What should I do about urethral stone pain?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on October 30, 2024
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Urethral stones can easily irritate the urethral mucosa, causing urethral pain which intensifies during urination. Some patients may also experience significant urinary obstruction and urinary retention. In such cases, it is crucial to visit the hospital's urology department promptly for examinations such as ultrasonography and CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the stone for appropriate treatment. If the pain is severe, pain relief medication can be used initially before addressing the stone. If the stone is relatively small, drinking plenty of water and frequent urination can help expel the stone from the body. If the stone is large, timely surgical intervention is necessary to break and remove the stone. Only by removing the stone can the root cause of the pain be fundamentally resolved.

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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.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How to alleviate urethral stone pain?

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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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 Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can urethral stones be broken up?

Urethral stones can be treated with lithotripsy, but it is necessary to understand the specific location and size of the stones. If the urethral stones are relatively small, there is no need for lithotripsy. By drinking more water and urinating frequently, most patients can expel the stones out of the body through the flushing action of urine. Lithotripsy is only considered when the stones are relatively large and become lodged in the urethra, causing urinary retention and other issues. The common methods used include the use of urethroscopes and cystoscopes, and the stones are crushed under a holmium laser. This procedure requires anesthesia and is considered minimally invasive surgery with relatively small trauma and quick recovery. Generally, patients can be discharged from the hospital three to five days after surgery.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Do urethral stones require hospitalization?

After suffering from urethral stones, whether hospitalization is necessary depends first on examinations such as color Doppler ultrasound and CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the stones within the urethra. If the stones are relatively small, such as about five millimeters, hospitalization is not necessary. By drinking more water and urinating frequently, the flushing action of the urine can expel the stones from the body. However, if the stones are larger and become lodged in the urethra, causing significant hematuria or even urinary retention, it is advisable to hospitalize immediately and proceed with surgery. Using a ureteroscope with holmium laser lithotripsy, the stones can be shattered and expelled from the body.