BOGOR A great pain that appears suddenly in the waist or abdomen and spreads to the groin can be a sign of a urinary tract stone. This condition occurs due to hard deposits from minerals and salt formed in the kidneys or along the urinary tract, ranging fromureter, bladder, to uretra.
Urologist from Eka Hospital Cibubur, dr. Diki Arma Duha, explained that the size of the stone formed could vary greatly, ranging from the size of sand grains to the size of a golf ball.
Small rock may come out by itself without causing problems. But larger rocks can clog the urinary tract and cause tremendous pain and serious complications, "said dr. Diki in his statement, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
He said urinary tract rocks were formed due to the high concentration of certain substances in urine. One of the main causes is the lack of water intake, which makes urine more concentrated and triggers crystallization.
Several other risk factors include family history with kidney stones, a high diet of animal protein, excess salt consumption, and high foods for oxalat such as spinach and chocolate.
Certain medical conditions such as hyperparatiroidism, repeated urinary tract infections, obesity, and the use of certain drugs can also increase the risk of stone formation.
The most common symptom of urinary tract stones is sharp and wavy colic pain that is usually felt on the waist or side abdomen, and spreads to the groin or inner thigh.
In addition, sufferers can also experience bloody urine, pain when urinating, frequent urinating, chaotic or odorous urine, nausea, and vomiting.
"In a heavier condition, urine flow can be clogged, triggering fever and chills if accompanied by infection," said dr. Diki.
He explained that the handling of urinary tract stones is adjusted to the size and symptoms experienced by patients. For mild cases with small stones, conservative treatment can be done, such as increasing the intake of 23 liters of liquid per day, administering pain reliever drugs, and taking alpha-blockers to relax theuretary muscles so that the rock can be more easily exited. Patients are also advised to filter urine in order to detect the rock that has come out so that it can be analyzed further.
However, if a large rock is large or causes severe blockages and pain, further medical action is needed. One of the methods commonly used is the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), which is breaking rocks with shock waves from outside the body.
In addition to ESWL, actions such as ureteroscopy (URS) and circumferential nephrolithotomy (PCNL) can also be an option, depending on the size and position of the stone. Open operations are now very rare and only selected in complex cases," he explained.
To prevent recurrence, dr. Diki advised the public to maintain daily intake of fluids, limit the consumption of salt and high-ox foods, avoid excessive sweet drinks, and not carelessly take high-dose vitamin C supplements without the doctor's advice.
"Because urinary tract stone disease can reappear after treatment if the daily diet of consumption of food and drinks is not maintained," he said.
He appealed to the public to immediately check with the doctor if they experience symptoms such as very severe pain, fever and chills, nausea and severe vomiting, difficulty urinating, or urine that comes out mixed with blood in large quantities.
The urinary tract is not just an ordinary pain. If it is not treated, it can cause kidney damage to serious infections. The sooner it is handled, the better the results will be," concluded dr. Diki.
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