Bladder Stones: Symptoms And Potential Causes

Bladder stones are small mineral deposits that form within the bladder, and can cause problems with time. The most common cause for bladder stones are dehydration, or when the urine becomes very concentrated. When one is dehydrated, minerals such as calcium or magnesium salts can crystallize and form stones.

In some cases, they may not cause any symptoms at all, and may just be discovered on a radiograph. When symptoms do occur, they include severe abdominal and back pain, difficult and painful urination, frequent urination at night fever, blood in the urine etc. Most commonly, pain that comes in waves is observed, sometimes accompanied with nausea, vomiting and chills.   

Bladder stones differ in terms of their size, shape and texture. Stones may be small, hard and smooth or huge, spiked and soft, and can also vary in terms of number. Men with prostrate enlargement are susceptible to them as the large prostate presses on the urethra, making it difficult to pass urine. Over time, stagnant urine can collect in the bladder where minerals such as calcium begin to precipitate. Those with spinal cord injury, paralysis, or some sort of nerve damage also may face a risk of developing a bladder stone. When there is damage to the nerves of the back, the bladder cannot empty, leading to stagnant urine and eventually to bladder stones.

If you feel any such pain, it is advised that you refer to a urologist in Hyderabad or in a nearby city so that your problem can be diagnosed as soon as possible. The diagnosis of bladder stones usually includes urinalysis, ultrasonography, x-rays or cystoscopy- where a small thin camera is inserted into the urethra and the bladder is viewed. An intravenous pyelogram can also assess the presence of kidney stones, by injecting a radiocontrast agent passed into the urinary system. X-ray images are obtained every few minutes to find out whether there is any obstruction to the contrast as it is sent into the bladder. CT scans are a preferred alternative as they are more sensitive and can identify very small stones that may not be seen properly on other tests.

Urology treatment in India has thus advanced and is making use of better technology for more accurate diagnosis and more efficient treatment of urology related disorders. While increasing fluid intake is the primary management strategy, fragmentation of the stones by a cystoscope may be required. In cases where the stones are too large to be passes naturally, a cystolithotomy or a surgical procedure to remove the bladder stone or stones may be required.