Pain after Ureter Stent removal

[jzimlin]

I had a stent for 1 week after my 1st stone was removed. Since the removal of the stent, I have had waves of severe back pain similar to the initial pain I had when I discovered the stone. I heard the ureter can spasm as it heals and this blocks the urine flow in the kidney causing the pain. How long should this last? What is the best way of managing the pain?

[sjames42]

My stent was inserted Oct 17 2014, I just got it removed yesterday afternoon. I dreaded for 5 months of the day it was going to come out, It was in to correct a narrowing in my right ureter. It was a long and discomforting 5 months. This is what I did, and the only discomfort was the scope passing through the flap that closes to the bladder. A few seconds of burning. An hour before I took a 5mg Valium, a 5/325 Hydrocodone, and just in case of any nausea a 4mg Zofran(which really wasn't needed). In the office I made them wait 20 min after the lidacaine was injected. They came in inserted the scope, after passing through the flap or sphincter I felt nothing while he was trying to grab the stent in my bladder. He then told me he was going to pull, it came out I felt a little pressure like I had to pee. That was it, I worried for nothing. It was the Valium that kept my body calm and relaxed, the hydro I had kick in an hour before was already numbing pain receptors, and the Zofran, I'm not sure? So the key is take meds before you go especially the Valium. My urologist actually prescribed me the one little 5m Valium, and the hydro, and Zofran I had left over from when I had the stent inserted. You will read or hear the horror stories on here or other sites, most of the time these people are not medicated beforehand, very nervous and unrelaxed, of course its going to be painful if you are going that route. It is now 9am and I haven't had the terrible after pain or spasms people talk about after their stents have been removed. No pain med, no more heating pad. All I have had is a little burning when urinating, and the rest of that gel stuff had passed as well, with some blood. Anyway if at all possible, medicate yourself before you go, it will pay off during what seems to be a terrifying procedure. Being relaxed will only make this procedure more comfortable.

[bunnylebowski]

I just had my second stent removed, first one not knocked out for. I was petrified, losing sleep and visibly shaking this morning in the office. I don't handle pain well and this whole experience has been crazy (large stones in both kidneys, 3 surgeries total and 2 stents).

I took a pain pill and 2 Aleve an hour or so before my appt. In the room I was literally crying, tears streaming down my face in fear.

They first applied the lidocaine and after a few minutes my doctor came in and started by inserting the scope into place. He told me the reason it can be painful is bc your reflexes tense up and cause the bladder to spasm so he gave me specific directions for how to breathe when. It only burned a teeny amount as I took my 5 second breath in. After that I got to watch on the screen as they use these little clamps to grab the end of the stent (0 sensation during this part). And then more breathing while he slowly pulled it out on a long breath in. There was burning for the first few seconds and then after that nothing for the last 2/3 of the pulling the rest of the way out. I was elated when I saw that thing was out of my body. :)

So that's my story. My best advice is have a great experienced doctor if possible, try not to worry if you can but if you can't you can't, take a pain pill + Aleve if you can get a ride to and from the appt, and really focus on your breathing and take nice deep slow yogic breathing style breaths when they tell you to. It will be over before you know it!

So far I have had no cramping pain and its been about 2 hours since I left the doctor. I took 1 more pain pill in the car on the way home just in case but so far so good. I believe the Aleve might have stopped the residual spasms from happening.

Good luck everyone! And it really isn't as bad as all the Google stories make it out to be.

[PUJ_in_Aus]

I had my stent in for about 2 months. I read these comments and went back into hospital with confidence. Then the moment of justice came. I doubt my surgeon used any kind of numbing gel at all because it hurt like getting a tooth removed when he put that monster camera in my tiny hole. I screamed out until he took the evil tool out.

One of the nurses was patting my hair and shoulder and telling me it was all ok. No one in the room has had a stent before. :/ But it was all over quickly. The Dr offered me a view of the screen while he was in my body but I think I would have cried if I looked.

They say it's worse for men, because there's a longer track to go through, but I think on the pain scale we are all equal. I took about 60g of codein half an hour before I was due to go in. I recommending getting high on stronger (recreational) drugs before going in. I regret being sober as I was for that. I had zero kidney pain afterwards. I had PUJ. Maybe different for people with stones.

3 months after I have to go get x-rays to make sure stuff is right or whatever. So people, don't get scared, get high. Peace.

[Stephaneblanch]

I am 18 years old and last week i had 9 stones removed from my right kidney and 3 removed from my left and had two stents put in.. Been experiencing excruciating waves of pain mainly in the morning from urial spasms and bladder spasms. Ive been on some really good Pain meds but as soon as they wear off i can feel a difference and pain follows shortly after. The stents don't hurt as much as the initial stones did but its been about a week of just uncomfortable abdominal pain from the stents and all i want is them out. Stents cause me to pass blood and when i don't have the smooth muscle relaxants in me i feel like my kidney is going to explode when i pee.. (Mainly in morning because i havent taken meds yet) having two stents in is the worst i cant even move. Im just glad my doctor is putting me under when i get these taken out and im ready for the pain i know ill feel afterwords. I just want them out.. **** stents

[axman66]

I cannot give you any good news. When we removed my stent I felt fine for about an hour. Then like so many others here, I started to have some pain in my kidney that ramped up VERY quickly reaching a level equal to that which first lead me to the ER with the stone! And the removal itself?? I will NEVER have another removed while I am awake. Horrible experience and the only time in my 46 years I will say I had pain to a level of 10. The medical staff either lied to me or my experience was not typical. Its been about 14 hours since removal and I'm still very uncomfortable. My advice? Don't do it yourself and don't subject a loved one to causing you that much pain. Not fair to them. If possible, be knocked out first and have pain meds at hand!

[Shae035]

Hi,

I know you updated this site with your concerns in 2009 I am however going through the same pain for a year and a half now ... Did you find any cure in the past years ?