Most patients who are experiencing kidney stones know that there is something wrong. However, signs and symptoms of kidney stones can vary based on the patient, their medical history and their personal background.
Dr. Pedram Ilbeigi has found that the symptoms range from completely silent to excruciatingly painful, and as a urology expert, notes that there are certain individual factors that impact each person’s symptoms. Patients in Rancho Mirage or the Inland Empire who feel they could have kidney stones should research the following symptoms and make an appointment to see Dr. Ilbeigi to confirm their diagnosis.
Severe Cramping and Pain
Most patients will find that they have cramping in their abdominal area or even in their lower back. This cramping can also occur in the groin or in the side of a patient. Patients will note that pain from kidney stones is difficult to alleviate, largely because changing positions does nothing to stop the cramping. The pain has a tendency to increase and decrease like a wave. Sometimes, the cramping pain that is associated with kidney stones is referred to as renal colic.
Nausea and Vomiting
For some patients, the cramping pain in their abdomen, side or groin is so severe it actually makes them sick. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of kidney stones, especially when they are coupled with intense, rolling cramps in the area of the stones.
Blood in Urine
Many people who are suffering from kidney stones will find that there are traces of blood in their urine. If this occurs, it is important to contact a urology expert such as Dr. Ilbeigi as quickly as possible.
Fever
Not all patients will have a fever when they have kidney stones, but it is certainly one of the common signs and symptoms. In addition to running a fever, some patients will experience body chills and aches. It can feel similar to having the flu, although the cramping and pain in the area is usually unique to kidney stones so it can help a patient differentiate.
Some patients who are afflicted with kidney stones will experience all of these symptoms while others may only see one or two symptoms before they are diagnosed. Kidney stones are notoriously painful, but some more fortunate people experience silent stones, which have virtually no symptoms. In more extreme cases, some patients have found that, in addition to the basic symptoms, they also have difficulty urinating, pain in their penis or pain in their testicles.
In order to confirm the presence of kidney stones, a urologist would usually run a helical CT scan on the patient. This scan presents far fewer complications than previous diagnostic tests, and it helps to, quickly and easily, diagnose the presence of stones. This technology allows the patient to feel better as soon as possible.
