What are the symptoms kidney stones?

[Stargazer]

I have recently had excruciating cramp like pains on either side of my pubic region when needing to urinate and sometimes had to wait for them to pass before completing the process. The pains disappear more or less straight away.

[Sqad]

The majority of kidney stones do not produce any symptoms and may only be discovered on routine examination for another condition.

I must confess that with your symptoms, kidney stones are not the first thing that comes top mind.

Without any further information, the diagnosis that stands out is that of cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder.

I would suggest an appointment with your GP.

[bookbinder]

I had a kidney stone when I was about 30. I'm male, by the way. I don't know if females have other symptoms. I woke up early one morning with an excruciating pain in my right side, just above the lower ribs. It wouldn't go away, no matter what I did. My wife called a doctor, who diagnosed kidney stone. He gave me an injection that sent me to sleep for a few hours. That was wonderful! The GP said later that that was the worst pain that you could have without being injured.

[mayennaise]

My kidney stone pain was on the left side of my lower back - griping collicky spasms - agonising - worse than labour contractions! Eased by a morphine jab from the doc and put on a drip in hospital with whatever drugs they included. Pain stopped once I'd passed the stones (that bit was painless) that were about the size of rice grains.

[mightymouse]

The pain from kidney stones usually starts suddenly on either side of the lower back. It is totally excruciating and frightening. Before contacting help, drink gallons and gallons of water, and try to keep upright. Sometimes the stone will pass on, but then can cause severe pain if caught within the bladder. Then you want to pee every 2 minutes. With luck you will pass the little sod!

Otherwise you could have a lithotripsy (sp) when under anaesthetic your stone is hopefully blasted into a powder. This does not always work, and may need further treatment.

It is not at all life-threatening, just unbearably painful. I have had 5 in the last 25 years, after the 1st one, the pain is instantly recognised, so no need to panic, just scream!!! Occurs without any warning, unfortunately, last one I had was when having breakfast at Sao Paulo airport (Brazil) before a flight to London. Drank gallons of water and took pain-killers and I was fine. Eventually passed the tiny sod two weeks after getting home and opened a bottle of bubbly! Now have xrays every year, so far, so good.

[ladybirder]

My son has had this several times and had them blasted. The doctor says it's his diet causes it and he doesn't drink enough. A cup of tea before he goes to work in the morning lasts him all day. He ignores the doctor so keeps getting the stones even though he says it's absolute agony! He ignores me and his wife as well!

[petal54]

O/H said it was worse than child birth

[mayennaise]

I suffered mine when living in France and as I said earlier - was treated successfully. Was told afterwards by the kidney doc to have an annual xray and also check that the calcium level of any bottled water I drank ( the french don't like their tap water!) is as low as possible, as my stones were calcium based.