Kidney stones are small, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts. The kidneys, (or the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) are the place it can form. It may vary in size, shape and even in composition, but one thing’s for sure: When kidney stones cause trouble, the pain can be intense.
When most people think about kidney stones, they think of them causing a lot of pain, but what they may not think of is stones getting stuck. When it does, it’s more than a simple annoyance — it can be a potentially serious medical problem. Urinary stone obstruction can cause urinary infections, kidney swelling and permanent damage if not treated.
But just how do kidney stones cause urine to back up? Let’s explore in detail.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They can vary in size between a grain of sand or a golf ball. They develop when your urine has more crystal-forming substances, such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid, than the fluid in your urine can dilute.
Some kidney stones pass on their own with no symptoms, while others cause pain, infection, or blockage when they lodge in the urinary tract.
What’s The Connection Of Urine Blockage With Kidney Stones?
The body’s waste management system – the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Urine generated by the kidneys passes through the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored before passing through the urethra and expelled.
The flow of urine can be partially or really blocked, when a kidney stone passes from the kidney to ureter, the tube that connects the kidney and the bladder. That is called urinary tract obstruction or an obstructive uropathy.
Size of the Stone Matters
- Small Stones (Less than 5mm): Usually can be passed without complications.
- Medium Stones (5mm to 10mm): May become partially blocked and extremely painful.
- Big Stones (Greater than 10mm): higher chance to get stuck and block the ureter completely, when they are either completely or partially (strong pain and Giant kidney swelling – hydronephrosis).
Where the Stone Is Located?
- Kidney Stones (Renal Pelvis): Typically does not cause obstruction unless migrating into ureter.
- So ureteral stones, in the mid and lower ureter, are most likely to cause obstruction of urine flow, just because the ureter becomes narrowest in these locations.
- Bladder or Urethral Stones: May block urination as it leaves the bottom of the urinary system.
Urinary obstruction symptoms from kidney stones
You may have the following symptoms if a kidney stone blocks the ureter:
- Intense pain in the back, side, or lower abdomen (often referred to as renal colic)
- Dysuria, also referred to as painful urination
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Reduced urine output
- Urine containing blood (blood in the urine or hematuria)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever; occasionally, chills (if infection occurs).
- Enlargement of the kidney (hydronephrosis)
If you have severe pain or symptoms of an infection, seek immediate medical help.
What Makes Urine Obstruction So Dangerous?
Not only is inability to urinate a painful experience—it can cause major problems if not addressed promptly:
- Hydronephrosis
The urine backs up into the kidney, making the kidney swell. Untreated this can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys.
- Infections
Blockage can predispose the patient to UTIs. If bacteria grow in this stagnant urine, it can cause a serious infection or sepsis.
- Kidney Damage
Continued obstruction can damage the kidneys, which may cause chronic kidney disease with long-term obstructions.
Diagnosis of Blockage of Urine due to Kidney Stone
If a blockage in the urinary tract — especially a kidney stone — is suspected, your physician may order:
- Ultrasound of Kidneys and Bladder
- (For evaluation of stones, it is the standard for reference and identification.)
- (a) X-Ray (KUB -X Ray - Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder)
- Urine tests (to check for blood, infection, or crystals)
- Blood Tests (to know about kidney function)
Treatment Options for Urine Blockage Due to Kidney Stones
The proposed treatment is based on the size, location and degree of occlusion. Here’s an overview:
Medications
- Use of Analgesia (NSAIDs, anallgesics)
- Alpha-blockers (such as tamsulosin) to relax the muscles of the ureter to help stones pass
- Infections may be treated with antibiotics
Large or Impacted Stones-Methods
If the stone is too big or causing a more severe block, medical intervention may be necessary:
a) RIRS (Retrograde Intra-renal Surgery)
A type of therapy, may be performed with a flexible scope to break up and remove stones in the kidney or ureter.
- Very effective for stones in the UPPER urinary tract.
- Quick healing, little pain, and extremely high success.
b) URS (Ureteroscopy)
- Involves a small scope passed through the urethra and into the bladder and ureter to the stone, which is then broken up with a laser.
c) PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)
- It allows the surgeon to access the interior of the kidney.
- For extremely large stones — keyhole surgery, where a small incision is made in the back to remove stones from the kidney.
d) ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy)
- A non-invasive treatment that employs shock waves to shatter the stones into fragments that can be passed more easily in urine.
Can Urinary Blockage Be Prevented?
While you can’t always prevent kidney stones, particularly if you have a family history, you can lower your risk by:
- Staying well-hydrated Water (at least 2-3 liters/day) to hydrate yourself.
- Reducing salt intake
- Diet sparing of high oxalate containing foods (e.g., spinach, chocolate, nuts)
- Controlling protein intake
- Managing conditions like obesity and metabolic disorders
If you’ve had kidney stones previously, your urologist may advise you to make certain dietary changes and can prescribe medication to prevent recurrence.
Conclusion
Kidney stones are quite capable of blocking urine flow, especially if they are large or wedged into tight spots in the urinary tract such as the ureter. If not stopped, this might then cause both pain and infections, and possibly long-term damage to the kidneys. Early identification and treatment can protect against complications and speed recovery.
When it comes to the best treatment for kidney stones or urinary blockage, you can trust Dr. Deepanshu Gupta in Gurgaon. Being trained to manage complex cases, Dr. Gupta is called as the Fastest RIRS Surgeon North India and gets very good results. His technique allows for low post operative pain, recovery and gives the best outcome for patients with kidney stones.