Renal Colic is essentially a symptom of urinary stones, kidney stones or urolithiasis. As explained by Dr. Alberto Saita, urologist at the Urology Unit at Humanitas. Patients often cite a very strong pain commonly referred to as unbearable.
The pain originates in the lumbar region of the back and can reach the scrotum in men or labia in women. The pain is typically so intense that patients struggle to bear it and call it “unforgettable”.
What to do in case of renal colic?
If you suddenly find yourself with this characteristic pain, especially if it is the first time, you should go to the emergency room or consult your family physician.
It is indeed essential to make the correct diagnosis. The physician will then distinguish renal colic from other diseases with a similar pain. Renal colic can be mistaken for lower back pain, herniated disc, appendicitis or in the case of women, torsion of the ovarian tube.
For diagnosis, the specialist makes general use of diagnostic imaging. Patients are initially subjected to an ultrasound; if considered appropriate, the doctor may also recommend performing a CT scan or other investigation. These tests could detect the presence of a calcification and therefore confirm the colic as a symptom of urolithiasis.
In the case of a relapse, patients are often able to recognize renal colic pain. Patients can then proceed with analgesic therapy, which allows them to relieve pain.
