Best Treatment Options to Remove Kidney Stones

It is said that one out of every ten persons will experience a kidney stone problem sometime or the other. Half a million people go to hospitals every year to get treated for kidney stone pain. It is a common problem that can cause severe pain. Kidney stones need to be treated on time to get relief from symptoms. We discuss the different kidney stone treatment options.

What is Kidney Stone? What are the Symptoms and Causes?

A kidney stone is a crystal or solid mass formed from the salts, minerals, and acids in your kidney. Also known as renal calculi, the kidney stone size can be as small as a sand grain or as big as a golf ball. While small stones are passed out through urine without any problem, large stones cause severe pain.

Kidney stone pain area is in the flank, belly, or lower back. The pain can be severe or it can be dull. Kidney stone pain is the primary symptom of this condition. Other kidney stone symptoms in women and men include:

• Blood in urine.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pain while urinating.
• Not able to pass urine.
• Excess urination with the urine being cloudy or smelling badly.
• Chills and fever.

The cause of kidney stones is because of urine, which contains many salts and acids. Not drinking enough fluids, eating too much protein, or eating high sodium/sugar foods can make the minerals and salts to stick together. This forms a mass known as kidney stone. Some medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, cystic fibrosis, high calcium, and obesity increase the risk of kidney stones being formed.

What are the Kidney Stone Complications?

If kidney stones are not properly treated, they can lead to severe complications. It can cause a urinary tract infection or a kidney infection. It can lead to a blockage that pushes urine back into the kidney, leading to hydronephrosis. There is even a possibility of kidney failure occurring due to kidney stones. This problem must never be ignored. If you experience any of the symptoms, see a doctor.

What are the different Kidney Stone Treatment options?

TBlood tests to check for calcium and uric acid are done to check for kidney stones. Urine tests and ultrasound tests are used to diagnose kidney stones. Based on the results of the tests, the doctor would suggest the right kidney stone treatment option.

1.

Allowing the stones to pass

If the kidney stones are small, the doctor will ask you to increase water intake to 2 to 3 liters per day. This will help pass the stone through urine. They will prescribe painkillers or alpha blocker medications to give you relief from stones.

2.

Removing the stones through a scope

For medium-sized stones, the doctor can pass a ureteroscope through your urethra to locate the stone. They will then use a tool to break the stone into small pieces, so they can be passed out through the urine. A stent may be placed in the urethra to prevent swelling. This procedure is known as ureteroscopy.

3.

Surgery to remove large stones

Kidney stone surgery is required when the stones are large. A small incision is made in the back, and a tube is inserted into the kidney. Ultrasound waves can be used to break and remove the stones. In some cases, an open surgery may be needed with a larger incision. Surgeries are usually done with local or general anesthesia. The patient will require admission to the hospital for kidney stone surgery.

It is possible to prevent kidney stones. For this, you must drink sufficient water to pass 2 liters urine in a day. You must avoid foods with high salt, high animal protein, and high sugar. Be careful while taking calcium supplements. If you are at risk of kidney stones, the doctor may recommend certain medications to prevent kidney stone formation.

Conclusion

Kidney stone pain can be severe and debilitating. Thankfully, there are multiple kidney stone treatment options available. Depending on the patient’s condition, kidney stone surgery or medications can be used to treat the problem. If you are suffering from the symptoms of kidney stone pain, see a doctor immediately to get the most suitable treatment.