Kidney Stones – More than Just a Pain in the Neck
Kidney stones are more than a pain to deal with. If you’re suffering from stones right now, you probably know the excruciating agony that arises from the relatively small formations. The pain kidney stones cause has often been compared to the pain a woman experiences when she gives birth – and it’s said that kidney stones are worse! You may agree.
How do kidney stones form?
Kidney stones are crystal formations made of calcium, oxalate, or uric acid. While these substances are found in urine regularly, an abundance leads to crystallization. Furthermore, your urine may be missing specific elements that help break the minerals that form kidney stones down.
Three Ways to Prevent the Formation of Kidney Stones
- Stay Hydrated: Each day, try to stay hydrated. You’ll know you’re hydrated when your urine is pale yellow. When you dilute your urine, you prevent the buildup of those minerals that combine to form kidney stones.
- Avoid Salty Foods: Sodium can lay the groundwork for several types of kidney stones. You don’t have to cut it out of your diet completely, but reduce your intake. Furthermore, when you do partake in salty foods, be sure to drink extra water to help balance the effects.
- Try to Reduce Your BMI: Weight gain may increase your chances of suffering from kidney stones. Follow a nutritious diet, drink plenty of water, and develop an exercise regimen. Talk to your doctor to develop a plan.
Three Ways to Hasten the Passing of Your Stones
- Drink Water… Lots of it: In order to pass a kidney stone, it has to travel through the urinary tract. Drink water to help guide your stones and prevent infections that are often associated with the condition.
- Make Lemonade: It may not significantly reduce the size of your current stones, but it’ll add some taste to your water, and the citrate will prevent the formation of further stones. Don’t add sugar – it can be a trigger that causes more stones to form.
- Avoid Dehydrating Factors: The whole point of drinking lots of water is to hydrate, so don’t drink coffee, and avoid using tobacco products (including electronic cigarettes), which lead to dehydration.
When you have kidney stones, it’s hard to keep things in perspective because the pain can be unbearable. Remember, they shall pass. However, you can, and should, take action to manage your discomfort as you get through this painful period of life. Make an appointment with your doctor. You may need some testing in order to determine the size of your kidney stones. If they’re large, your doctor may recommend treatments to break the stones up in order to make their passing less painful. No matter what, be clear about the pain you’re in, and your doctor will be able to help you come up with a plan to mitigate it.
Contact Premier Pain & Spine to make an appointment with a pain specialist.