A man recently shared a photo of a kidney stone that had been trapped inside his body for two months. In a viral Reddit thread that received over 40,000 upvotes, user Psytoxic displayed the stone next to a banana sweet for measuring purposes, with the words saying: "After two months of sporadic pain, I passed my kidney stone."
Nephrolithiasis or commonly referred to as kidney stones are quite common; some types of the ailment run in families. They are frequently seen in premature newborns. Kidney stones are classified into several categories.
The kind of kidney stone determines the culprit of the problem. Stones can form when urine contains an excessive amount of crystal-forming chemicals. These crystals can form into stones over several weeks or months, according to Penn Medicine.
An estimated 11% of men and 6% of women in the United States have had a kidney stone at some point in their lives. According to the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), kidney stones form when there are excessive amounts of specific minerals in the urine.
How Kidney Stones Form
Renal Calculi or kidney stones are tiny groups of crystals that can form in the kidneys, causing great pain and being highly detrimental to them, the ureter (the tube linking the kidneys to the bladder), and the urethra.
Kidney stone complications can include ureteral blockage (acute unilateral obstructive uropathy). Stones can develop when there is an excessive amount of certain crystal-forming chemicals.
Urinary stones occur when certain minerals, such as calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus, accumulate in the kidneys rather than being flushed out or disintegrated in urine. This is frequently related to a lack of water consumption, but the risks of acquiring a kidney stone may also be influenced by other medical problems or medication.
NIDDK added to their statement that people with intestinal inflammation, gout, and obesity are especially vulnerable as are those taking diuretics, calcium-containing antacids, and the HIV therapy indinavir.
Bigger Stone May Cause Worse Pain
"I haven't measured it yet since I passed it," Psytoxic informed Newsweek in a report, "but on the scan, they stated it was roughly 5mm [0.2 inches]." He also added, "From what I've read on my post, it appears to be around typical in size."
The Guinness World Records documented the heaviest kidney stone that was successfully removed and weighed 620 grams (almost 22 ounces), or four billiard balls, on June 24, 2008 in Pakistan.
Most patients with severe discomfort from kidney stones require hospitalization. Fluids may need to be administered through an IV into the vein. For some types of stones, healthcare providers may prescribe medication to help break down and remove the material that is creating the stone, based on a Penn Medicine report.
Surgery is frequently required if the stone is growing too large to pass on its own, developing, restricting urine flow, causing infection or kidney damage, and causing uncontrollable discomfort, the report added.
Preventive measures against kidney stones suggest drinking plenty of fluids, roughly 6 to 8 ounces of water per day, watching the food intake, or consulting a physician in case of urinating pain for urine tests.
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