Kidney stones, or nephrolithiasis, cause severe abdominal pain, trouble urinating, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Diagnosis is made through blood or urine tests, ultrasound, or X-ray. Treatment includes drinking fluids, pain relievers, shock waves, stents, or surgery. Some stones may not cause symptoms.
Severe pain in the abdomen is the most telltale symptom of a kidney stone. These stones, called nephrolithiasis, are tiny pieces of minerals, such as calcium and salts, that collect in the kidneys and are too large to pass easily down the ureter to the bladder and out of the body. When they move from the kidney, the stones cause severe waves of pain in the abdomen and other symptoms, such as trouble urinating, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Ache
The most common symptom of kidney stones is extreme pain anywhere in the abdomen that often comes in waves. It is extremely severe pain, often described as comparable or even worse than childbirth. The pain usually means that a stone is moving from the kidney through the ureter, the passageway that connects the kidney to the bladder.
A kidney stone still in the kidney may not cause any pain or may cause pain on one side, near the lower back. If it has moved into the ureter, the pain may originate in the lower, lateral or groin abdomen. Continuous severe pain could indicate that the kidney stone is blocked and will not pass without medical attention.
Problems urinating
If a stone is in the ureter, the person may have difficulty urinating as the stone prevents urine from moving easily into the bladder. Stones can be smooth or have jagged edges, which can catch and tear the walls of the ureter. This can cause the tissue to bleed, causing a burning sensation and urine to turn pink or red. As the stone moves to the bladder, it can make the person feel like they need to urinate more frequently.
Nausea and vomit
The severe pain which is one of the main symptoms of kidney stones can also cause nausea and vomiting in patients. This may, in part, refer to pain, pain that is felt in an area other than where it was caused. Also, there are nerves in the kidneys that connect to the stomach; when the pressure in the kidneys is high, such as when they fail to drain properly, these nerves signal the stomach to work more slowly, which can cause nausea. A patient might also lose his appetite or experience diarrhea or constipation.
Fever and chills
Other symptoms of kidney stones include clammy, cold, hot, or sweaty skin accompanied by fever or chills. Fever usually means that the stone has caused a blockage and the kidneys cannot function normally. A blocked kidney can become infected, causing a life-threatening condition called sepsis. In some cases, kidney stones can also be caused by bladder infections, in which case the fever may be caused by that original disease.
Kidney stones without symptoms
In some cases, people have kidney stones that cause no obvious symptoms. If the stones are very small or remain in the kidney, they may not cause any problems or require any treatment. Often, such stones are only found when the patient is being tested for an unrelated condition.
Diagnosis
Anyone with severe pain or other symptoms of kidney stones should call a doctor for an exam. Some symptoms are similar to a urinary tract infection or bladder inflammation, called cystitis, so it’s important to have a doctor rule out other causes. Kidney stones can be diagnosed with a blood or urine test, an ultrasound, or an X-ray with or without dye.
Treatment
Most kidney stone symptoms can be treated at home by the patient by drinking plenty of water and other fluids to clear the stones and using over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help reduce pain. However, about 10 to 20 percent of kidney stones are too large at home and need further treatment. Shock waves may be used to break the stone into pieces small enough to pass naturally, or a stent may be inserted into the ureter to keep it open enough for the stone to pass. You may need minor surgery under general anesthesia to remove or break the stone. If the stone has been or has caused an infection, it must be treated with antibiotics first, before the stone is removed.
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