Symptoms
- Intense wave-like pain from loin to groin
- Restlessness — unable to find a comfortable position
- Vomiting
- Blood in urine
- Reduced urine output if both sides are blocked
Causes and risk factors
- A kidney stone migrating downwards
- Dehydration and concentrated urine
- Metabolic stone-forming tendency
Diagnosis
- NCCT KUB — the most accurate test
- Ultrasound showing swelling of the kidney
- Kidney function tests
- Urine culture before any procedure
Treatment
- Pain relief and hydration
- Tamsulosin to help small stones pass
- URSL with laser fragmentation
- DJ stenting for obstruction with infection
- RIRS if the stone moves back into the kidney
Prevention
- Maintain high fluid intake lifelong
- Treat the metabolic cause found on stone analysis
- Annual ultrasound follow-up
Recovery
Stones under 5 mm pass on their own in about 70% of cases within four weeks. After laser removal, recovery takes two to four days.
Information on this website is for patient education only and does not replace an in-person consultation. Treatment results vary between individuals and no outcome is guaranteed.