Kidney Stone Pain Severity and Symptoms Fact-Checked
“Kidney stone pain is often considered one of the most severe types of pain a person can experience. It begins when a hard mineral crystal forms in the kidney and moves into the ureter, the narrow tube that carries urine to the bladder. As the stone travels, it stretches and irritates the sensitive lining of the ureter. In response, the muscles of the ureter contract forcefully to push the stone forward, causing intense spasms and sharp waves of pain. This pain is usually felt in the lower back, side, abdomen, or groin and can come and go as the stone continues to move”
Summary
Kidney stone pain is indeed regarded as one of the most severe pains, caused by a mineral crystal forming in the kidney and moving into the ureter. The stone irritates the ureter’s lining, prompting strong muscular contractions that produce sharp, spasmodic pain felt in the lower back, side, abdomen, or groin, and the pain can fluctuate as the stone progresses.
Sources 60 searched
- The relationship between the severity of pain and stone size, hydronephrosis and laboratory parameters in renal colic attack - PubMed
The mean stone size was 5.2 ± ... hydronephrosis (n = 57) were 4.9 ± 1.7. No statistical difference was found in stone size between patients with hydronephrosis and those without....
- The severity of renal colic pain: Can it be predicted? - PMC
The regression analysis was used to determine the predictive factors of severe pain. There was no significant difference found between sex and VAS scores of colic pain (p=0.122). We found a significant correlation between VAS score and localization of kidney stone, degree of hydronephrosis, ...
- Renal colic and childbirth pain: female experience versus male perception - PMC
Thirty-six male and 23 female patients ... between male and female patients (p>0.05, Student’s t-test). From the male cohort of patients, 88.9% (n=32) stated that it was the worst pain they had ever experienced and for the female cohort this was 78.2% (n=19)....
- The relationship between the severity of pain and stone size, hydronephrosis and laboratory parameters in renal colic attack - ScienceDirect
The mean stone size was 5.2 ± ... hydronephrosis (n = 57) were 4.9 ± 1.7. No statistical difference was found in stone size between patients with hydronephrosis and those without....
- Kidney stones - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Learn about the symptoms, risks, causes and treatment of this often intensely painful condition.
- Kidney Stone Symptoms: 8 Warning Signs of Kidney Stones
But if your kidney stone is larger, you’ll likely have some symptoms. Outlined below are 8 signs and symptoms of kidney stones. Kidney stone pain — also known as renal colic — is one of the most severe types of pain imaginable.
- Kidney Stone Symptoms: Pain, Other Symptoms, Relief
The main kidney stone symptom is severe pain in your lower belly or side. This is from your stone making its way from your kidney to your bladder via a narrow tube called a ureter.
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Why are kidney stones so painful? - Mayo Clinic News Network
Kidney stones often can be quite painful. There are several reasons for that. First, the ureter is small and inflexible, so it can’t stretch to accommodate a stone. Second, when a stone gets into the ureter, the ureter reacts by clamping down on the stone in an attempt to squeeze it out.
- 112: Just How Painful is a Kidney Stone? | University of Utah Health
Smith: Well, I think Troy could probably answer that because he has them come in, but usually it's a pain in the flank, which is kind of the upper outer portion of your back on either side. And as the stone kind of travels down the ureter, that pain can migrate to the low back, even into the groin. And I usually tell folks when stones are sitting in the kidney, they don't usually cause pain because they're not obstructing.
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