5. Burning pain while urinating
As the kidney stones travel through the urinary tract, it becomes very painful with a burning pain that continues until urination is stopped. This pain is not located in the ureters but rather in the urethra, the last portion of the urinary tract. It is a similar pain compared to that felt in urinary tract infections, and it is very difficult to distinguish. However, we should note that in many cases kidney stones make patients more susceptible to urinary infections, which is why most patients will need antibiotic therapy along with medications to dissolve kidney stones.
The cause of such burning pain is that, by passing through the urinary tract, kidney stones injure the inner lining of the urethra, and since the urine is a bit acidic, it irritates the nerve terminals and creates the sensation of burning pain. Additionally, this portion of the urinary tract is closer to the outside, and if the injured area gets infected, inflammation adds up to the stimulation of the nerve terminals and worsens the symptom.
Thus, next time you have a burning sensation while urinating, do not only think about a possible infection of the urinary tract. Kidney stones would also trigger this symptom, and if you solve the former without addressing the latter, you will have recurrent infections. Thus, go to the doctor, get properly checked, and complete every diagnostic test you need to complete in order to get a full assessment and therapeutic plan according to your needs.
