Kidney Stones and Ureteral Stones as Causes of Renal Colic
The shape, size, composition, and location of a urinary stone influence whether symptoms occur. Small kidney stones may pass spontaneously without treatment and are expelled with urine. This applies to about 80% of all stones. Once a certain size is reached, there is an increased likelihood that stones will need to be removed as part of treatment. Treatment becomes inevitable when a kidney stone triggers renal colic or urinary obstruction.
Questions about renal colic:
A renal colic refers to a painful episode characterized by spasmodic, excruciating pain in the flank or lower abdomen. The pain comes in waves and may radiate to the genitals. Renal colic often occurs at night or during rest.
The sensation of pain is dramatic. Unilateral pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort. The affected side is sensitive to palpation and pressure. In some cases, there may be a sensation of urgency to urinate. If there is an accompanying infection, fever may also occur. Initial indications can be provided by an ultrasound examination. The treating urologist determines through further investigations whether the causes of the pain are to be found in the urinary tract or if other causes such as gallstone colic, an inflamed appendix, or other organs are the triggers.
A renal colic occurs as a result of a kidney stone moving from the kidney into a ureter, where it obstructs the flow of urine. It gets stuck, so to speak. The body attempts to move the kidney stone into the bladder through wave-like movements, leading to the formation of spasmodic pain.
Such a painful episode can vary in duration. A renal colic can last from several minutes to several hours.
A renal colic is always dangerous because there is a risk of urine backing up into the kidney, creating conditions for a life-threatening infection.
Due to the risk of complications, renal colic must be treated by a doctor, potentially in the emergency department of a hospital. Rapid pain relief is initiated. Then, depending on the location of the urinary stone, appropriate treatment is initiated to remove the stone.
Specialists in the treatment of renal colic are urology specialists. At Goldstadt Private Clinic, a specialized urological clinic, the full spectrum of urinary stone treatment and diagnosis is offered, both on an outpatient and inpatient basis. After successful treatment of renal colic, it is advisable to regularly follow up with the treating physician to monitor for any recurrence of stone formation.
Some individuals have a tendency to develop kidney stones repeatedly. The treating urologist will provide personalized recommendations to the patient on how to prevent new stone formation as much as possible. A urological preventive check-up is advisable to assess the risks of kidney stone formation.
