Nephritic colic is considered the maximum pain that can be experienced, exceeding childbirth, reaching the point that it is not at all strange that there are people who reach the point of fainting. Acute and intermittent, renal colic is caused by an obstruction of the passage of urine – usually caused by a stone – in the kidney or at some point in the urinary tract.
This pain usually begins in the lower back or side, but can radiate down the back or even genitals. Although it is not the majority, this condition is quite well known, since it affects up to 10% of the population, being more common in men. Given the tremendous pain it causes, those who suffer from it only think about reaching the end of the process, but that is the same thing, if you wonder how long a renal colic lasts in the following FastlyHealarticle we will explain it to you.
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Causes of renal colic
Although it is usually due to the formation of a kidney stone, there are other causes that can lead to renal colic. We will explain them all below:
- Obstructive uropathy : this is the obstruction of the urinary tract due to the formation of a stone or a lithiasis, the most frequent cause of renal colic, meaning 90% of total cases. This ailment is due to the fact that when filtering through the kidney, different substances present in the blood are stored, precipitating and forming stones as time passes.
- Non-lithiasic obstructions : despite being also obstructions, the difference with the previous one is that in this case it is not due to a stone or calculus but is due to a tumor or retroperitoneal pathology. These cases are few, ranging between 5 and 10% of the total.
- Acute pyelonephritis : due to an infection, the ureter loses its tone, so urine cannot pass properly and causes renal colic.
- Kidney trauma : after trauma to the kidney area, clots can occur in the kidneys leading to kidney colic.
- Drugs : By interfering with the metabolism of some substances, certain drugs can -for HIV, chemotherapy or some diuretics- favor the formation and development of kidney stones.
How long does kidney colic last?
Nephritic colic -and the patient with it- goes through different phases, which can be grouped together due to the different symptoms and sensations it causes:
The acute stages of renal colic
- First phase : the pain appears suddenly and increases with the passage of time, when it reaches the hour it has a maximum intensity peak. This is when you should go to the doctor, since the sooner you are given painkillers, the less time you will have to suffer from colic pain.
- Second phase : Once the maximum point of pain has been reached, the second phase begins, a whole period in which a very intense, intermittent pain develops, with pangs that come and go. It can last up to 4 hours, although depending on the patient it can be lengthened or shortened. At this point it is not advisable to drink too much water, since all it would do is move the stone and cause more pain. At this point, good medical care to alleviate these symptoms is almost essential.
- Third phase : At this point the pain is already in the doldrums, something that can take another 2 hours. From that moment on, the patient must be attentive and follow the doctor’s instructions so that the stone can be expelled as soon as possible.
Once the acute phase has passed and the pain stabilizes, it is when the kidney stone must be expelled through urine, or if that is not possible, start the corresponding treatment to break it or extract it. Normally, although it is a generalized time and each case is different, a renal colic takes between 1 and 2 weeks to heal .
For a faster and more effective recovery, we recommend visiting the following FastlyHealarticle, where we explain the best home remedies for renal colic.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long does renal colic last , we recommend that you enter our Kidneys and urinary system category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.