Bladder Stones vs Kidney Stones - Know Major Differences

Small bladder stones usually do not cause any symptoms.

However, if a stone is large and irritates the bladder wall or blocks the urine flow, symptoms may include the following:

1. A frequent urge to urinate
2. Lower abdominal pain
3. Dysuria (pain during urination)
4. Hematuria (blood in the urine)
5. Interrupted urine flow or difficulty urinating
6. Cloudy or dark-coloured urine
7. Urinary tract infections

1. Severe, sharp pain in the back and side
2. Pain that extends to the lower abdomen and the groyne 
3. Dysuria (pain during urination)
4. Hematuria (blood in the urine)
5. A frequent urge to urinate
6. Urinating in small amounts
7. Red, pink, or brown urine
8. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
9. Nausea and vomiting
10. Fever and chills

These symptoms can worsen if the stone shifts positions in the urinary tract or gets stuck in the ureters or urethra.

Bladder stones develop when the bladder does not empty completely. Some possible reasons for the same include:

1. Neurogenic bladder: A neurogenic bladder damages the nerves that control the bladder muscles.
   As a result, the bladder muscles are unable to contract. This causes urine to stay in the bladder. 
2. Prostate gland enlargement: An enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia can obstruct urine flow, making it difficult to empty the bladder. 
3. Urinary tract infections: UTIs can cause bladder inflammation, resulting in bladder stones. 
4. Urinary bladder diverticulum: A bladder diverticulum is a pouch or sac in the bladder wall, where the urine can collect and become concentrated. 
5. Medical devices: Bladder catheters or other objects like contraceptive devices and urinary stents can cause bladder stones. 
6. Kidney stones: If a kidney stone travels into the bladder and gets trapped, it can grow and turn into a bladder stone.

Kidney stones form when the urine contains more crystal-forming substances than the fluid in the urine can dilute.

Common causes include:

1. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can cause the kidneys to produce little urine, leading to highly concentrated urine. 
2. Infections: Urinary tract infections can also cause some types of kidney stones.
3. Weight loss surgery: Surgery for weight loss can change the mineral composition of urine, leading to kidney stones.
4. Metabolic disorders: Certain conditions like hyperoxaluria (too much oxalate in the urine), hypercalciuria (excess calcium in the urine), and hyperuricosuria (excess uric acid in the urine) can affect the urine’s mineral composition.

1. Male gender
2. Older age (over 50)
3. Urethral strictures
4. Radiation therapy
5. Bladder augmentation surgery
6. Schistosomiasis (a disease caused by parasitic flatworms)
7. Using a Foley catheter
8. Recurrent UTIs
9. Recurrent kidney stones

1. Male gender
2. Family history of kidney stones
3. Drinking too little water
4. Diet high in protein, sodium, and sugar
5. Hyperparathyroidism
6. Structural kidney abnormalities
7. Obesity
8. Hypertension
9. Cystic kidney disease
10. Inflammatory bowel disease
11. Recurrent UTIs
12. Certain medications, like diuretics

1. Medical history: Evaluating your medical history can help the doctor determine your risk for bladder stones. 
2. Physical exam: The doctor will feel your lower abdomen to check if the bladder is enlarged or perform a rectal exam to check if the prostate is enlarged. 
3. Urine test: A urine sample is collected to look for microscopic amounts of bacteria, blood, and crystallised minerals.
   The sample is also examined for urinary tract infections that can cause bladder stones.
4. CT scan: It is one of the most sensitive tests to produce clear images of the inside of the body and detect even small bladder stones. 
5. X-rays: X-rays of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder can help determine if you have bladder stones. 
6. Ultrasound: It uses sound waves to create images that help detect bladder stones. 
7. Cystoscopy: The doctor uses a small scope (a flexible tube with a camera) to look inside your bladder for stones.

1. Medical history: Evaluating your medical history can help the doctor determine your risk for kidney stones. 
2. Blood testing: Blood tests reveal calcium or uric acid levels in the blood. It can help monitor the health of your kidneys and detect other medical conditions. 
3. Urine test: The doctor will ask you to perform two urine collections for two consecutive days.
   The test helps the doctor determine the level of stone-forming minerals and stone-preventing substances. It also looks for signs of infections.
4. Imaging tests: A CT scan, X-ray, and ultrasound help determine the size, shape, location, and number of kidney stones.
   These tests also assist the doctor in deciding the treatment. 

Drinking lots of water can help you pass small bladder stones naturally.

However, since bladder stones form due to difficulty emptying the bladder completely, you may need more than just water. The treatment options include:

1. Cystolitholapaxy: The doctor uses a scope to visualise bladder stones and then breaks these stones using laser or high-frequency sound waves. 
2. Surgery: For large bladder stones, you may need open surgery in which the doctor makes an incision in your abdomen to remove the stones.

Small kidney stones usually do not require invasive treatment. You can pass small stones by:

1. Drinking 1.8 to 3.6 litres of water a day
2. Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium
3. Medication, known as alpha-blocker, to help pass the kidney stone

If the kidney stone is too large or causes symptoms, you may need more extensive treatment, such as:

1. Shockwave lithotripsy: The procedure uses high-energy shock waves to break stones into small pieces that can easily pass through your urine. 
2. Ureteroscopy: The doctor inserts a ureteroscope through the bladder and into the ureter.
   The instrument helps detect kidney stones and retrieves them in a surgical basket or breaks them using a laser. 
3. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: The procedure is performed when kidney stones cannot be removed through other procedures.
   The stone is removed by inserting a small telescope and instrument in an incision made in the back. 
4. Open stone surgery: This procedure is rarely performed in which a longer incision is made to remove stones.

If left untreated, bladder stones can cause the following complications:

1. Chronic bladder problems
2. Urinary tract infections

If left untreated, kidney stones can cause the following complications:

1. Recurring kidney stones
2. Blockage in the urinary tract
3. Urinary tract infections
4. Severe pain
5. Kidney failure