How to get pain relief from kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a pain – quite literally! Have you ever tried passing one? Trust us, it’s not an experience you’d enjoy sharing at parties. And while prevention is key, sometimes kidney stones just sneak up on us like a bad cold sore. So, if you’re looking to kick those stones to the curb and get some sweet relief from your lower back agony, look no further than this guide on how to get pain relief from kidney stones!

Understanding Kidney Stones

Before we dive into the solutions (spoiler alert: there is no magic pill), let’s take a quick minute to understand what they are so that we can learn how to eradicate them more effectively.

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that build up in our kidneys over time. They either stick around in our kidneys without bothering us or travel down towards the bladder through narrow tubes known as ureters getting stuck causing excruciatingly painful symptoms.

There are four types of kidney stones:

  • Calcium
  • Struvite
  • Uric Acid
  • Cystine

Knowing which type you have can be helpful, but for now just focus on alleviating those symptoms!

Symptoms Of Kidney Stones

Ah yes…the lovely sensations associated with passing something jagged out of your body. If having a headache wasn’t enough already here are some possible indicators that could give away the existence of this tormentor within you:

  • Painful urination
  • Blood in urine
  • Nausea/Vomiting (stay near your bathroom)
  • Cloudy urine (milkshake flavored anyone?)
  • Fever/Chills together with episodes Diarrhea

If symptoms persist beyond three days along high fever and chills contact medical assistance immediately.

Solutions for Fast Relief

Drink Plenty Of Water

Ladies and Gentlemen, the importance of water cannot be overstated. It’s what helps to keep your kidneys hydrated, flushing out waste that could lead to kidney stones.

So fill up a glass (or jug…depending on how much you enjoy goingnumber one) with cold H2O or add some ice; make it more enjoyable knowing that fluids will have you passing those bad boys in no time.

Use Over-The-Counter Painkillers

Let’s face it: we can’t all handle pain like superheroes. When over-the-counter meds are involved increasing the dosage doesn’t mean faster relief {use as prescribed by your doctor}. There are several options available:

  • Ibuprofen (ex. Motrin IB)
  • Naproxen Sodium (ex.Aleve)
  • Acetaminophen (ex.Tylenol)

Warning: DO NOT take aspirin since research has shown the compound only makes things worse.

Drink Lemon Juice

A study published in Urology suggested lemon juice might reduce kidney stone formation in people prone to them. Although drinking straight-up lemon juice is not recommended and quite frankly disgusting, adding a few squeezes of fresh lemon into your drink or pitcher of water won’t hurt! Could we kiss this juicy bit goodbye?

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Lower Salt Intake

Yes, salt brings flavor to our lives but its excessive intake leads to calcium buildup causing stones within us.
Try using seasonings other than salt next time you’re cooking up a storm at home!

Eat Less Oxalate-Rich Foods

Too much oxalate can also contribute significantly towards forming kidney stones so cutting down foods containing this component is important:

High-Oxalate Foods Low-Oxalate alternatives
Spinach Romaine lettuce
Potatoes Celery Root
Nuts & Seeds Bread
French Fries Cornflakes

Our verdict: We can most definitely keep the fries and slab of bread on our plates while not causing harm to ourselves!

Get Enough Calcium

Yes, calcium is a big part of what causes kidney stones. But getting enough calcium from food or supplements will help to bind with oxalate in the gut before they reach your kidneys.

It’s all about finding that proper balance.

Conclusion

The pain associated with kidney stones has been described as similar to giving birth but of course everyone’s experience differs. Remember, drinking water goes a long way after eating as well which leads us away from using extreme methods like shockwave lithotripsy {yikes!} to break apart those stones.

Prevention is obviously better than cure so by making small changes in diet and fluid intake could be life-altering!

Until next time – fun facts are over. Stay hydrated folks!

P.S: Don’t google ‘kidney stone surgeries’ (You’re welcome!)

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