About a disease such as kidney stones, it has been known since ancient times. This is evidenced by excavations of Egyptian mummies in which similar problems were discovered. The disease begins quite acutely. Just a few hours. The pain is so intense that some patients lose consciousness. It is not worth delaying treatment, otherwise there may be serious consequences for the body. So, how to detect that a person has formed kidney stones? Symptoms in women and men are similar. They can not be confused with other diseases. The pain is localized in the lumbar region, gives it to the genitals. What should I do if I find such symptoms? Which doctor should I go to? We will talk about everything in detail in the article.
Signs of kidney stones
In 14% of people, this disease can be asymptomatic. In other cases, it is accompanied by acute pain, in medicine it is called renal colic. This happens when the stones begin to move towards the ureters. The pain arises instantly, it is so strong that many lose consciousness. It is localized in the lumbar region, spreading to the genitals. In addition to these symptoms, the following symptoms are characteristic of the disease:
- Frequent urination.
- Turbid color of urine, sometimes with the presence of blood.
- Fever.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
At the first signs of the disease, consult a doctor. Only he can make an accurate diagnosis and say for sure that these are kidney stones. Symptoms in women are often similar to signs of gynecological diseases (rupture of the ovary or cyst). Therefore, do not self-medicate.
Why do they appear?
So, where do kidney stones come from? And what are they? Doctors claim that these are salts that are found in large quantities in the human body. Due to hormonal disorders or a number of other reasons, they are not completely excreted in the urine. They begin to stick together and form crystals of various shapes and structures. Some stones may not be noticed: they exit the body painlessly. Large are those whose size exceeds 5 mm. The main reasons for their appearance are as follows:
- Chronic diseases of the genitourinary system. If you often suffer from cystitis and pyelonephritis, you need to pay special attention to the state of your health. The risk of kidney stones in this case is great.
- Banal dehydration. It would seem that it could be easier than monitoring the water balance ?! Oddly enough, lack of fluid in the body is one of the main causes of stones. This is especially true for people who are actively involved in sports and dieting.
- Metabolic problems. In this case, the composition of urine may change.
- An inherited disease is hypercalciuria. Its feature is an excess of calcium in the body. The element does not have time to completely be excreted in the urine, so stones form.
- A number of other ailments, such as gout, diabetes, high blood pressure.
- Sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition.
Diagnostics
It is important to detect this disease at an early stage. Kidney stones are a problem that has been quite common lately. At the first suspicion, you must contact the hospital. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. To do this, you need to pass tests. Among them are required:
- General blood analysis. It helps to find out the amount of phosphorus, uric acid and calcium.
- Analysis of urine. With it, you can determine the type of crystal and understand how to get rid of kidney stones.
- An abdominal examination is also necessary. This can be done using ultrasound, MRI, CT or X-ray. The doctor himself chooses a method, depending on the degree of neglect of the disease.
Until recently, the pyelogram method was widely used. But in the future, doctors refused him, since he does not reveal small stones.
Not every kind of kidney stone is dangerous
Before choosing a treatment method, you need to know the type of crystals. They may be:
- Calcium Perhaps the most common. The doctor visualizes them without problems on an ultrasound scan.
- Urate. There is practically no need to treat them. It will be enough to follow a diet and establish a water process in the body. They can be determined only by analysis of urine, the x-ray of the formation does not recognize.
- Struvite. Most often formed in women. They appear as a result of the multiplication of bacteria living in the genitourinary system. Folk methods are not treated, you need the help of a laser or ultrasound.
- Protein. Meet quite rarely.
Getting started treatment
Many ask the doctor a question: "How to get rid of kidney stones?" The physician always answers that the treatment depends on the density of the crystal and its size. As a rule, formations up to 5 mm come out on their own with urine. But even in this case, medical supervision is necessary. First, painkillers may be needed. Only a narcotic is capable of removing renal colic. Secondly, a stone can damage the urinary tract and bladder. In order not to start internal bleeding, you need an examination by a urologist.
To stone came out easier, you need a special diet and a large amount of fluid. In this case, it is likely that the crystal will leave the body within 48 hours. Sometimes the exit of stones from the kidneys is difficult due to their large size, in these cases it is used:
- Laser lithotripsy. With the help of ultrasound, a stone is broken and excreted in urine.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Used in advanced cases. An incision is made in the skin so that there is direct access to the kidney. The stone is removed with an endoscope.
- Urethroscopy It is performed in the case when the crystal has lowered into the area of the bladder and cannot independently exit.
