It was a Friday night, and I was the only one awake in the house. I found myself pacing the living room, needing to urinate every two minutes. Convinced I had a UTI, I anxiously awaited the morning to rush to urgent care. But when they tested my urine, it turned out I did not have a UTI. The physician’s assistant suggested if my symptoms worsened, I should head to the emergency room for a CT scan.
Throughout the night, I continued making frequent bathroom trips. Eventually, I fell asleep, only to be awakened by excruciating pain in my right flank. It felt like someone was stabbing and kicking me simultaneously. The waves of pain were relentless. We rushed to the ER after two hours in the bathroom, and a CT scan revealed I had a kidney stone.
At four in the morning, I stood in the ER’s waiting room, waiting for my husband to pick me up. The intake nurses, hearing about my tiny kidney stone, empathized deeply. They shared with me that kidney stones could be more painful than childbirth. This was surprising. How could something so small cause such intense pain? Another nurse explained that kidney stones are rough, like a burr, tumbling around inside you. These tiny stones could agonize even the strongest individuals.
For four days, I used a strainer to capture my urine (gross, I know) and took medication to relax my urinary tract. When the stone finally passed, the pain began to fade. I stared at the small brown stone, amazed that something so tiny had caused so much misery. During that week, I couldn’t work, exercise, or care for my kids, and we were faced with hefty medical bills.
Once I felt better, I wanted to understand kidney stones better. What are they, and why are they so painful?
What Is A Kidney Stone?
The Mayo Clinic explains that kidney stones are “hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys.” There are four types: calcium stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, and cystine stones. If you pass and catch your stone, a doctor can analyze it to help prevent future stones. For instance, knowing you passed a calcium stone might lead to dietary adjustments or changes in medication to reduce the risk.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Kidney Stone?
Other than the severe flank pain I experienced, Dr. Kavita Jackson, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, notes that symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine. The pain can radiate from the lower back or abdomen toward the groin. If a kidney stone gets stuck in the ureter, it can block urine flow, causing even more pain. Misdiagnosing yourself isn’t wise—seek medical help if you suspect kidney stones.
How Long Do Kidney Stones Last?
The time it takes to pass a kidney stone varies with size. According to Healthline, stones 4mm or smaller can pass in about 31 days. Stones between 4mm and 6mm might take around 45 days, while larger stones can take up to a year. The stone’s location also matters; those closer to the bladder or in the middle of the ureter pass more quickly than those near the kidney.
Why Are Kidney Stones So Painful?
Dr. Jackson shares that over a million people visit the ER annually due to kidney stones. The pain arises from spasms triggered by a stone stuck in the ureter and pressure from urine backup in the kidney. A study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that 63.3% of women who had both given birth and passed a kidney stone rated kidney stone pain as worse.
How Are Kidney Stones Treated?
Most kidney stones are not life-threatening. Emergency treatment aims to control pain and check for complications. After my ER visit, I was advised to drink plenty of water, take urinary tract relaxing medication, and pain relief medication. While my stone was small enough to pass naturally, larger or stuck stones may require surgery.
How To Prevent Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are incredibly painful but preventable. Measures include staying hydrated, adjusting diet, and sometimes changing medications under a doctor’s guidance. I hope never to experience that agony again, and I’m awaiting analysis of my kidney stone to see if I need to make lifestyle changes.
