Kidney stone pain can be relieved immediately by drinking water, taking pain relief medications, using heat therapy, and seeking medical help if the pain is severe. In some cases, doctors prescribe medications or perform procedures like laser treatment or shock wave therapy to remove the stone effectively.
What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?
Kidney stones are some of the most painful things a person can go through. These issues start in the lower back or lower side before spreading to the front of the abdomen or the groin. This spreading happens because these stones move through the urinary tract.
This pain is not a constant pain. Instead, the pain is inconsistent and lasts for an unknown amount of time. Outside of this pain, a person may experience nausea and possibly vomit. There is also the potential for a burning sensation while urinating. The blood may also be present in the urine. In addition to these, some are so bothered by the pain that they are restless.
This pain is difficult to describe, but the pain of kidney stones is so specific that it is easy to tell a doctor.
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Why Does Kidney Stone Pain Occur?
When a stone goes from the kidney to the ureter, the pain begins. The ureter is the thin tube for urine that goes to the bladder. The ureter has a stone lodged in it. This clamps down on the urine in the kidney and increases pressure.
Also, the ureter is pushing the stone down using muscle. This is a spasm, and it causes more pain. The obstruction and the muscle spasm create a need for instant relief from the pain of kidney stones.
How to Stop Kidney Stone Pain Immediately
Dealing with pain caused by kidney stones is no fun at all. Here are a few things that will help ease that pain until you get more comprehensive care.
1. Keep Drinking Water
This will help to keep your urinary pathway clear and will help move the fustula. This will also load the urine pathway, causing more pain and pressure.
2. Use Your Pain Relief Meds
Something you can get at the store and that is useful for little pains, like an achy headache, are pain meds that are also helpful for this, but for big stones and really big kidney stone pain, you need something stronger than that. A doctor can give this to you.
3. Use Heat Therapy
Go to the area where you are feeling the pain and place a warm, make that hot, compress or some sort of fabric that is warm, on that area. It will help relax that area and soothe the pain that kidney stones are causing you.
4. Try Medical Expulsive Therapy
Some doctors may give you a prescription that has a relaxing agent that helps the ureter. This can be really useful for smaller stones. Plus, it can make you more comfortable.
5. Seek Immediate Medical Help
Some patients experience such severe and extreme pain that they have no alternative but to consult a urologist. For such patients, emergency treatment, such as intravenous pain medications, and possible procedures, become necessary in order to manage the pain of kidney stones.
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Home Remedies for Temporary Relief
Medical treatment may be essential, but a few of the following home remedies may give you a little relief from the pains of having a kidney stone.
Lemon Water: The citric acid in lemons may actually help dissolve small stones in the kidney and help relieve some pain.
Movement: Space stones may be able to shift to a different position with the help of light movement.
Herbal Remedies: Some drinks made with herbs and spices may help some, but good research is lacking.
Rest: Pain can be reduced by simply finding a comfortable position and just resting.
When to See a Urologist?
You should see a urologist immediately if you have:
- SEVERE nonstop and unrelenting pain
- Fever and chills may suggest an infection
- Blood in your urine or you can not pee
- Repeated nausea and vomiting
- Pain that lasts beyond a few hours
Medical Treatments for Kidney Stones
If the stone doesn't come out by itself or is causing a lot of problems, you may need medical help. Some possible treatments are:
Medications to help with the pain and help pass the stone
- Laser Treatment (URS): A procedure that is not very invasive to break the stones
- ESWL (Shock Wave Therapy): This breaks the stones into smaller pieces using sound waves
- PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy): This is for the bigger stones
If combined with some changes to your daily habits, these treatments can help you not just with your pain caused by kidney stones, but also help you not get them again.
Conclusion
This type of pain is always sudden, always intense and always uncomfortable. For this reason, knowledge of how to stop kidney pain is crucial, but unfortunately, even professional help can only alleviate pain temporarily. That being said, pain can only be worsened.
However, pain can actually be caused by many things. Of all of these things, stones are the most serious. Upon discovering that pain is caused by stones, measures can be taken to eliminate pain and to further prevent future issues. Consult Dr. Ankit Gupta, one of the best urologists in Gurgaon and a qualified health specialist, to provide insight and guidance regarding the treatment of kidney stones.