Bladder stones are small bits of hard material that form in the bladder.

The bladder is an organ that stores urine made by the kidneys until it is eliminated from the body through the urethra. In contrast to kidney stones, which are formed by the kidneys, bladder stones develop in the bladder itself and are generally larger and harder to pass through the urethra to the outside of the body than kidney stones. Bladder stones can form in the bladder when the bladder is not emptying properly and urine remains for unusually long periods of time in the bladder. This is called urine stasis. Urine stasis occurs commonly in middle-aged and older men due to an enlarged prostate, which obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder through urethra. Urine stasis can also result from neurogenic bladder, a condition in which the bladder doesn't empty due to an injured nervous system. Bladder stones can also result from urinary tract infection. Symptoms of a bladder stone include a frequent urge to urinate (urgency), painful urination, hematuria, (blood in the urine), and dysuria (difficulty urinating). In some cases, bladder stones can cause potentially serious complications. For more information on complications and symptoms, refer to symptoms of bladder stones. Making a diagnosis of a bladder stone begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. Diagnostic testing includes blood tests and performing an urinalysis test, which checks for the presence of blood in the urine and other elements that may point to a bladder stone and/or urinary tract infection. Imaging tests, such as X-ray, ultrasound, or CT, are performed to determine the cause of symptoms and locate any possible bladder stones. In men, an examination of the prostate gland is performed to assess for an enlarged prostate, a common cause of bladder stones. This is called a digital rectal exam performed by the physician or nurse practitioner. A digital rectal exam involves inserting a gloved finger into the rectum to palpate the prostate, feeling for any enlargement or abnormalities that may indicate an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, such as lumps or a hard area. A diagnosis of a bladder stone can be delayed or missed because there may be no symptoms. In addition, some symptoms of a bladder stone are similar to symptoms of other diseases and conditions, such as urinary tract infection. For more information about disease and conditions that can mimic bladder stones, refer to misdiagnosis of bladder stones. In some cases, bladder stones may be prevented by ensuring good hydration and by seeking regular medical care to diagnose and treat an enlarged prostate as soon as possible. Once a bladder stone has developed, treatment may include pain medication, and certain procedures or surgery that remove or crush large stones so that they pass more easily out of the body. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of bladder stones. Urinary stones: Hard mineral masses lodged anywhere in the urinary tract. The urinary tract consists of organs which filter blood to remove liquid waste (urine) which is then excreted from the body i.e. kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra. The stones usually form in the kidneys first and

then travel to other parts of the urinary tract where they may become stuck in smaller tubes e.g. bladder stones, ureteric stones and kidney stones. The condition is often extremely painful

Symptoms of Urinary stones: Introduction

Small bladder stones may produce no symptoms. However, it is not unusual for a bladder stone to be too large and to pass out of the bladder easily. Symptoms of a bladder stone can include a frequent urge to urinate (urgency), painful urination, hematuria, (blood in the urine), and dysuria (difficulty urinating). In addition, a person with a bladder stone may notice an intermittent instead of a continuous stream of urine. There also may be abdominal pain, pain in the penis, and dark-colored urine. In some cases, bladder stones can cause potentially serious complications. These include recurrent urinary tract infection, bladder damage, or kidney damage The first step in treating bladder stones is prevention. Prevention measures include avoiding dehydration, drinking plenty of fluids and urinating as soon as possible when the urge is felt. Medications may be prescribed to prevent the formation of certain types of bladder stones. It is also important to seek regular medical care to diagnose and treat an enlarged prostate as soon as possible to prevent or minimize bladder stones. General treatment of bladder stones also includes pain medications. If a bladder stone does not pass out of the body by itself, a variety of procedures are available to remove it or break it up into small pieces. These include cystoscopy, in which specialized instruments are passed in to the bladder to withdrawal the stone. A similar procedure may be used to remove or crush the bladder stone using a lazar or ultrasonic probe. Another option is a procedure called an extracorporeal lithotripsy. In this procedure the bladder stone is crushed by a machine using shock waves. In some cases, it might be necessary to have surgery to open the bladder and remove the stone.

