Bladder stones: symptoms and treatment

In the article, we consider the symptoms and treatment of stones in the bladder. What is this ailment?

Urolithiasis is a pathology characterized by the formation of calculi in the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and in some cases in the urethra. Stones localized in the bladder are the most common form of the disease.

It often happens that they exit the bladder. Symptoms are very unpleasant.

Men over 45 years old are at the highest risk of developing urolithiasis, especially those who have problems with the prostate and the functioning of the urethral structures. However, women can also show stones in the bladder. Symptoms are presented below.

Types of stones by chemical composition

There is a certain classification according to which stones in the bladder are divided into several types according to different signs. The following variations are distinguished depending on the chemical composition:

1. Oxalate. These are brown stones, which have a rough surface, tend to scratch the mucous membrane, which causes severe pain and stains urine red. Such stones are formed from oxalic acid salts.
2. Phosphate They are fragile gray stones that are formed from salts of phosphoric acid. They have a soft structure, which makes it easy to crush them. The most common cause of phosphate stones is a metabolic disorder.
3. Urate. They have a smooth surface, do not injure the mucous membrane, are formed from uric acid salts and arise as a complication of dehydration or gout.
4. Struvite. This type of stone appears as a result of the negative effects of microorganisms, which cause an alkaline reaction and lead to significant precipitation, such as ammonium, magnesium, phosphate and carbonate.
5. Cystone Represented in the form of hexagons, the cause of their appearance is, as a rule, cystinuria - a consequence of congenital metabolic disorders, which leads to a regular increase in the level of cystine in urine.
6. Mixed type. These formations have a high degree of density, arise from several types of salts and have a layered pattern.

If you have any kind of bladder stones, the symptoms can be very unpleasant.

Other classifications

The following types are distinguished by density:

1. Solid.
2. Soft.

According to the type of surface, stones can be:

1. Spike-like.
2. Smooth, without any protrusions.

By the number of formations, stones are:

1. Multiple.
2. Single.

By nature of origin:

1. Primary. Their formation provokes a violation of the outflow from the urinary bladder.
2. Secondary They form in the kidneys, and then descend into the bladder.

When symptoms of stones in the bladder appear, you can not ignore them, you must immediately contact a specialist.

Causes of Stone Formation

Most medical professionals are confident that the occurrence and size of stones is determined by the presence of a genetic predisposition. However, there are other reasons why stones can form in the bladder. The most common of these are:

1. Metabolic disorders, which leads to the emergence of salts, gradually turning into urates, oxalates and phosphates.
2. Diverticulums - protrusion of the mucosa and other disorders of the muscular membrane.
3. Gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis and ulcers.
4. Pathologies of bone structures, such as osteoporosis, as well as their trauma.
5. The development of the inflammatory process in the bladder.
6. Inflammation in the organs of the genitourinary system and kidneys, for example, cystitis.
7. Obstruction of the urinary tract as a result of infravesical obstruction, which leads to impaired urination and stagnation, after which salt crystals form, which later turn into stones.
8. Foreign bodies, such as catheters, contraceptives, etc., get into the bladder.
9. A prerequisite for the formation of stones in the bladder in a woman may be the omission of the organ along with the vaginal wall.
10. The exit of a small stone from the kidneys entering through the ureter into the bladder.
11. Excessive consumption of acidic, spicy foods and other products that can increase acidity and as a result provoke salt deposits.
12. Surgery aimed at eliminating urinary incontinence through tissue transfer.
13. Deficiency of ultraviolet rays and vitamins.
14. Infectious diseases that lead to dehydration.
15. Hard water, which is used to quench thirst.
16. If we are talking about hot countries, then hyperhidrosis and accumulation of salts can provoke the appearance of stones in the bladder.

Symptoms of bladder stones

Quite rarely, urolithiasis occurs in a latent form, most often the presence of stones in the bladder leads to the development of the following symptoms:

1. Soreness when urinating.
2. Pain in the lumbar spine.
3. Blotches in the urine are bloody.
4. Bladder pain.
5. Urine is getting dark and has a sharp unpleasant odor.
6. The urge to urinate is frequent, especially during sleep.
7. Incomplete emptying of the bladder.
8. Urinary incontinence.
9. With a change in body position or increased physical exertion, sharp pain occurs.
10. Colic in the kidneys.
11. When moving toward the exit, large stones can cause fever and chills.

Symptoms of bladder stones in women and men are almost identical. They depend on the location of the calculus and its size. Sometimes the disease occurs as a result of the abnormal structure of the urethra.

