. Alberth explained that kidney stones can often be cured with proper treatment. In fact, in some cases, kidney stones can pass on their own without surgery, especially for small stones and patients who drink a lot.

Stones that are less than 4 mm in size can pass on their own in 1-2 weeks. Meanwhile, larger kidney stones may take about 2-3 weeks to completely disappear.

Treatment for patients must be through consultation with a doctor, and the doctor may recommend several supporting examinations to diagnose kidney stones, such as urine tests, blood tests, X-rays, CT Scans, MRI Kidneys or kidney ultrasound.