What kind of doctor should I use if my kidneys hurt?

The question, what is the name of a doctor specializing in kidney problems, is relevant for both women and men. Some diseases, for example, urolithiasis, are more common in men. Other problems, on the contrary, are familiar only to women. Which doctor heals the kidneys, is it worth asking for medical help without self-medication?

• Therapist's Help
• What a nephrologist is treating
• Who to contact women
• The competence of the urologist

Therapist's Help

The therapist is a universal doctor, a specialist who helps in the treatment of many diseases. Its main task is to determine the symptoms of the patient's problem, to listen to complaints. He treats many ailments of the kidneys, if they are not in serious condition. Most often the therapist makes appointments for pathological diseases associated with the inflammatory process, as well as with the formation of stones.

After interviewing the patient, he gives directions for the delivery of tests: urine, blood, and others. If the results of the survey indicate that there are serious abnormalities, the therapist can give a referral for a consultation with a urologist or a nephrologist. That specialist, in turn, evaluates the results of the analyzes, if necessary, conducts additional studies.

In other cases, the therapist can independently make an appointment, selecting the optimal course of treatment. In diseases such as pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, some others, antibiotics are usually prescribed. The selection of such drugs is within the competence of the therapist. The earlier a person seeks medical help, the more likely to avoid complications, stop the illness until the patient's condition worsens. The first alarming signs that require attention are:

• Cutting pain when urine leaves;
• the appearance of clots of pus, blood in secretions;
• tingling, discomfort in the lower back.

The therapist is able to recognize not only kidney disease, but also diagnose other ailments. Sometimes, except stones, sand, you can find cysts, tumors, which requires urgent medical intervention, often surgical. If you go first to a narrow profile doctor, you will spend time, he will not help with solving problems that are not in his competence. The therapist will always tell you whom to turn to next.

What a nephrologist is treating

The nephrologist is known as a doctor who helps with the therapy of kidney diseases. There is a large list of ailments treated by this doctor. The most common of these are:

• kidney failure;
• nephroptosis, nephritis;
• sand, kidney stones;
• sexually transmitted infections that have caused complications in the kidneys;
• renal colic.

If there is a need for an operation, for example, when there is an omission, the nephrologist does not do this, nor does he treat other organs of the genitourinary system. In other words, the only organ whose problems are examined by the kidney nephrologist.

Patients suffering from chronic renal failure are observed with this specialist constantly. The task of the nephrologist in such cases is to observe the development of symptoms, to prevent deterioration of the condition. He also checks the diet of the patient, if necessary, gives directions to the nutritionist.

Important! Almost all kidney diseases require adherence to a special diet, so a nutritionist is a sought-after specialist. He helps to make the right diet, explains which principles must be followed when choosing foods.

Who to contact women

Female sexual diseases often occur adjacent to renal impairment. They will also be helped by specialists who treat men, but without consulting a gynecologist can not do. This is especially true for pregnant women. When a woman has chronic kidney disease, it is difficult to plan a conception without visiting doctors. Even in a healthy female body, with a fetal bearing, there is a greater burden on the kidneys. The attending physician, who leads the pregnancy, constantly monitors the patient's condition in this position.

Important! Because of the increased burden on the kidneys during the carrying of children, pressure can be placed on nearby organs - the bladder, liver, spleen. Categorically it is not recommended to plan pregnancy independently in the presence of renal pathological diseases.

Any chronic kidney disease during pregnancy worsens. Most often this occurs at a period of 25-30 weeks. During this period, a woman should be under constant supervision of a nephrologist, gynecologist. Sometimes exacerbation occurs early in the second trimester. To the kidneys and ureters continued to work normally, there was no stagnation of urine and intoxication, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor.

Children born to mothers with diseased kidneys immediately examine this organ after birth. Sometimes pathologies can be tracked using ultrasound in utero, some are diagnosed only after birth.

The competence of the urologist

This is the doctor responsible for the examination, treatment is most often men, different from the nephrologist. Urologist understands the pathologies of the urethra, problems with men's health. All these symptoms are often associated with kidney function, so the urologist and nephrologist are considered to be related specialists. In addition, when a nephrologist diagnoses a patient's serious condition, urgent surgical intervention is often required. In such operations the urologist-surgeon is competent, the nephrologist can help or assist only in preliminary diagnostics.

Important! Previously, with urolithiasis, only open operations were performed. Modern equipment allows you to perform the procedure of crushing, removing stones with a laser. The recovery period after it is much less, there are fewer contraindications to the conduct, possible side effects.

The urologist can help in the diagnosis and therapy of other ailments of the genitourinary system:

• pathology of genital organs;
• decrease in sexual activity, lack of erection caused by physiological factors;
• sexually transmitted infections;
• education in the bladder;
• prostatitis, others.

Also, the urologist helps to fight male infertility. He is a specialist, competent both in matters of the genital area, and the urinary system, kidneys. For many men it is surprising that by normalizing all these areas of their health, it is possible to eliminate infertility without carrying out costly procedures.

Thus, there are two related doctors specializing in diagnosis, treatment of renal disorders: nephrologist, urologist. However, it is often effective to immediately consult a therapist who will give the referral to the right doctor. Women, especially during pregnancy, it is important to consult with a gynecologist. If they have chronic kidney disease, planning for conception is necessary with the help of specialists.