Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are solid masses made of crystals. Kidney stones usually originate in your kidneys, but can develop anywhere along your urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Kidney stones are known to be one of the most painful medical conditions. The causes of kidney stones vary according to the type of stone
TYPES :
Calcium stones are the most common. They can be made of calcium oxalate (most common), phosphate, or maleate. High-oxalate foods include potato chips, peanuts, chocolate, beets, and spinach.
Uric Acid This type of kidney stone is more common in men than in women. They can occur in people with gout or those going through chemotherapy. A diet rich in purines can increase urine’s acidic level. Purine is a colorless substance in animal proteins, such as fish, shellfish, and meats.
Struvite This type of stone is found mostly in women with urinary tract infections. These stones can be large and cause urinary obstruction.
Cystine stones are rare. They occur in both men and women who have the genetic disorder cystinuria.
>
RISK FACTORS
Dehydration from low fluid intake is a major factor in stone formation.
High dietary intake of animal protein,sodium, refined sugars, fructose and high fructose corn syrup, oxalate, grapefruit juice, and apple juice may increase the risk of kidney stone formation.
Kidney stones can result from an underlying metabolic condition, such as distal renal tubular acidosis, Dent’s disease,hyperparathyroidism,primary hyperoxaluria,or medullary sponge kidney. 3–20% of people who form kidney stones have medullary sponge kidney.
Kidney stones are more common in people with Crohn’s disease; Crohn’s disease is associated with hyperoxaluria and malabsorption of magnesium.
>
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Kidney stones are known to cause severe pain. Symptoms of kidney stones may not occur until the stone begins to move down the ureters. This severe pain is called renal colic. You may have pain on one side of your back or abdomen. In men, pain may radiate to the groin area. The pain of renal colic comes and goes, but can be intense. People with renal colic tend to be restless.
Other symptoms of kidney stones can include:
blood in the urine (red, pink, or brown urine)
vomiting
nausea
discolored or foul-smelling urine
chills
fever
frequent need to urinate
urinating small amounts of urine
>
In the case of a small kidney stone, you may not have any pain or symptoms as the stone passes through your urinary tract
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
Homoeopathy treatment helps in relieving the agonizing pain and also help in the passage of stone . homoeopathy also has a role to play in preventing the recurrence after surgery for calculi ( chance of recurrence 70 to 80 %)