How to alleviate urethral stone pain?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Urethral calculi refer to the condition where stones get stuck in the urethra causing pain symptoms, and in severe cases, completely block the urethra leading to urinary retention. For this condition, common pain medications are ineffective, and it is necessary to promptly visit the hospital's urology department for a surgical procedure to remove the stones, restore the smooth flow of urination, and minimize damage to the urethra by the stones. Typically, a ureteroscope or cystoscope can be used for holmium laser lithotripsy, or the stones can first be pushed back into the bladder and then fragmented inside the bladder, flushing the crushed stones out of the body. Only after the stones are expelled, the pain symptoms can be fundamentally relieved.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What is the best treatment for urethral stones?

For the treatment of urethral stones, we first need to use ultrasonography or CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the stones within the urethra for treatment. If the stone is relatively small, such as about five millimeters, this condition can be treated by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine to expel the stone from the body promptly. If the stone is larger, and has caused obstruction in the urethra, it is necessary to see the specific location of the stone. If it is causing obstruction in the posterior urethra, a cystoscope can be used to push the stone back into the bladder before performing lithotripsy. If the obstruction is in the anterior urethra, a small amount of liquid paraffin oil can be injected into the urethra to squeeze the stone out, or treatment can be conducted through holmium laser lithotripsy or open surgical stone removal.

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Written by Sun Chun
Urology
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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 Jian
Urology
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What to eat for urethral stones?

The treatment of urethral stones depends on the size of the stone. If the stone is very small, it can be expelled from the body through increased physical activity and water consumption; generally, stones less than 0.4cm can be expelled. Larger stones may become lodged in the urethra, causing difficulty urinating or even urine retention. A urethral probe can be used to push the stone into the bladder, where it can then be broken up using surgery or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and subsequently expelled from the body. If the urethral stone is very close to the urinary opening, it can also be directly removed with hemostatic forceps. Therefore, the dietary considerations for someone with a urethral stone depend primarily on the size and position of the stone, with most requiring repositioning into the bladder or surgery.

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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 Jian
Urology
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What should I do if I have hematuria due to urethral stones?

For urethral stones, if hematuria occurs, the size of the urethral stones should be first considered. Generally, urethral stones are caused by kidney stones or ureter stones that move to and become lodged in the urethra, with the main symptoms being blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and even urinary retention. If the urethral stone is relatively small, exercising more and drinking more water usually can help in expelling the stones out of the body; this generally applies to stones smaller than four millimeters. If the stone is larger and cannot be expelled, it is recommended to undergo cystoscopy to push the stone back into the bladder to be broken up and removed, or to directly remove the stone through the urethra. Additionally, if the stone is very close to the external opening of the urethra, it can also be removed using hemostatic forceps to clamp out the urethral stone.