What can you eat with urethral stones?

Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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It is recommended that patients eat more diuretic foods and fruits, such as apples, pears, peaches, oranges, and especially watermelon, which can produce a large amount of urine, flush the urethra, and possibly carry out small stones. Also, it is important to drink plenty of water every day, more than two liters, especially before going to bed—at least 500 milliliters—so that the urine volume is greater the next morning, making it easier to flush out the stones. Furthermore, patients are advised not to eat spicy and irritating foods, not to drink alcohol, especially strong spirits, and not to eat seafood, as urinary stones can easily lead to symptoms of urinary infection, and consuming these spicy and irritating foods can worsen the symptoms of infection.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should I do about the stabbing pain from a urethral stone?

Urethral stones can cause urethral pain, painful urination, and even a feeling of urinary blockage, with severe cases leading to urinary retention. For urethral pain caused by stones, it is first necessary to examine the specific size and location of the stone within the urethra. If it is a small stone in the anterior urethra, it is advised to drink more water and urinate frequently to flush the stone out of the body with the flow of urine. If the stone is large and becomes lodged in the urethra, or even completely blocks the passage, causing urinary retention, it is recommended to undergo surgery as soon as possible. The stone should be crushed and expelled from the body, with a catheter left in place after surgery. The patient can usually be discharged from the hospital within three to five days.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can urethral stones cause back pain?

Urethral calculi refer to stones located within the urethra. The main clinical symptoms include frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination. Severe cases may present with hematuria and urinary retention. Generally, urethral stones do not cause back pain. If back pain occurs, it may be necessary to consider additional factors such as stones in the ureter or kidney, lumbar muscle strain, or herniated lumbar discs. Further examinations such as renal and ureteral color Doppler ultrasound, CT scans, and if necessary, lumbar disc CT scans should be conducted to determine if the back pain is caused by conditions outside of the urinary system. If the pain is due to stones, timely lithotripsy and stone expulsion treatments are required. If the cause is herniated lumbar discs, timely orthopedic treatment is necessary.

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Written by Sun Chun
Urology
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How to check for urethral stones

Urethral stone examinations are primarily divided into the following areas: Firstly, the physical examination provided by the clinical doctor which checks for urethral stones can be categorized into anterior and posterior urethral stones. For anterior urethral stones, one can feel a hard nodule inside the urethra with their hand. Combined with specific symptoms, such as sudden stabbing pain during urination or a sudden inability to urinate, and if there is a history of urinary system stones, then urethral stones might be considered. As for posterior urethral stones, they cannot be felt externally; if they are lodged at the prostate, a doctor might insert a finger into the rectum to touch the area around the prostate. If a hard nodule is felt upon pressing, then a posterior urethral stone might be considered. Secondly, a more accurate clinical exam is the plain film radiography of the urinary system, commonly known as X-rays. Generally, most stones contain calcium, and in such cases, the X-ray can reveal a hard nodule in either the posterior or anterior urethra, which can be diagnosed as urethral stones. Thirdly, the urinary system's CT scans can sometimes detect radiolucent stones, such as uric acid stones. It can also identify conditions like kidney hydronephrosis in the bladder and stones in other parts of the urinary system. If all examinations, including auxiliary checks, suggest the presence of urethral stones, treatment depends on the situation. If the anterior urethral stone is not large, stone retrieval may be performed. Posterior urethral stones are generally treated like bladder stones; after pushing them into the bladder using a cystoscope, the stones are broken down either by lithotripsy or laser.

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Which department should I go to for urethral stones?

For urethral stones, it is generally advisable to visit the urology department of a local hospital. It is best to undergo an abdominal plain film examination to clearly determine the location of the stone, which can also be identified through a urological examination. If it is an anterior urethral stone, which is close to the urethral opening, it can be removed through the urethra using methods such as compression. If it is a posterior urethral stone, it may not be reachable with forceps; in such cases, surgery at the hospital may be necessary. Posterior urethral stones are generally treated as bladder stones. When a cystoscope is inserted, posterior urethral stones are usually pushed into the bladder, where they can be crushed with forceps or fragmented with a laser before removal. If an examination reveals a urinary tract infection, anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment is also necessary, and a catheter may be left in place post-surgery.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is running useful for urethral stones?

If you suffer from urethral stones, running does not have a significant effect. If you have urethral stones, it is recommended to go to the hospital's urology department as soon as possible for a urinary system ultrasound, CT, and other examinations to determine the exact location and size of the stone in the urethra, and then proceed with targeted treatment. If the urethral stone is relatively small, it is advisable to drink more water and urinate frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine to expel the stone from the body. If the stone is relatively large, it is recommended to have surgery as soon as possible. Running or jumping is generally used for stones in the upper or middle segments of the ureter. In this case, increasing physical activity may cause the stones in the ureter to move into the bladder. If you have urethral stones, vigorous exercise does not have a noticeable effect.