Symptoms Of Kidney Stones, Kidney Stones Diagnosis and Treatment

The kidney acts as a filter for blood, removing waste products from the body and helping regulate the levels of chemicals important for body function. The urine drains from the kidney into the bladder through a narrow tube called the ureter. When the bladder fills and there is an urge to urinate, the bladder empties through the urethra, a much wider tube than the ureter.

Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of enduring a kidney stone attack will tell you exactly how painful this condition can be. In fact, the pain is most often compared with the pangs of natural childbirth. This is no exaggeration or wishful thinking. The stabbing and shooting pains that accompany a major kidney stone attack can bring you literally to your knees, unable to even drive yourself to proper medical attention.

In many cases, kidney stones develop without producing any symptoms. However, if they become lodged in the ureter (the thin tube between the bladder and the kidney), symptoms can be very severe. Often, they vary depending on the stone's location and then progress.

The patient of kidney stone faces is the pain during urination or the menstruation. This happens if the stone blocks the flow of the urine form the kidney to the urinary tract. This hurting can be very serious depending on the blockage that the stone proves to be for the urine. Similar thing happens during the menstruation. If it becomes very painful then there is a need of medicatio

The doctor will perform a number of diagnostic tests to diagnose kidney stones. Diagnostic tests include a blood test, a urine test and a 24-hour urine collection test. The 24-hour urine test is done to monitor urine volume, levels of acidity, and if a stone has passed into the sample, the make-up of stone (i.e., calcium-based, uric acid based, etc.) is also determined.

Kidney stones treatment will depend on the stones size and the patient's condition. Relief from pain and ridding the body of the stones is the goal of the treatment. Kidney stones treatment depends on the size , type, and underlying cause . Usually, stones that are smaller than 4mm pass freely, while those larger than 5mm seldom pass naturally.

The first natural treatment you can try are herbal teas that can be found in health shops, herbal shops or via the internet. Look for meadowsweet, Joe-pye weed, sarsparillia and plantain in particular as these will help to eliminate the excess of uric acid that you may have in your body.

Fortunately, most stones can be treated without surgery. About 90 percent of all kidney stones can pass through the urinary system spontaneously with the help of plenty of water (two to three quarts a day) to help the stone move along. In addition to extra water consumption, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight infection, pain relievers to help with the pain, an antispasmodic to relax the ureter muscles or diuretics to prevent urine from staying in the kidney. About 90 percent of all stones that leave the kidney will pass through the ureter within three to six weeks.