Small Stones in Both Kidneys Causing Pain

[sherri914]

I am a 40yr old woman w/ a 16 year history of kidney stones.  Have had multiple 24/48 hr studies to determine the type of stones.  I follow a low oxilate diet and take Urocit 3X daily.  Typically I pass a few stones a year without problem.  I have had a right nephrostomy 16 years ago due to complications with a blocked kidney during pregnancy.  Tube stayed in place for the last several months of pregnancy and a month afterwards.  Since then have had multiple cycstoscopic stone removal surgeries.  Last year EWSL was attempted 3X to remove small, stubborn stones in my right kidney.  Stones were not blocking the ureter but were causing pain for months.  After 3rd attempt at EWSL it was decided to try laser treatment cystoscopically.  This was "partially" successful.  Some of the stones were removed, some he was not able to reach.  I was left with a stint which came out before I made it home from the hospital.  Was rushed back in for emergency surgery at 11pm to place the stint back in as my kidney had shut down due to the ureter being completely blocked from swelling following that surgery.  I remained hospitalized 3 days w/ infection.  Since that time I have had continued pain intermittently in the right side but not enough to take pain medication other than OTC such as tylenol / ibuprofen.  Three months ago I was on the floor with severe pain followed by a trip to the ER... blood in urine...  CT shows small stones in both kidneys but nothing blocking ureters.  Pain has been manageable until recently with OTC medications.  I requested non-narcotic pain med last month to help with pain control as the pain has become more steady.  He prescribed Tramadol.  The past week it has gotten to the point that the pain is non-stop, steady, dull, ache accompanied by sometimes sharp pain and nausea in waves.  I know my body and don't feel anything is blocked.  The pain is distinctly in my kidney still.  Dr. has said now that he would like to refer me to a Pain Clinic.  ???  Can't something else be done besides long term pain medication?  I don't want to take drugs.  Is there a procedure to get rid of these small stones that are persistent but not blocking the ureters?  They've been in there for months.  I have a job that requires me to be very sharp and focused.  Pain meds aren't an option for me.  

[kmmrtb]

I was doing a search online for multiple kidney stones in both kidneys and came across your posting.  I'm a 26 year old female with a family history of kidney stones.  In Jan 09, I experienced a dull aching pain in my side that lasted for a couple weeks and then went away.  I experienced something similar in late Feb 09 and after a week of this pain, I went to the clinic (I'm in the military).  The dr couldn't find anything wrong and said I must ahve pulled an abdominal muscle.  However, since I mentioned my dad has had over 40 stones in his life, he sent me for an x-ray.  (I doubted it was this as the pain I was feeling was not like the excrutiating pain I'd seen my dad in.)  The x-ray showed "something" so I was sent for a ct scan, which showed multiple stones in both kidneys including one in the bladder.  I went back a week later because I was feeling a constant urge to pee, and I was disagnosed with a UTI and given meds, although this did not make the pain totally go away,  I ended up passing a stone (which was 6mm) a few days later.  It was a calcium oxalate stone.  2 and a half weeks ago, I didn't have any kidney pain, but felt the constant urge to urinate again, followed by the side pain (which confused me because the symptoms were in reverse order than the last time I passed a stone).  However, after a week of constant dull (sometimes sharper) pain in my left side that made me feel constantly nauseous, I went to the clinic where I found out I had another infection (with a low-grade fever) and likely another stone.  I passed 2 stones a day later (last Saturday); they were a lot smaller than my other one (only 1.5 and 2mm).  However, unlike when I passed my first stone in Feb, the pain I felt in my kidney did not immediately go away.  I still have that dull ache, which comes and goes.  I went for a run yesterday for the first time in a week and felt cramping like pain in my right kidney area that subsided a few hours later.  I had a ct scan done a few days ago and was told I currently have 6 stones in my kidneys greater than 2mm but that they aren't blocking anything and my ureters aren't swollen so I shouldn't be in any pain.  However, I still have this dull pain that comes and goes that is in my kidney area on both sides.  It's not excrutiating pain, but I do sometimes take a motrin for it.  I'm so confused about what it wrong with me.  According to the dr., the stones in my kidneys should not be causing any pain, but I can't deny the fact that I have this pain that comes and goes... I know you probably don;t have any answers as you have your own questions about similar matters; I just felt compelled to leave you a message because your situation seemed a little similar to mine.  If you'd like to email me, my email is k_m_m_2001@yahoo,com (please put Kidney Stones in the title so I know it's not junk mail).

Katrina

[gochoosy1]

DOCTORS are smart, but when they dont experience the pain for themselves and it doesnt follow the text book, sometimes they just dont get it!!!  I too have recurring kidney stones, The last one I had was in the left kidney and was non obstructing,so Doc left it alone. That was 8 months ago.  I dont even know if  I passed it or if its still there.  The reason for this is because BOTH my kidneys ache dully on and off from time to time and I get some sharp stabs as well from time to time.  Been this way for years... soooo if your kidney hurts , it hurts!!! its your body!  And since you have a history of stones, its not surprising.  lately my other  (right kidney has been hurting more)  I think Im gonna call the Dr on Tues because For some reason I still dont know what Type of stone I form.  My Doctor has never given me a strainer or anything and Im gonna ask him about that as well.  I would like to know what type of diet to follow and its easier knowing what kind of stone you have..

[MSKshelly]

I have suffered along with all of you for years also, however I have a condition called Medullary Sponge Kidney disease.  This cause both of my kidneys to be full of small stones too.  We have an MSK support group here on Medhelp and though you all may or may not have MSK, (I was born with it, had stones since I was 19 but only diagnosed in 03'), still the cause of this chronic pain is very likely to be the same that many of us suffer from.

I would encourage you to join our support group, read through the older post, most of the time this pain issue is the central conversation tool and also read the great info in the health pages.

Here is the link to our support group here:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/256?personal_page_id=30644

Here also is a link to an article i put together on the pain issues:
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Urology/What-To-do-For-the-Pain/show/577?cid=185

I hope this helps each of you!  Just know your not alone, your pain is real and there are answers!  It is our goal together to make a difference!!

Shelly