How to Know if You Have a Kidney Stone

Have you ever had excruciating flank pain that just went away on its own? If you have not discussed it with your doctor maybe you should. Here are some steps that should alert you of a possibility of a kidney stone.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Many times you will only get one single episode of severe flank pain that usually goes to the groin and lasts a few minutes to an hour.
2. People having multiple stones in kidneys may remain without symptoms for years until one day a small piece of the stone breaks and falls into the bladder and gets caught up in one of the twists of the muscular tubes (ureters) that drain urine from kidneys to the bladder.
3. This may cause severe spasm of the ureter giving rise to considerable pain. Many times this small stone passes out through urine after giving you painful episode lasting about 20 minutes or so. Then you become completely normal.
4. You may notice some blood in urine during or after this painful episode. It is usually due to a minor scratch to the ureter while the stone is descending down to the bladder
5. Your urine examination may show red blood cells and crystals such as oxalate.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink plenty of fluids. This will flush your kidneys and ureters.
• If you felt better spontaneously without seeing a health care provider, please discuss your episode of pain with your doctor as he may order additional studies to make sure you don't have more stones up in your kidneys.