Why does a colic occur?
Renal colic occurs when there is an obstruction of the urinary tract due to a calculus or stone.*1
Colic usually causes sharp pain in the side, waist, or side of the abdomen. It often spreads towards the groin or genitals.
How long does it take for a kidney stone to pass?
The time it takes to pass a kidney stone will depend on its size, location, and the cause of the stone.
Most commonly, the doctor will recommend waiting for the stone to pass naturally, for 4 to 6 weeks. If it doesn't pass within that period, the treatment plan will need to be reevaluated to see if observation can safely continue or if surgical intervention is necessary. Most commonly, it is expelled within 15 days. *2
The expulsion is a process that goes through the following stages: *3
- Stage 1: You may feel spasms as your kidneys try to expel the stone. This is what causes intense pain in your back or side.
- Stage 2: The stone passes into the ureter (the tube connecting the kidneys and bladder). Depending on its size, it can cause intense pain and pressure.
- Stage 3: The stone has reached the bladder, so the pain will generally subside. You may feel increased bladder pressure, causing you to urinate more frequently. If it gets stuck at the opening of the urethra, it can block urine flow.
Will I need surgery?
As we mentioned earlier, typically the doctor will monitor you to see if the stone can be passed naturally before considering surgery. Based on the size of the stone, data indicates the following:
- Approximately 80% of stones smaller than 4mm pass naturally.
- Approximately 60% of stones between 4mm and 6mm pass on their own.
- Normally, only 20% of stones larger than 6mm pass on their own. In these cases, surgical intervention is likely necessary.
What can I do to facilitate expulsion?
To pass a stone naturally and avoid possible surgical intervention, you can follow these recommendations:
- Reduce salt intake
- Increase your water intake
- Engage in physical activity
- Limit consumption of soft drinks, energy drinks, and foods with fats and refined sugar.
- Depending on your type of stone, it may be possible to reduce its size and facilitate its expulsion. Use alkalizers in the case of uric acid stones or acidifiers for struvite stones. If you don't know the composition of your stone, maintain your urinary pH within the appropriate range and maintain good urinary health with Lit-Control pH Balance.
- You can also take diuretic food supplements like Theobromine
How can I prevent more kidney stones from forming?
There are a series of general recommendations you should keep in mind if you want to prevent kidney stones, such as:
- Drink a minimum of 2-3 liters of liquid daily (preferably water)
- Modify your diet. There are specialized nutritionists for this.
- Monitor your urinary pH with Lit-Control pH Meter and maintain good urinary health with Lit-Control supplements.
Sources:
*1 https://urologosquiron.com/como-saber-si-estas-sufriendo-un-colico-nefritico/
*2 https://www.bostonscientific.com/es-MX/health-conditions/calculos-renales/treatment-options/passing-stone-naturally.html
*3 https://www.clikisalud.net/rinones-4-etapas-ocurren-cuando-expulsa-calculo-renal/
