Kidney stones or renal calculi are the crystallized masses of minerals. When certain minerals are present in excessive amounts in the body, these accumulate in the kidneys. Unbalanced diet, consumption of hard water, obesity and hypertension are some of the major causes of kidney stones. Owing to the prevalence of fast and unhealthy lifestyles, it is not really surprising to notice the increased cases of kidney stones these days.

 These stone-like masses not only cause damage to the kidneys but also tend to interfere with the functioning of the entire urinary tract system.

Kidney stones must be attended with care and attention as and when the initial symptoms start arising.

Early signs and symptoms of kidney stones may look like:

• Morning nausea
• Foamy or cloudy urine
• Frequent need to pass urine
• Burning sensation while passing urine
• Appetite loss

When a person neglects or does not seek proper medical guidance for these symptoms, the condition turns severe with time.

These are the 7 warning signs of kidney stone complications

• Worsening of kidney stone pain- Leaving kidney stones untreated for a long time can cause more stones to form and when these stones move around, the renal colic (kidney stone pain) may become even more severe. You may feel an unbearable pain in your lower back or groin region and the pain may not reduce even after laying down.
• Blockage of the urinary passage- As the stone becomes bigger and moves around, the chances of it getting lodged in the urinary tract also increase. If the stone blocks any part of the urinary tract, the urinary symptoms may get severe by the day.
• Frequent infections in the urinary tract- Due to partial blockage and obstruction in the flow of urine, the urinary tract becomes an easy target for microbes to attack. As a result, the frequency of urinary tract infections increases and you may have to endure the discomforting UTI symptoms a lot more than often.
• Injuries to the ureter- If the stone blocks the ureter, the ureter will try to push the stone out by contracting and relaxing again and again. This is not just painful but the stone scraping against the walls of the ureter can cause injuries there. Over time, this can lead to the formation of ureteral strictures and add to your miseries.
• Infection reaching the kidneys- If urinary tract infections are not treated in time, they can worsen and the infection causing microbes can travel up the urinary tract and attack the kidneys. This may be indicated by the presence of symptoms like high fever and chills. Kidney infections can be quite serious and need immediate medical attention.
• Impaired kidney functioning- Kidney stones can strain the kidneys excessively. Due to overworking for a long time, kidneys may start losing their functioning. This can continue even after the stones are removed. This permanent damage to the kidneys and the subsequent loss of kidney functioning is called chronic kidney disease.
• Urine buildup and kidney swelling- Partial blockage of the ureters causes worsening of the symptoms. But if the ureter gets blocked completely, this may result in the complete obstruction of urine flow. Due to this, urine may build up near the kidneys and this can cause the kidneys to swell up. This condition is known as hydronephrosis and can have severe implications.

To avoid these complications of kidney stones, get the advanced treatment

Timely and proper treatment is the key to avoiding any complications due to kidney stones. Not all the cases of kidney stones require surgery. Some can be treated through medications and other management tips. But when your doctor recommends you to undergo surgery for kidney stones, make sure that you do not rush into the open surgery. Only opt for an advanced modern surgery that is very less invasive and painless in nature.

3 different modern surgeries to remove kidney stones are namely:

• Laparoscopic surgery- In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon removes the stones from the urinary tract through small incisions in the groin region.

• Laser lithotripsy/ureteroscopy- Laser ureteroscopy breaks the stones into small pieces through the use of laser energy aimed at the stone using a ureteroscope.

• Shockwave lithotripsy- Shock wave lithotripsy makes use of thousands of shock wave pulses to crush the stone and then the patient can pass these stones easily through the urine.

Other benefits of modern kidney stone surgery

The modern surgeries for kidney stones offer the following advantages over the conventional procedures:

• No major incisions, cuts or stitches required
• Absolutely painless surgery
• Quick procedure and no long hospital stay required
• Safe surgeries with nil risk of complications
• Speedy and smooth recovery
• Permanent relief from kidney stones

If you are dealing with the discomforts of kidney stones, you can contact Pristyn Care. They are one of the well known healthcare providers in the country and offer the advanced USFDA approved surgeries for kidney stones. They are associated with some of the best urologists and hospitals in India and you can easily consult one of their specialists by booking your appointment online.

Conclusion

Kidney stones are quite discomforting but if you delay treatment, these can make your life even more miserable. Therefore, to prevent any unpleasant complications, it is important to consult a urologist as soon as the symptoms of kidney stones start. Along with proper treatment, make sure that you adopt an active and healthy lifestyle to keep your kidneys healthy.