Symptoms of bladder stones in men may vary slightly. Pain is localized in the lower abdomen or at the pubic level. The urination process may suddenly be interrupted. In this case, the man is tormented by pain in the perineum, genitals, or lower back. Sometimes patients do not feel anything with solid particles in the bladder.

Diagnostics

Stones in the bladder and kidneys can be found even at the earliest stage of the disease. Both basic and additional diagnostic procedures are performed. This requires the use of special equipment and special professional skills of medical personnel.

The main methods for diagnosing urolithiasis are:

1. Urinalysis.
2. Biochemical blood test and passing a special test to identify the inflammatory process and other changes.
3. Ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys.
4. Examination of the bladder through the introduction of a cytoscope.

Other diagnostic methods

Symptoms of stone exit from the bladder are quite pronounced, but there are times when all these diagnostic methods are not enough, so additional manipulations are used, such as:

1. CT scan.
2. X-ray examination of the urinary tract.
3. X-ray of the kidneys and urography.
4. Cystogram by input of contrast medium.

How to get rid of the symptoms of kidney stones and bladder?

Treatment

Treatment of urolithiasis is prescribed depending on several factors, such as the nature of calculus formation, the presence of complications, the general condition of the patient and his age. The nature of the symptoms is also of great importance in therapy.

Preparations

Drug therapy for urolithiasis is aimed at solving several problems - relieving pain and eliminating stones. The following drugs are used to accomplish these tasks:

1. Antispasmodic drugs, such as Spazmalgon, No-shpa, etc.
2. If the disease is caused by an infection of the urinary tract, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. The main condition is the passage of calculus through the ureter without damaging its walls.
3. Drugs aimed at dissolving stones.
4. Diuretics, the purpose of which is to provoke the release of stones with urine.

If the stone has entered the urethra, then medication will be effective, otherwise conservative therapy will not give the expected result. In addition, it involves selectivity, that is, the composition of stones affects the effectiveness of therapy.

Food

Another important aspect of the treatment of urolithiasis is clinical nutrition. It will contribute to the normalization of the general condition of the patient, prevent the formation of new stones and suspend the development of already formed stones. The main rule of the therapeutic diet is compliance with the drinking regime. This helps to reduce the concentration of urine.

The diet is made by the attending physician individually, taking into account the composition of the stones. According to the results of a comprehensive examination, the doctor can exclude certain products and prescribe a diet:

1. With calcium formations, as a rule, doctors recommend reducing the use of dairy products.
2. Oxalate stones mean the rejection of sorrel, salad, potatoes, oranges, milk and other products containing oxalic acid.
3. Phosphate stones indicate the need to abandon fruits, vegetables and dairy products in favor of meat, fish, pastries and vegetable oil.
4. Urate stones suggest a decrease in the amount of foods containing uric acid: liver, fish, grapefruit and vegetable fats.

Operation

In some cases, women and men may require surgery for symptoms of bladder stones. As a rule, this happens when calculi are too large and drug treatment does not give results. Contraindications to the operation are:

1. Infectious diseases of the urethra and bladder in acute form.
2. Surgery on the pelvic organs.
3. Urethral obstruction in men.

Surgery today can be carried out in various ways:

1. Cytoscopic milling followed by removal.
2. Endoscopic method of crushing and removing stones.
3. Lithotripsy. This is crushing stones using ultrasound.
4. Surgical opening of the bladder wall and removal of stones.

Folk remedies can help with the removal of symptoms of stones in the bladder. However, one should not blindly rely on the experience of ancestors, any therapy should be agreed with the doctor.

Complications

Urolithiasis can lead to infection of the genitourinary system. Self-medication and untimely appeal to a specialist can provoke the following complications:

1. Urinary obstruction.
2. Nephrological hypertension.
3. Chronic inflammation.
4. Purulent processes that can lead to anaphylactic shock and death.

Prevention

In most cases, subject to all the rules and regulations, urolithiasis is successfully cured. However, relapse is possible, the following preventive measures will help to avoid it:

1. Men are required to undergo an examination every year by a urologist and nephrologist.
2. Maintain a balanced diet.
3. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
4. Moderate physical activity.
5. Avoid hypothermia and dress according to the weather.
6. Timely consult a specialist when the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Conclusion

Modern medicine has learned to successfully remove stones with a minimal risk of complications. Therefore, to perceive such a diagnosis as a sentence is not worth it. The main thing is not to put off going to the doctor if there are stones in the bladder. What symptoms indicate their presence, you now know.