Treatment List for Urinary stones

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Urinary stones includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Surgical removal Cytoscopy Lithotripsy - ultrasound shock waves Ultrasound shock waves Lithoplaxy

Lithotomy Antibiotics Other medications Treatment of any underlying cause

Urinary stones: Is the Diagnosis Correct?

The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Urinary stones may include:

bladder inflammation bladder infection more diagnoses...

Hidden causes of Urinary stones may be incorrectly diagnosed:

Bladder inflammation Bladder infection Cystitis Chronic cystitis (type of Cystitis) Bladder injury (see Bladder symptoms) more causes...

Urinary stones: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Urinary stones:

Urinary Care & Incontinence Bladder more product offers...

Urinary stones: Research Doctors & Specialists

Urinary & Bladder Specialists (Urology): o Urology (Urinary Specialists)

o

Urological Surgery (Urinary Surgeons)

Kidney Doctors (Nephrologists) -- State Directory

Kidney Health Specialists (Nephrology):

o o o o

Nephrology (Kidney Health) Pediatric Nephrology (Child Kidney Health) Urology (Urinary/Bladder) Kidney Doctors (Nephrologists) -- Local Directory

more specialists...

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Hospital statistics for Urinary stones:

These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Urinary stones:

0.45% (56,987) of hospital episodes were for urolithiasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03) 90% of hospital consultations for urolithiasis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03) 71% of hospital episodes for urolithiasis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03) 29% of hospital episodes for urolithiasis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03) more hospital information...

Discussion of treatments for Urinary stones:

If you have a stone lodged higher in your urinary tract, the doctor may extend the cystoscope through the bladder and up into the ureter. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. When used to view the ureters, the cystoscope is called a ureteroscope. The doctor can then see the stone and remove it with a small basket at the end of a wire inserted through an extra tube in the ureteroscope. The doctor may also use the extra tube in the cystoscope to extend a flexible fiber that carries a laser beam to break the stone into smaller pieces that can then pass out of the body in your urine. (Source: excerpt from Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy: NIDDK)

Alternative diagnoses list for Urinary stones: Related Urinary stones Info
Related Pages
1. Urinary stones: Introduction 2. Alternative Diagnoses List 3. Common Misdiagnoses 4. Misdiagnosis Center 5. Urinary stones: Introduction 6. Symptoms: Urinary stones 7. Treatments
8. Tests

For a diagnosis of Urinary stones, the following list of conditions have been mentioned in sources as possible alternative diagnoses to consider during the diagnostic process for Urinary stones:

Bladder inflammation Bladder infection

ymptoms of Urinary stones

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Urinary stones includes the 14 symptoms listed below:

Bladder inflammation Urination pain Blood in urine Cloudy urine Urinary blockage Renal colic Frequent urination Reduced urine

Loss of urine Abdominal pain Abdominal discomfort Fever Chronic urine retention Hydronephrosis more information...

Research symptoms & diagnosis of Urinary stones:

Overview -- Urinary stones Diagnostic Tests for Urinary stones Home Diagnostic Testing Complications -- Urinary stones Doctors & Specialists Misdiagnosis and Alternative Diagnoses Hidden Causes of Urinary stones Other Causes -- causes of these or similar symptoms

Urinary stones: Symptom Checkers

Review the available symptom checkers for these symptoms of Urinary stones:

Bladder inflammation -- Symptom Checker Urination pain -- Symptom Checker Blood in urine -- Symptom Checker Cloudy urine -- Symptom Checker Frequent urination -- Symptom Checker Abdominal pain -- Symptom Checker Abdominal discomfort -- Symptom Checker Fever -- Symptom Checker

Complications list for Urinary stones:

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Urinary stones includes:

Bladder infections Urinary blockage (see Lack of urine) Urine retention Acute urine retention Chronic urine retention (type of Urine retention) Hydronephrosis

About complications:
Complications of Urinary stones are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by Urinary stones. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Urinary stones and complications of Urinary stones is unclear or arbitrary.