Signs of Kidney Stones
Each year, over 500,000 people seek emergency treatment for problems associated with kidney stones. Often there are no symptoms of a kidney stone until it starts to move and blocks the flow of urine. When this happens, early signs and symptoms of kidney stones may include:
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- Waves of sharp pain in your back, side, or lower abdomen. The pain may progress towards your groin. These waves of pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size and location of the kidney stones.
- Frequent and painful urination. One of the earliest and most common warning signs that you may have kidney stones is a sudden and unexplained increase in the frequency and urgency of urination. You will notice an intense need to urinate, even when you haven’t been drinking unusually large quantities of fluid. However, you may find that very little urine comes out when you do get to the bathroom.
- Blood in your urine. In addition to more frequent urination and painful urination, you may notice changes in the color and consistency of your urine. Rather than being clear or yellow in color, your urine may range anywhere from pink or red to light or dark brown.
- Nausea and vomiting. Some people suffering from kidney stones report feeling nauseous. In some cases, this nausea can be so severe that it will cause vomiting, which can, in turn, cause a host of other complications ranging from nutritional deficits to dehydration.
- Inability to sit. Once a kidney stone becomes larger, it often becomes so aggravating that you will find yourself unable to sit or lay down for an extended period of time. This is because seated or laying-down positions put additional pressure on the affected area.
If you develop any of the following early warning signs of kidney stones, contact a Baptist Health provider.
Quick Tip: Drink plenty of water – the most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids, especially water.
