Why do kidney stone patients still experience pain after lithotripsy?
Apr 23, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Mingchuan
Introduction
Patients with kidney stones may still experience pain after lithotripsy, usually because the stones have not been completely cleared from the body. Large stones within the kidney are broken into smaller fragments using ultrasonic energy, and these smaller pieces are then expelled through the urinary tract. Lithotripsy does not make the stones disappear immediately; during the process of stone expulsion, irritation to the ureteral mucosa can occur, leading to pain.
Pain after lithotripsy in patients with kidney stones is generally due to the fact that the stones have not been completely cleared from the body. The detailed analysis is as follows:
Kidney stones usually form as a result of long-term insufficient fluid intake or frequent consumption of foods high in oxalate and purine, which increases the concentration of stone-forming substances in the urine. When this concentration approaches saturation, crystals begin to form and gradually accumulate into stones. When kidney stones grow large enough, lithotripsy treatment is required to help remove them. This procedure uses ultrasonic energy to break large stones within the kidneys into smaller fragments, which are then expelled from the body through the urethra via urination. However, lithotripsy does not make the stones disappear instantly. As the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract, they may irritate the mucous lining of the ureter, causing pain. Therefore, pain may persist even after lithotripsy treatment.
If a patient experiences severe pain, it is recommended to take medications such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, or atropine sulfate tablets under the guidance of a physician to help alleviate discomfort.
