The result of stone formation is typically severe. Patients report increasing pain in various areas, including their sides and lower backs, the groin and in the lower abdomen.
Some patients also may experience pain when urinating (and urine that can display as red, brown or pink), and urine that is foul-smelling and cloudy. When the stone starts affecting urine, it also can start causing other severe symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. You may also wind up urinating too much or too often and have a persistent urge to urinate.
As the stone moves through the urinary tract, the pain may shift to different areas of the body. That usually results in agony for the patient, to the point where even sitting still doesn’t abate the pain.
Are you a candidate?
There is no one “typical” kidney stone patient, as the stones tend to form in combination with such factors as lifestyle and diet combined with genetic and hereditary issues. You likely are a prime target for stones if you have a family history of the problem. That’s because your genetic heritage has made your body a likely uric acid haven.
Obesity is another factor in the potential for kidney stone development. A diet rich in meat and other purine-inducing foods can lead to uric acid excess, which can cause gout or stone formation. Drinking more water helps the body wash out the impurities that may be caused by your diet, thus decreasing the opportunities for stones to form.
Another factor to consider is if you’ve had gastric bypass surgery, have inflammatory bowel disease or suffer from chronic diarrhea. All of these may change your digestive system and cause problems that affect your water absorption, which can lead to excess acid and kidney stone formation. Medications can change body chemistry and eventually cause problems for delicate systems.