Renal colic is a characteristic pain which radiates from loin to groin. It is one of the main symptoms associated with renal disease such as kidney stone, pyelonephritis or renal papillary necrosis. Kidney stones are like tiny crystals which develop when a particular chemical gets concentrated in urine. Often when kidney stone moves and travels down the urinary tract it causes severe pain which we call as renal colic.
Renal colic due to kidney stone develops suddenly with excruciating pain in back, side and radiates to the groin. Urine is dark colored, there may be blood in urine, fever, chill, vomiting are other complimentary symptoms.
What Are The Causes Of Renal Colic?
Almost more than half the cases of renal colic are due to kidney stones. There can be multiple kidney stone or a single stone. Stones may develop in both the kidneys or in any one of them. When the stone blocks urine flow from the kidney, it can lead to kidney swelling. This gives rise to pain in kidney which is also called renal colic.
There are number of risk factors for development of kidney stones. Person who is not drinking enough water, having family history of kidney stones, adrenal disease, high calcium level are some to the triggering factors for development of kidney stones.
Pyelonephritis is one more disorder which gives rise to renal colic. Presence of pus in kidney is called pyelonephritis. One of the reasons for pus in kidney is kidney stone. Renal pain in pyelonephritis is dull and constant.
Renal papillary necrosis is acute obstruction caused due to sloughing of papilla. Women are more affected than men. It can occur in tuberculosis of kidney, diabetes, urinary tract obstruction as in renal stone, cirrhosis of liver.
Symptoms Of Renal Colic
One of the common symptoms of renal colic is severe pain in the back. This pain is felt in the renal angle. When the stone is static, pain is generally not felt. But as stone moves down the tract, pain radiates in lower abdomen and in pelvis. It is persistent and constant. Together with pain, urine appears dark. There may be blood in urine and its color may appear red. Patient may sometimes complain of nausea and vomiting.
Person suffering from pyelonephritis and having renal colic may appear sick. His body temperature is high and may also have rigors. He may complain of burning urination and pus may be seen in urine. Nausea and vomiting are other common complaints present with renal colic.
Generally the pain is dull and achy in pyelonephritis as compared to sharp and shooting pain of renal stone. Pyelonephritis can be life threatening sometime and it needs urgent attention.
Natural Remedies For Renal Colic
- Most of the time pain in renal colic is reduced with analgesic drugs. Applying hot water bag to the affected area also gives relief in renal pain.
- To reduce renal colic here is an important home remedy that can be tried: Beat yellow yolk of two eggs. Add a pinch of salt and apply the mixture on the painful area. It is found to be an effective home remedy to relieve renal pain.
- Tomato juice is also a good home remedy when you are suffering from renal colic. Cumin seeds are also beneficial for renal colic.
- Drinking Cranberry juice twice in a day not only helps to dissolve the stone but also helps to reduce burning pain in urine. Person has to increase his fluid intake if he is suffering from kidney stone.
- Reduce the intake of milk and dairy products as they contain calcium if you are having renal stone.