- Nephrolithotomy Abdominal surgery, used in extreme, advanced cases. Currently, doctors practically do not resort to this type of surgical intervention.
Treatment options depend on the size of the kidney stones.
We remove stones using ultrasound
If the crystal does not come out on its own, or when there is a chance of injuring the genitourinary system, doctors resort to ultrasonic breaking of stones. Many are afraid of the procedure, but in vain. There is nothing complicated and painful in it. Waves pass through the body and, bumping into a dense object (stone), crush it. The whole process takes no more than an hour. In this case, the patient is in the operating room, he lies on a special water cushion. In modern clinics, the patient is placed in a reservoir with liquid. So the crushing process goes faster, and the waves pass better. For those with a low pain threshold, doctors suggest introducing an anesthetic. Removing kidney stones by ultrasound, you can be sure of the effectiveness of the method. The crystals break up into small parts and turn into sand, which comes out when urinating.
Lithotripsy - is it worth trying this treatment method?
Recently, doctors have been using the laser method of removing crystals. Lithotripsy of kidney stones is performed under general gentle anesthesia. By evening, a person can go home. The essence of the method is that the stones are not crushed, but melted. Do this with the help of a special device that is injected into the urogenital canals. The doctor can monitor what is happening on a special screen. The advantage of the method is that even small crystals are removed. And large residues are immediately washed with a liquid.
For the operation, a holmium laser is used. He gently and accurately melts the stones, turning them into sand. This method is considered more effective than ultrasound therapy. The different costs of the procedure, which involves crushing kidney stones. The price varies from 16 to 60 thousand rubles, depending on the size and structure of the crystal itself. Only a doctor can advise and appoint her.
What you need to know after the procedure?
Following laser therapy, the following unpleasant symptoms are possible:
- The presence of blood in the urine.
- Fever.
- Nausea, slight vomiting.
To alleviate symptoms, you need to take as much fluid as possible. It contributes to a trouble-free, easy and quick exit of crystals. It is also necessary to drink local anesthetics to help deal with the pain. Many people ask: "Are kidney stones dangerous?" Symptoms in women and men are identical. The problem is that at home it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis. The disease itself is not a threat, but only if you seek medical help in a timely manner.
Alternative methods for treating kidney stones
There are unconventional methods of treating the disease. Those patients who have found small stones are resorted to. The most common method of excretion is the use of diuretics and a solution of fir. To begin with, the body needs to be prepared using a special diet. Exclude heavy, fatty, spicy, sweet dishes. After this, you can start taking diuretic herbs and freshly squeezed juices. After a week, it is necessary to add 5 drops of a 2.5% fir solution to the diuretic broth. This method helps break down small stones and excrete them with urine.
Dark honey also helps. It is necessary to drink a honey drink on an empty stomach (2 teaspoons per glass of boiled water). The peel of green apples, steamed with boiling water, also helps soften the stones, their exit through the urinary canal. There is a method that can often be read on the forums. Many are advised to drink a bottle of beer and sit in hot water. In no case should this be done. A stone may block the duct and renal colic will begin. Remember: not all formations can be removed from the kidneys by folk methods, therefore, before practicing self-medication, you need to consult a doctor.
Preventive measures
In order to never observe the signs of kidney stones, you need to adhere to preventive measures. The main guarantee of good health is nutrition. For those who have already encountered a similar disease, it is necessary to exclude the following products: sorrel, beets, radishes, nuts, chocolate, gooseberries, beans. In addition, you need to dosed to eat dairy products: reacting with oxalic acid, calcium forms small crystals. Pickles and hot sauces, seasonings should be excluded from the diet. They change the composition of urine, increase its acidity, this leads to the formation of stones.
For prevention, foods containing vitamin A should be eaten. For example, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato will be beneficial. Active sports must be built correctly. It is necessary to maintain water balance, drink as much liquid as possible. Once a week, you can arrange fasting days. Seafood, fruits, fish, vegetables should be present in food.
Briefly about the main thing
How do kidney stones appear? Symptoms in women and men are almost similar: acute pain in the lower back, vomiting, nausea, chills. Only a doctor can make a final diagnosis based on the results of tests and ultrasound. The proposed method of treatment will depend on the size of the crystals. Recently, doctors are increasingly resorting to ultrasonic and laser crushing. These manipulations are carried out painlessly. By evening, the patient is allowed to go home. Pain is a signal from the body that you need to see a doctor. There is no point in delaying, thereby increasing your suffering and losing precious time.