I had lithotripsy a month ago and had a ureter stent placed on the left side. I have a lot of back pain, abdominal discomfort, and lower pelvic aches. I am passing very small stones, but not a significant amount. I have not felt well since it was placed. I am scheduled for another lithotripsy on my right kidney, but will have the stent removed and will not have another one for that side for which I am grateful. Can the stent cause all of these problems?
Hi, Thanks for writing. In most patients with kidney stones, a metallic stent is placed to give passage to the multiple small stone fragments to pass into the urinary bladder and then out of the urinary tract. Stents used generally are double J stent with hook like curves at both the ends. Sometimes, these ends of the stents slip downwards into the upper ureter to cause slight injury or the end in the bladder can cause bladder wall injury. Most injuries are slight but can cause severe pain to the patients.Also, the smaller stone fragments can cause pain as they pass through the ureter. So what you think is right, stents and smaller stone fragments, both can cause pain. Hoppe this helps.