What causes renal colic and how much does it hurt?
Renal colic usually occurs when the kidney becomes obstructed by a stone located in the ureter. The kidney becomes obstructed and retains urine, causing the urinary tract to dilate and producing very intense lower back pain.
It could be said that renal colic is one of the most intense and acute pains one can experience, in many cases being equal to or even greater than the pain of childbirth, which is why people who suffer from it may even faint. *3
The most common pain is abdominal and lumbar, colicky in nature and radiating to the groin or genitals, and does not improve with rest. It is characterized by producing great peaks of pain and is generally accompanied by sweating, nausea, and vomiting. *2-4
One way to assess pain in a patient is to use a pain scale. This resource allows to know the intensity of the pain, dividing it into four categories (none, mild, moderate, severe) according to the patient's score (0-10).
According to medical studies, more than 60% of patients suffering from renal colic rate their pain with a score of 7-10, classifying it as very severe pain, and therefore it is considered one of the most intense pains known to humans. *4
Why is it important to prevent it and how can I do it?
There is more than a 50% chance of suffering another episode in the years following the first episode of renal colic, which is why it is important to try to prevent its recurrence.
Remember that the main basis for preventing it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, consuming a diet appropriate to your type of kidney stone, drinking a minimum of 2-3L of water daily, and maintaining your urinary pH within the desired range with the help of indicated food supplements.
1-https://www.infosalus.com/asistencia/noticia-colico-nefritico-doloroso-parto-20141215095105.html
2-https://www.fundacio-puigvert.es/es/node/772
3-https://www.onsalus.com/cuanto-dura-un-colico-nefritico-18723.html
4-Hermida Pérez, José A., Pérez Palmes, M ª de La Paz, Loro Ferrer, Juan Francisco, Ochoa Urdangarain, Otto, & Buduen Nuñez, Abdel. (2010). Cólico nefrítico en el servicio de urgencias: Estudio epidemiológico, diagnóstico y etiopatogénico. Archivos Españoles de Urología (Ed. impresa), 63(3), 173-187. Recuperado en 25 de abril de 2019, de http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-06142010000300003&lng=es&tlng=es.
