Symptoms and diagnosis of kidney stones.
As long as a stone does not prevent the flow of urine through the  kidney, it gives no symptoms whatsoever. The problem starts as soon as the stone moves downward to a narrower point and obstructs the route that urine comes through. This makes the pressure in that particular area of the kidney to increase dramatically and cause dull or horrendous pain. The latest situation is described as renal colic. The pain can be invasive or it can build up gradually. It may be referred to the flank, abdomen, back, pelvis, groin and genitals. The pain can be unilateral or it may affect both sides.
Renal colic is described as one of the most painful situations a human being can experience. Because of the stress that causes to the sufferer, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, shivers, tremors and excessive sweating can occur. Fever may appear, if a urinary track infection coexists.
Usually, urination gets more frequent, painful or burning. Typically, blood is present in urine (hematuria). This can be microscopic or macroscopic. In the former case the blood is traced with lab urine tests, whereas in the latest case the urine gets reddish, resembling the color of rosé wine.
If the kidney stone moves to a wider area and allows the urine to flow readily again, the pain settles down. The same relieve happens if the kidney stone manages to come through and fall into the bladder. However, it may cause some moderate burning discomfort at the final stage, while being discharges from the bladder through the urethra.
Diagnosis of kidney stones.
There are a range of means that can contribute to the diagnosis of kidney stones. Overtime, they can show and monitor the position, shape and the location that the kidney stone is embedded. These means include abdominal x-ray, ultrasound scan, intravenous pyelography and computerized tomography.
Bacteria and/or blood found in a urine test will give more indications about the kind of the kidney stone.
If a kidney stone comes through and excreted with urine, it would be very helpful to be kept for a chemical analysis. The latest will give important information regarding the nature of the stone itself and appropriate preventive recommendations will be given. This is the reason why your doctor may advice you to strain the urine and to obtain the entire kidney stone or traces of it.
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