Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Severe Kidney Pain With A History Of Kidney Stones?
Question: I am a 24 year old male with a history of kidney stones. I have had 8 stones in the past 12 months and none before that. I have always gone to the ER been loaded up on pain meds and passed the stones naturally with no problems. 3 weeks ago I began having kidney pain similar to a stone, but went to my urologists office and a CT scan was performed. The scan showed 1 stone in my kidney that was not moving. I was sent home and advised to return if the pain persisted. 8 days later(constant pain for 8 days) I was still having pain and due to it being the weekend, I checked myself into the ER. I was given an additional CT scan that showed the same thing. It was saturday night and I was admitted per my urologist. My urologist performed a laser lithotripsy on sunday, removed the stone and placed a stent. I remained in the hospital until tuesday, and was still experiencing extreme constant pain. I had severe pain for the 5 days the stent was in, along with blood in my urine all 5 days. Removing the stent was the worst pain I had ever felt. Immediately following the removal all my pain was gone, and I felt completely normal. I returned home continuing my flomax prescription. 9 hours after the stent was removed I had severe pain and returned to the ER due to not being able to control pain orally.
I have seen my urologist multiple times over the past 2 weeks, and he says everything is normal. I am still having extreme pain that 2 hydrocodone 10 every 6 hours is not helping. The pain comes and goes but is completely debilitating when it happens.
I have been off work for 3 weeks now, still taking all medications prescribed along with pain meds every 6 hours with no relief. how long is normal for pain to last following stent removal?
I have seen my urologist multiple times over the past 2 weeks, and he says everything is normal. I am still having extreme pain that 2 hydrocodone 10 every 6 hours is not helping. The pain comes and goes but is completely debilitating when it happens.
I have been off work for 3 weeks now, still taking all medications prescribed along with pain meds every 6 hours with no relief. how long is normal for pain to last following stent removal?
Brief Answer:
Strictures, stone recurrence, anti inflammatories
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
I am Dr. Hariprasad and hope to help you today.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
Would you please clarify a few things for me?
1)Were you on any other medications other than those mentioned above ?(hydrocodone, oxybutinin,tamsulosin)
2) Have you had any scans done after the removal of the stent?
3) Do you have a fever, pain while urinating, or blood in the urine?
4) could you please describe your pain ? (intensity on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the lowest; duration &frequency of pain; quality - piercing/aching/compressing/moving/twisting king of pain; any trigger or relaxing factors).
5) do you know what kind of stones you have? (for instance, calcium oxalate, uric acid)
6) how long have you been on hydrocodone?
Pain after a stent removal is common and may be excruciating. It should, however reduce in intensity and disappear in about 4-5 days.
Persistence of pain, especially to a degree where it interferes with your daily routine needs to explored.
Recurrence of stones, strictures (narrowing of a part of a tube due to inflammation or injury) need to be ruled out by an ultrasound or CTscan
Anti-inflammatory medications (those that reduce inflammation and in most cases pain as well), analgesics (pain relievers ), medications that prevent spasms of the muscles of the urinary tract are usually the norm when treating kidney stones.
Tamsulosin and oxybutinin promotes relaxed flow of urine and hydrocodone treats the pain. I do not see any anti inflammatories mentioned.
Hydrocodone resistance occurs when you have been on that medication for several days. Your body may not respond to it as it might have when you first started taking it
Prevention of stones is vital to prevent kidney damage. Certain changes in lifestyle and diet can go a long way to help in prevention.
Please let me know the answers to the above questions, so that I can advice further.
Regards.
Strictures, stone recurrence, anti inflammatories
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
I am Dr. Hariprasad and hope to help you today.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
Would you please clarify a few things for me?
1)Were you on any other medications other than those mentioned above ?(hydrocodone, oxybutinin,tamsulosin)
2) Have you had any scans done after the removal of the stent?
3) Do you have a fever, pain while urinating, or blood in the urine?
4) could you please describe your pain ? (intensity on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the lowest; duration &frequency of pain; quality - piercing/aching/compressing/moving/twisting king of pain; any trigger or relaxing factors).
5) do you know what kind of stones you have? (for instance, calcium oxalate, uric acid)
6) how long have you been on hydrocodone?
Pain after a stent removal is common and may be excruciating. It should, however reduce in intensity and disappear in about 4-5 days.
Persistence of pain, especially to a degree where it interferes with your daily routine needs to explored.
Recurrence of stones, strictures (narrowing of a part of a tube due to inflammation or injury) need to be ruled out by an ultrasound or CTscan
Anti-inflammatory medications (those that reduce inflammation and in most cases pain as well), analgesics (pain relievers ), medications that prevent spasms of the muscles of the urinary tract are usually the norm when treating kidney stones.
Tamsulosin and oxybutinin promotes relaxed flow of urine and hydrocodone treats the pain. I do not see any anti inflammatories mentioned.
Hydrocodone resistance occurs when you have been on that medication for several days. Your body may not respond to it as it might have when you first started taking it
Prevention of stones is vital to prevent kidney damage. Certain changes in lifestyle and diet can go a long way to help in prevention.
Please let me know the answers to the above questions, so that I can advice further.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Hello Dr. XXXXXXX i appreciate the response.
