Dorothy FarrarUreteral stone
Ureteral stones are solid deposits in the ureter, which can cause colicky pain. Small stones often come off spontaneously. In the case of larger ureteral stones, shattering is usually carried out by means of ultrasound waves.
What are ureteral stones?
A ureteral stone is a solid mass that is deposited in the ureter. Often a ureteral stone is also called ureteral stone. It is called “stones” in ureteral stones because the deposits are reminiscent of the shape of a stone. Ureteral stones can be accompanied by only mild pain, but also by barely bearable colic.
The intensity of pain depends on the number and size of the ureteral stones. There is no difference between men and women in terms of the frequency of occurrence of ureteral stones.
Causes
Basically, the probability of getting a ureteral stone increases with age. There are several causes of stones in the ureter. Not infrequently, ureter stones are triggered by the fact that those affected drink little, whereby the urine is too concentrated. Unhealthy diet and severe obesity also increase the risk of a ureteral stone.
In addition, there are some metabolic diseases, which are often accompanied by stones in the ureter. This includes, among other things, an overactive parathyroid glands. In addition, the formation of ureteral stones is favored if urinary tract inflammation is present. If there is a mechanical obstruction in the urinary tract, this can also be the cause of a ureteral stone.
Furthermore, rare genetic diseases such as cystinuria may be responsible for ureteral stones. Various medications that have to be taken over a longer period of time increase the likelihood of developing ureteral stones. In some cases, the exact causes of the presence of a ureteral stone remain unknown.
When to see a doctor?
In order to cause a loss of the stone, treatment by ultrasound is often used. More rarely, it is necessary to insert apparatus into the ureter to cause a shattering of the ureteral stone. Patients with suspected ureteral stone should therefore consult a doctor in any case. Parallel to medical treatment, however, there are also ways to independently contribute at least to alleviating the symptoms. Thus, an increased fluid intake of between 2 and 4 liters daily is recommended.
A loosening of the ureteral stone can also be favored by sufficient exercise such as climbing stairs and additional physiotherapy. Infusions of dandelion are said to have a positive effect on the discharge of ureter stones.
For acute ureteral stones, it is advisable to avoid calcium-rich foods such as milk, dairy products, sunflower seeds, and kale. The intake of saline and sugary foods should be reduced. In general, a low-fat and low-meat diet is recommended in this context. A doctor can give other helpful tips.
Symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of ureteral stones:
The typical symptoms of a ureteral stone are burning when urinating, cramping pains, nausea and general malaise. It is not uncommon for those affected to suffer only from slight pain or not feel anything at all. The course of this disease depends on the position, number and size of the ureteral stones.
If the stones are small and cause hardly any symptoms, they usually go away by themselves as a result of increased fluid intake and the course can be assessed as absolutely positive. If the stones don’t come off on their own, complications can arise. A ureteral stone can cause inflammation of the urinary tract.
There is also a risk that the urine cannot drain properly and will back up in the kidneys. In this case, there is a risk of serious damage to the kidneys.
Diagnosis
When diagnosing a ureteral stone, the doctor treating you first takes a detailed medical history. He asks about the patient’s symptoms and medical history. Among other things, the doctor asks about blood in the urine and problems with urinary stones in the past. If the anamnesis indicates ureteral stones, imaging methods are used.
By means of an ultrasound examination, ureteral stones with a diameter of more than 2mm can be diagnosed. In the case of smaller uretic stones, a urogram is made for diagnosis, i.e. an excretory urography with contrast agent. Sometimes at the beginning of the diagnosis is also a urine test, in which blood was found in the urine or urinary stone crystals. In addition to imaging and urine testing, a can also help diagnose a ureteral stone.
Complications
In many cases, a ureteral stone does not need to be treated directly by a doctor. In most cases, it disappears on its own, so there are no particular complications. Those affected suffer from very severe pain when urinating. This pain is stabbing and burning and has a very negative effect on the patient’s quality of life.
In many cases, this pain also spreads to the kidneys and flanks, where it also leads to severe and, above all, unpleasant symptoms. It can also cause nausea or vomiting. Furthermore, the urinary tract can also be inflamed due to the ureteral stone.
In the worst case, the ureteral stone leads to complete kidney damage and thus to renal insufficiency . In this case, the affected person is then dependent on dialysis or a donor kidney in order to be able to continue to survive.
In most cases, a ureteral stone can be treated relatively well with a high intake of fluids. Shock waves can also be used to remove the ureteral stone. Complications do not arise. In the worst case, the ureteral stone must be surgically removed. The life expectancy of the affected person is not negatively affected if the treatment is successful.
treatment and therapy
The treatment of a ureteral stone depends, among other things, on its size. Stones that are smaller than 5mm do not require any therapy in half of the cases, as they pass spontaneously. In the case of ureteral stones larger than 6 mm, however, only about 5 percent pass spontaneously; treatment is therefore definitely indicated. The position of the stone also has an impact on how likely it is to come off on its own.
In the case of smaller stones, there is always the option of waiting to see whether the ureteral stone will resolve itself. If this does not happen within the first few weeks after the first symptoms, the likelihood of a spontaneous loss is low. Smaller stones are usually only treated symptomatically at first. The doctor prescribes a Painkiller and prescribes sufficient exercise and drinking plenty of fluids.
Prevention
The urge to drink often decreases with age. However, to prevent ureteral stones, it is extremely important to drink enough fluids. Older people in particular should therefore make sure they drink enough. It is recommended for an adult to consume at least 2 liters of water per day.In addition, the Diet should not be too high in Salt , otherwise the body will be deprived of too much liquid. Weight reduction if you are overweight is a reliable measure to prevent ureteral stones.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.