Bladder stones: causes, symptoms and treatment

Definition

What are bladder stones?

Bladder stones or vesicolithiasis is a hard mineral that forms in the bladder. Stone formation occurs when you don't urinate completely, so the minerals in your urine clump together and form crystals.

This condition, which is one of the bladder diseases, can occur in people who do not urinate regularly or do not urinate completely. This disease is most common in men over 50 years, and is less common in women.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms?

This type of bladder disease may not cause symptoms if it is small enough to pass when urinating. As the stone gets bigger, signs that may appear include:

Pain in the lower abdomen that sometimes feels very intense. Men can also feel pain in the penis.
Difficulty or feeling pain when urinating (anyang-anyangan).
More frequent urination, especially at night.
Dark urine.
There is blood in the urine (hematuria).

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a certain symptom, consult your doctor for a solution.

When do you need to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if you experience the symptoms above, especially if you experience prolonged stomach pain, frequent urination, or blood in the urine.

Cause

What causes bladder stones?

If you urinate frequently incompletely, the urine will remain in the bladder and become concentrated. This means that the minerals in the urine are so high that they can crystallize and form mineral stones.

There are many conditions that can interfere with the bladder's function of storing and emptying urine. The most common conditions include:

Enlarged prostate gland. In men, BPH (enlarged prostate) can block urine flow and trapped it in the bladder.
Neurogenic bladder. This disease irritates the nerves between the brain and bladder muscles so that the bladder cannot function properly.
Inflammation. If your bladder is inflamed, mineral crystals can gradually build up in it.
Medical tools. Urine catheters, contraceptives, and other medical devices can trigger a build-up of urine minerals and form bladder stones.
Kidney stones. Small kidney stones can descend into the bladder through the ureter and become bladder stones if not removed.
Cystocele. In women, the bladder wall can weaken and descend into the vagina. This condition will block the flow of urine and form mineral stones.

Risk factors

Who is at risk of having this disease?

There are many factors that increase a person's risk of developing this disease, namely:

Age and gender. This disease is more experienced by men than women. The risk of disease also increases with age.
Nerve damage. People who have had severe spinal cord injuries, diabetes, or pelvic floor paralysis have difficulty urinating completely.
Obstruction of urine flow. The most common causes are prostate disease, urinary tract infections, and bladder dysfunction.
Bladder expansion surgery. This surgery can treat urinary incontinence, but there is a risk of bladder stones forming afterwards.

Diagnosis

How are bladder stones diagnosed?

This disease can be diagnosed through several different tests, namely:

Physical examination. The doctor will perform an examination of the lower abdomen or rectum to see if your bladder is enlarged.
Urinalysis. The doctor tests a urine sample for any blood, bacteria, or minerals that are formed.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan and X-ray. This examination aims to see a picture of the organs in the body and whether there are stones in them.
Ultrasound (USG). This examination also aims to see the condition of the internal organs, but with the help of sound waves.
Intravenous pyelogram. the doctor will inject a special fluid into the veins to the kidneys and bladder to see the condition.

Medicine and Medicine

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is this disease treated?

Drinking lots of water can help treat stones naturally. However, considering the stones are formed because the urine does not come out completely, sometimes drinking water is not enough to solve it.

Stones that are not carried with urine can be removed in the following ways:

1. Transurethral cystolitholapaxy

This method aims to destroy bladder stones. The doctor will sedate you, then insert a long, small tube down the urethra until it reaches the bladder. This tube is equipped with a camera to detect the presence of stones.

After the stone is found, this tube will emit sound waves or lasers to crush the rock into small pieces. The stone flakes will later leave the body with urine.

2. Percutaneous suprapubic cystolitholapaxy

This method is usually used in children to reduce the risk of urinary tract damage. Doctors sometimes use this method to remove large bladder stones.

Instead of inserting a tube, the doctor will make small incisions in the lower abdomen and bladder. After that, then the stone can be removed. The patient will be sedated during this procedure.

3. Open operation

Open surgery aims to remove bladder stones in men with an enlarged prostate. This method is also used if the stone is so large that it cannot be crushed or removed with a small incision.

The procedure is similar to percutaneous suprapubic cystolitholapaxy. The difference is, the incisions are made bigger. This method is effective for treating severe bladder stones, but there is also a greater risk of side effects.

Prevention

How can you prevent bladder stones?

There are several steps you can take to prevent bladder stones from forming, including:

Drink lots of water.
If you have bladder disease and can't urinate completely, try to do it again 10-20 seconds after your first pee.
Not holding back urination. If you are able to urinate completely, always get used to this.
Do not ignore any urinary tract diseases you may have. Consult a doctor if necessary.

This disease begins with urine trapped in the bladder. If left untreated, the stones that form can trigger or aggravate existing bladder disease. Therefore, don't ignore the symptoms and make sure you take steps to prevent them.