What Is A Kidney/Renal Stone?
A kidney stone is a chemical waste in the urine when the urine gets in BD in highly concentrated with salts and wastes and has very little water to flush them out of the body.
A kidney stone is irregular in shape and size as small as a grain of sand to as big as the size of a golf ball. Most of the time, the stone goes undetected without any symptoms. Smaller kidney stones move out of the body through the urine without causing any symptoms. They are called silent stones. Stones of larger size usually cause severe pain and other symptoms while moving.
When a stone gets impacted in the ureter, it may lead to haematuria, scanty urination, and severe pain. Anyone can develop kidney stones, including children, in their lifetime. Nowadays, kidney stones are found in children as young as five years.
Causes Of Kidney Stones
Some of the causative factors of kidney stones are
drinking less water, obesity,
weight loss surgery, eating foods that contain too much salt or sugar such as chips and fries, urinary tract infections, family history, etc.
Different Types Of Kidney Stones
There are mainly four types of kidney stones:
Calcium oxalate: These kidney stones are the most common type formed when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine. It is due to high levels of oxalate and low amounts of calcium.
Uric acid: They are the second most common type of kidney stones. These stones are usually formed as a result of eating a high-protein diet such as meats, fish, etc.
Struvite: These stones are formed due to frequent infections in the upper urinary tract.
Cystine: These stones are rare and primarily hereditary.
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Some kidney stones are tiny as a single grain of sand, while some are as large as a pebble. The symptoms are as severe as the size of the stone increases.
The common symptoms of kidney stones are:
Constant dull ache in the lower back
Cloudy urine or blood in the urine
Nausea and vomiting
Fever and chills
Strong smelling urine
Burning urination or pain when urinating.
Scanty urine or frequent urination
Sharp pain in the side and back
Pain radiating from the back to the lower abdomen and groin
Pain that comes in waves and keeps fluctuating in intensity
Shifting pain when the stone starts moving in the urinary tract
The Symptoms Of Kidney Stones In Children
The symptoms of kidney stones in children are:
Severe colicky abdominal pain
Dysuria or painful urination
Nausea and vomiting
Foul-smelling urine
Fever with chills
Blood in the urine
Complications Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones lead to chronic kidney problems and renal failure when left untreated. In addition, kidney stones tend to recur within 4 to 5 years.
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for developing kidney stones. They are:
The main reason for developing kidney stones is not drinking enough water and dehydration.
People with a family history of kidney stones are more likely to develop stones.
A person who has a previous history of one or more kidney stones is at increased risk of developing another.
Eating a diet rich in protein, salt, and sugar may increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
Excessive weight gain is linked to an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
Digestive diseases and surgeries that might affect the absorption of calcium and water might lead to concentrated urine.
Certain medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercalciuria,
diabetes
, osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, and repeated urinary tract infections can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Excessive use of supplements like vitamin C
Excessive use of laxatives
Certain medications can increase the risk of developing a kidney stone. These medications include diuretics, antacids, antibiotics, etc.
Diagnosis Of Kidney Stones
The diagnosis of kidney stones is made through routine clinical examination,
medical history,
physical examination, and imaging tests. To treat a kidney stone properly,
Imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, and ultrasound to identify the size, shape, location, number of stones, etc.
Blood tests to analyze the levels of calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, and electrolyte levels
Kidney function tests to find out the functioning capacity of the kidneys
Urine analysis to know the levels of salts and crystals in the urine and to find out if there are any infections or red blood cells in the urine
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and Retrograde pyelogram
Kidney Stone Treatment
The treatment plan for kidney stones depends on the type of kidney stone and the severity of the symptoms
Usually, painkillers are prescribed to control the pain. However, people with complicated kidney stones and long-lasting pain may need to be hospitalized and require surgery.
One of the top ways of preventing kidney stones is to drink as much water as possible. It is recommended to take at least 6 to 8 glasses per day. In addition, drinking water and urinating at proper intervals help flush out the waste frequently.
Reduce salt and sugar intake as it increases the risk of developing kidney stones.
Try to lose extra weight by following a proper diet and exercising.
Reduce the amount of animal protein such as meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products and instead eat lots of vegetables and fruits.
Advice or limit the kids from eating salted snacks such as potato chips, French fries, canned foods and drinks, sodas, and other sweetened drinks.
Take proper medications and supplements as advised by the physician.
Homeopathic Remedies To Treat Kidney Stones
Many homeopathic remedies are successfully used in treating kidney stones. As in any other medical system, the treatment depends on the size and type of kidney stones. Usually, homeopathic remedies are selected according to the individual’s symptomatology and constitution. Various homeopathic mother tinctures help break and flush out kidney stones. When taken along with a proper diet and lots of water intake. the top 4 homeopathic remedies for kidney stones prescribed by homeopathic physicians are Berberis vulgaris,
Praer- breava Q Lycopodium, Cantharis, sarsaparilla and Hydrangea. Though these are the most important remedies, they are not necessarily suitable for everyone. Each person is different and so are the symptoms, hence it is always advised to consult a homeopathic physician before taking any homeopathic
Dr swadesh soni
Sanjeevani Advance homeopathic clinic
Bada bazar sagar