Undergoing a kidney stent placement becomes a necessity till the time the renal blockage is healed in a patient. While the stent helps in reliving the obstruction and aiding in urine flow it can also cause painful symptoms in the users. Though the degree of pain experienced by people can vary from a mild one to excruciatingly agonizing episodes based on their individual conditions, there are some basic steps that all of us using a kidney stent can take to help ease the pain and keep it to a minimum.
Relieving Kidney Stent Pain
Easing Stress – Decreasing the level and intensity of physical activity can really help in minimizing stent related pain. Most patients experience pain when they are doing a lot of strenuous manual activity like playing sports or lifting heavy objects. It is therefore advisable to completely avoid any extreme and laborious activity till the stent is removed. In case you experience pain when you are moving around, taking a break and lying or sitting down for a while will help in relieving pain symptoms considerably.
Heat Therapy – Most people who use a kidney stent have ascertained that taking a warm bath, using a hot water bottle or massaging the lower abdominal area with thermal oils helps in easing stent related pain.
Pyridium Pills – Pyridium is a dye which is similar to indigo and has a numbing and cathartic effect when introduced into the urinary tract in the form of a pill. You can ask your doctor for the proper dosage of pyridium tablets suitable for your pain which is especially effective in relieving the burning sensation during urination.
Anti Incontinence Pill – Experiencing urinary incontinence as well as frequent urination is one of the common symptoms of using a kidney stent. Both of these side effects can result in the occurrence of more pain to the patient. For this reason, anti incontinence pills like Detrol LA are helpful in decreasing bladder spasms as well as alleviating painful symptoms especially in women.
Painkillers – If your pain becomes so unbearable that it starts interfering with your normal activities and sleep patterns you must consult your doctor immediately and get some painkillers for immediate relief. While using painkillers remember that they can play havoc with your immune system in excessive dosage, therefore ensure that you never surpass your daily prescribed limit.
Extra Precautions – When a kidney stent is placed into the body of a patient, it is placed in the ureter so that it allows urine to drain from the kidney into the urinary bladder. In order to aid proper repositioning in case of stent dislodging as well as aid smooth stent removal the lower end of the stent is suspended by a thread which can be a cause of pain to some users and especially amongst women when tugged accidentally. It is therefore important to take due precautions and be extra careful not to pull at the thread which can result in shifting it as well as causing intense pain and discomfort.
Whether you have just undergone a ureteral stent placement or have been using one for quite some time now, following the above guidelines will surely help you to ease as well as mitigate pain symptoms resulting from the use of a kidney stent.