An attack of renal colic represents one of the most unfortunate clinical experiences because of the intense pain caused by kidney stones that may be present from the kidney to the already low urinary duct.
Kidney stones are solid structures of varying size that can form in the kidneys, ureters or bladder and can obstruct urine outflow and/or promote the development of inflammation and infection in these organs.
Generally, the pain begins localizing to the flank and soon spreads to the abdomen and up to the groin. It is a pain that causes much suffering to the person in the affected, with constant intensity that is accompanied by phases with sharp pain and twitching.
The stone, responsible for the colic, will have to seek its way out by transiting through the urinary duct to the bladder, causing reactions such as nausea vomiting.
Typically, an attack can wear off in a few hours, assuming there has been therapeutic intervention by the physician either in an outpatient clinic, or in an ER post, with antispasmodic and pain-relieving drugs and sometimes anti-infectives. However, in some cases it can take days for all symptoms to disappear.
Calm and well-being return if the stone begins to dissolve or is excreted in the urine.