Bladder stones are caused by the accumulation of minerals. It can occur if the bladder is not completely emptied after urination. The leftover urine becomes concentrated and minerals within the liquid turn into crystals. In some cases, the stones can pass when they are small. And, in some cases, the stone gets stuck into the ureter or bladder.

Over the time, the buildup of minerals become larger as more crystals gather. The stones can be of different sizes and shapes.

It might be surprising, sometimes the bladder stones stay in the bladder and don’t cause any symptoms. They are usually revealed when an X-ray is conducted for medical reasons.  Here are the causes, symptoms, and treatment of bladder stones.

Causes of Bladder Stones

When there is leftover urine in the bladder it results in bladder stone. This is caused by a medical condition that stops bladder from fully emptying. Some of the conditions are:

Medical Devices

Another cause of a bladder stone is catheters. These are tubes that are inserted via urethra to drain urine from your bladder. Some objects can by mistake travel to your bladders like urinary stent or contraceptive device. Crystals tend to be formed at the bottom of the medical devices.

Bladder inflammation

In some cases, the urinary tract infection or radiation therapy lead to bladder inflammation that results in bladder stones.

Symptoms

The bladder stone stops the flow of urine and irritates the bladder wall. It is a sign that you need medical attention. Some other symptoms might include:

  • Cloudy or dark colored urine
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Pain in lower abdomen
  • Blood in the urine
  • Having trouble urinating
  • Frequent urination

Treatment

The doctor needs to remove the bladder stone that are larger in size. It is recommended to drink plenty of water so the small stone can pass naturally.  A therapy known as cystolitholapaxy is a procedure to break the stones. In this, a tube is inserted through your urethra into your bladder. The tube has a camera attached at one end so they can see the stone. The doctor might use a laser to break stone and flush them from your bladder. Another way to remove bladder stone is surgery, the doctor will make an incision in your bladder to directly remove the stone.

DISCLAIMER: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.