KIDNEY STONES

The main feature of kidney stones is pain and many woman feel it is more severe than childbirth. When the stone is within the kidney the pain tends to be in the back (loin) and when it moves toward the bladder the site of pain may migrate around the side to above the bladder. Stones may also cause the urge to pass urine and blood in the urine due to irritation of the kidney/bladder.
The first line of therapy is pain relief. A high fluid intake may encourage the stone to pass and reduce the chance of new stone formation. When a stone is passed it should be collected and submitted for chemical analysis. The composition of a stone is a major clue in determining the reason why the stone formed and the most effective forms of treatment. Most stones contain calcium, and less commonly uric acid, which may be associated with gout. Rarely stones are composed cysteine.

An X-ray of the kidney (Intravenous Pyelogram, IVP) following the injection of iodine containing contrast is frequently performed to determine the size and position of the stone. In some cases the stone may block the ureter (pipe connecting kidney to bladder) and need to be removed by a Urologist or Interventional Radiologist.