What pain meds are effective for chronic kidney stones?

[CurlyQ26]

I am a 26 year old female and I have been dealing with kidney stones for the past 9 years.  I pass atleast 2 stones every month.  Recently, I had SEVERE pain in my left flank  and went to the ER.  Had a CT scan done and it showed I had several stones in both kidneys.  I was given morphine at the hospital and vicodin to take home.  I saw a urologist and he told me that yes, there were several stones in my left kidney but they shouldn't be causing me that much pain because they were still in the kidney.  Why do doctors tell you that what you have isn't painful when you KNOW and FEEL that the pain is REAL?  I felt like someone was stabbing me witha butcher knife over and over again.  It was paralizing pain.  I couldn't walk, eat, play with my son...nothing.  I was in hell and the urologist wouldn't give me anything for pain or nausea because he didn't think my pain was "kidney related" so my brilliant urologist referred my back to my Family doc. He actually listened to me and prescribed several different medications.  I actually felt as though he cared about me.  My kidneys make stones at an incredible rate.  I pretty much always have at least one stone in each kidney and I dont care what any doctor says about "stones don't hurt while in the kidney" because I know different.  I'm tired of being made to believe that I'm crazy or imagining my pain.  Who would imagine pain?  You can't just make yourself double over in agonizing pain.  Its quite depressing to know that I will have chronic kidney stone pain for the rest of my life.   The pain is unimaginable and I'm not sure I can take it all the time.  Vicodin doesn't help at all.  Morphine is the only thing that comes close but it doesn't even completely kill the pain.  It just makes it less shocking.  What are meds I can take almosts daily that can control this?  I'm feeling depressed, anxious and completely exhaused every day.  I'm in need to relief and I'm not sure how much longer I can take this.

[HuskerAJ]

I have the same problem. I'm sorry for your pain, I certainly understand. I also have chronic kidney stones, and have since my teens, I am now 47. I have at least 1-2 a month. I also had the same experience with my urologist, he basically threw up his hands, and wouldn't give me anything for pain either, referred me back to my doctor, who also listened and was very understanding. He prescribed hydrocodone & gabapentin for pain. The gabapentin I take daily, hydrocodone as needed, which is quite often. I have changed to a new urologist whom I see later this month. I'd ask your doctor about taking gabapentin. That along with the hydrocodone really helps me. Some episodes are worse of course, where nothing helps. Good luck, I hope you find the right combination for your pain!

[Tuckamore]

Sorry, this thread is very old. Curly hasn't been active on MedHelp for many years. Ppl find this in a search and bring it up from our archives.

I agree with you and your Doc. At times I think I can feel the "gravel" in my kidneys - gravel is the term they have used when multiple small stones appear on my CTs. I know I can feel the Big Ones!!

I wish the Lidoderm Patch worked for me - it doesn't. I'm delighted it works for you. It's certainly worth a try for others.

Thanks for your input.

~Tuck

[alansara]

I have chronic stones and the only thing that helps me cause I have them so often is actually a non narcotic Lidoderm  Patch that helps numb the area so that the pain is not so bad. you can use up to 3 patch every 12 hours for the days that the pain starts and seems to help me a lot. My stone are the tiny fisher stones so they always pass on there own but I know that they do hurt when they are in my kidney cause mine are like little pieces of glass. Funny thing is even though most Dr's say you can't feel them my PCP believes you can cause he has had a lot himself and swears the info is wrong cause his was still in his kidney and he felt it. Most Dr have no problem writing for the patches and it won't hurt to try them.

[Tuckamore]

Sadly I don't think any of the posters are still active on MedHelp. This is an old thread - old threads don't often get noticed or responses.

I encourage you to begin a new one and share your information. You may also want to post in our Urology Community. All communities can be found by the pull down menu on top of the page.

I look forward to reading your comments - on a new thread.

Thanks,
~Tuck

[ChrisKO72]

Hello everyone, if your stones are calcium, and you haven't checked already, I urge you to have your Doctor check your Parathyroid Hormone levels, and your blood calcium levels. Your parathyroid controls the levels of calcium in your blood, and since your kidneys filter blood, having a high level of calcium is going to increase your risk for stones, especially recurring, and could even lead to renal failure. Tumors on the Parathyroid gland are not all that uncommon, and cause your parathyroid to release more of the hormone that causes your body to have higher calcium levels (usually by sucking it right out of your bones). Anyway, I am not a doctor, but the issue runs in my family and I know the pain of stones. It's an easy fix, and when your calcium levels get back to normal you won't believe the difference it makes.

[Stillfrozen]

Try looking at "low oxalate.info" web site. If your stones are calcium oxalate there is help which mainly involves changing what you eat. The changes are nothing radical ( well, depending on what you eat now!). The basis is that you cut down on high oxalate containing foods, limit the vit c intake and change the timing of calcium intake.