Renal colic: what to do to relieve

The renal crisis is an episode of severe and acute pain in the lateral region of the back or bladder, caused by the presence of kidney stones, as they cause inflammation and obstruction of the flow of urine in the urinary tract.

Knowing what to do during a kidney crisis is important to be able to relieve pain more quickly, so some recommended measures are to use medicines such as anti-inflammatories, analgesics and anti-spasmodics, for example, in addition to going to the emergency room for them to be clinical evaluations and tests that demonstrate the presence of calculus and kidney function were performed. To quickly identify a kidney crisis, check for kidney stone symptoms.

In addition, some homemade measures can be taken, such as increasing water consumption to help eliminate stones, as well as making a hot compress to relieve discomfort.

Thus, the main ways to relieve and treat kidney stones include:

1. Treatment with medicines

To relieve the intense pain of the kidney crisis, it is important to use medications that can be taken orally, in tablets, but injectables can be more effective and cause faster relief:

• Anti-inflammatories, such as Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Indomethacin or Ibuprofen: they are usually the first option, since in addition to relieving pain, they can decrease the inflammatory process that causes swelling and worsens the crisis; Analgesics, such as Dipyrone, Paracetamol, Codeine, Tramadol and Morphine: are important to reduce pain, which needs to be more potent as the pain becomes more intense; Anti-spasmodics, such as Hyoscine, known as Buscopam: helps to reduce spasms in the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract, which happen because the stone can block the flow of urine, and this is an important cause of pain;

Other types of remedies may also be indicated by the doctor, such as antiemetics, such as Bromopride, Metoclopramide or Dramin, for example, to relieve nausea and vomiting.

In addition, after the crisis, the doctor can also indicate the use of drugs to help eliminate the stone more easily and avoid new crises, such as diuretics, potassium citrate or Allopurinol, for example.

2. Drink plenty of fluids

It is recommended that the patient with kidney stones should drink between 2 and 3 liters of fluids per day, distributed in small doses throughout the day. Hydration is essential both during the treatment of the crisis and after, to facilitate the elimination of the stone, as it stimulates the formation of urine and the functioning of the kidneys, in addition to preventing the appearance of new stones in the future.

3. Avoid oxalate-rich foods

In the diet for those with kidney crisis, the consumption of foods rich in oxalates, such as spinach, cocoa, chocolate, beets, peanuts, nuts, shellfish and seafood, soft drinks, coffee and some teas, such as black tea, mate or green.

It is also recommended to avoid excess vitamin C, too much protein, not consuming more than 100g per day, in addition to eliminating salt from the diet. Check out what the diet should be like for those with kidney stones.

4. Home remedies

A great home remedy for kidney crisis is to take a stone-breaking tea, as the tea prevents the aggregation of new crystals, preventing the formation of large stones. But, it should not be taken for more than 20 consecutive days.

During the crisis, a compress can be made with a hot water bag in the painful area, which helps to dilate the urinary channels for the passage of the stone.

Relaxing and resting is essential in this period. It is normal that when the stone comes out, there will be pain in the kidney region, in the back of the back and pain when urinating, and some blood may also be present.

Other tips to relieve kidney crisis

It is important to seek medical help whenever the pain is very severe and debilitating. This may indicate the exit of a very large stone and surgery may be necessary to remove it.

Treatment with good nutrition and hydration should be done for life. It is essential to maintain this care, because those who have suffered from kidney stones have a 40% chance of experiencing a new episode in 5 years.

Check out what to do to not have another kidney stone crisis.