1. I was prescribed the three listed medications along with traMADol (ultram) 50mg, which i was told would be for pain along with inflammation.
2. I have not had any additional scans since the stent was removed.
3. For 6 days after the stent was removed I had dime size clots in my urine, and consistent blood (muddy looking) in my urine. No fever or pain while urinating.
4. My pain comes and goes in waves. when i am having pain it is a 8-10 and is an extreme aching all the way from my kidney through my ureter into my bladder all the way to the base of of penis. The only thing I can find that relieves the pain, is taking an extremely hot bath and soaking for 35-50 min while drinking water. Typically after my bath, the pain will subside for a few hours. It will return and I usually take another bath.
5. My urologist has sent off the most recent stones for analysis, although I haven't heard the results. I am uninsured (self pay) and I couldn't afford to send off all of the previous stones.
6. When i was discharged from the hospital I was given a prescription for 325-5 hydrocodone which i began taking on 3/7. on 3/12 I was prescribed 325-10 hydrocodone and have taken those until now. So aprox. 11 days.
Thanks again for the response.
1. I was prescribed the three listed medications along with traMADol (ultram) 50mg, which i was told would be for pain along with inflammation.
2. I have not had any additional scans since the stent was removed.
3. For 6 days after the stent was removed I had dime size clots in my urine, and consistent blood (muddy looking) in my urine. No fever or pain while urinating.
4. My pain comes and goes in waves. when i am having pain it is a 8-10 and is an extreme aching all the way from my kidney through my ureter into my bladder all the way to the base of of penis. The only thing I can find that relieves the pain, is taking an extremely hot bath and soaking for 35-50 min while drinking water. Typically after my bath, the pain will subside for a few hours. It will return and I usually take another bath.
5. My urologist has sent off the most recent stones for analysis, although I haven't heard the results. I am uninsured (self pay) and I couldn't afford to send off all of the previous stones.
6. When i was discharged from the hospital I was given a prescription for 325-5 hydrocodone which i began taking on 3/7. on 3/12 I was prescribed 325-10 hydrocodone and have taken those until now. So aprox. 11 days.
Thanks again for the response.
Brief Answer:
Kidney stone recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for the detailed clarification.
Your current symptoms are typical of kidney stone.
The ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder) transports the urine by peristaltic (wavelike) movements. Any obstruction in its path (like a stone) can cause pain, as you experience, whenever the movement occurs.
Your remedy ensures increased flow of urine through the ureter which temporarily dilates it & the hot water releases chemicals that relieve pain and inflammation temporarily.
Tramadol is an analgesic primarily. It's anti inflammatory action is not significant enough to be used as an anti inflammatory drug.
Unless contraindicated (kidney, liver, heart dysfunction), NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) and anti spasmodic offer relief from renal colic (pain that you experience)
The type of stone can help to take certain precautions to avoid recurrence. Genetic predisposition to stone formation is possible (metabolic disorders).
In general avoid high protein, salt and fat diet. Certain foods that are high in oxalate or uric acid should be avoided. Drink plenty of water throughout the day (not just in spurts)
I would recommend a repeat ultrasound scan and/or xray to rule out kidney stone. I would also prescribe anti inflammatory agents in addition to pain relievers(hydrocodone). You would need to see your doctor about this. Also stress on the fact that your pain is severe with No relief after medications.
It is possible that hydrocodone resistance may have occurred necessitating a change in drugs.
I sincerely hope that your ordeal ends soon and I would be glad to answer any further queries you may have.
Please try to find the type of stone when you visit your doctor. Hope I've been of help.
Wish you good health
Kidney stone recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for the detailed clarification.
Your current symptoms are typical of kidney stone.
The ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder) transports the urine by peristaltic (wavelike) movements. Any obstruction in its path (like a stone) can cause pain, as you experience, whenever the movement occurs.
Your remedy ensures increased flow of urine through the ureter which temporarily dilates it & the hot water releases chemicals that relieve pain and inflammation temporarily.
Tramadol is an analgesic primarily. It's anti inflammatory action is not significant enough to be used as an anti inflammatory drug.
Unless contraindicated (kidney, liver, heart dysfunction), NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) and anti spasmodic offer relief from renal colic (pain that you experience)
The type of stone can help to take certain precautions to avoid recurrence. Genetic predisposition to stone formation is possible (metabolic disorders).
In general avoid high protein, salt and fat diet. Certain foods that are high in oxalate or uric acid should be avoided. Drink plenty of water throughout the day (not just in spurts)
I would recommend a repeat ultrasound scan and/or xray to rule out kidney stone. I would also prescribe anti inflammatory agents in addition to pain relievers(hydrocodone). You would need to see your doctor about this. Also stress on the fact that your pain is severe with No relief after medications.
It is possible that hydrocodone resistance may have occurred necessitating a change in drugs.
I sincerely hope that your ordeal ends soon and I would be glad to answer any further queries you may have.
Please try to find the type of stone when you visit your doctor. Hope I've been of help.
Wish you good health
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Thank you so much.
XXXXX XXXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Hope you feel better
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.
Hope you feel better
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
