Any notice about signs or symptoms of bladder stones, such as frequent painful urination, abdominal pain, difficulty urinating or blood in your urine, contact your doctor. Bladder Stones often signal the presence of an underlying disorder, it is important to get checked.
Making a diagnosis of bladder stones starts with a physical exam: Your doctor will likely feel your lower abdomen to see if yours is distended bladder and, if necessary, perform a rectal examination to determine if your prostate is enlarged. You can also discuss any urinary signs or symptoms that you have had.
Other tests used to make a diagnosis of bladder stones may include:
Cystoscopy
During cystoscopy, the physician inserts a tube with a tiny camera on the end (cystoscope) through your urethra and into your bladder. After setting up cystoscope, the doctor fills out the cystoscope with water, which flows into the bladder. As fluid fills your bladder, it stretches the bladder wall, which allows your doctor to see inside the bladder. Cystoscopy is a good test for the diagnosis of urinary calculi, because it allows your doctor to see the number, size and location of rocks in your bladder.
Urinalysis
A urine sample can be collected and examined under a microscope for quantities of blood, bacteria and minerals crystallized. A urinalysis is also useful in determining if you have a urinary tract infection, which can cause bladder stones.
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
Intravenous Pyelogram is a test that uses dye to visualize the organs of your urinary tract. Dye injected into a vein in your arm flows through your kidneys, ureters and bladder, describing each of these bodies. X-ray images are taken at specific times during the procedure to check the stones.
Computed Tomography (CT-Scan)
Scanner is a sensitive and specific tool to detect bladder of all types of stones along your urinary tract.
X-Ray
An X-ray of your kidneys, ureters and bladder allows your doctor to determine whether the rocks are present in your urinary system. The test is inexpensive and easy to obtain, but some types of stones are not visible on X-ray images.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound, which bounces sound waves off organs and structures of your body to create pictures, your doctor can help to visualize bladder stones.
Bladder stones are not removed can cause complications. These may include:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Calculations can cause urinary recurrent bacterial infections in your urinary tract. Bladder cancer. Some chemicals or objects that cause chronic irritation of the bladder wall, including urinary calculi, increase your risk of developing bladder cancer.
Chronic bladder dysfunction
If left untreated, bladder stones can cause long-term urinary problems, such as pain or frequent urination. Calculations urinary can also lodge in the opening spell when urine from the bladder to the urethra, and block the passage of urine out of your body.
Compile and re-written based on article by MFMER