A kidney stone is a hard, pebble-like deposit that forms in one (or both)
kidneys. There are several different types of kidney stones, including:
Calcium stones (most common)
Struvite stones
Uric acid stones
Cystine stones
While smaller crystals can be passed out of the body through urine, larger
stones can cause painful medical problems if they get stuck in the ureter,
bladder, or urethra. During passage, a stone can block the flow of urine
and cause intense pain.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Kidney stones can cause severe pain and are hard to ignore. Pain may start
on one side of the back or abdomen. Pain can also radiate to the groin area.
Other symptoms include:
Blood in the urine
Nausea and vomiting
Cloudy, foul-smelling urine
Frequent urination
Inability to urinate, or only urinating a small amount
A burning feeling during urination
Fever and chills
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
If you think you may have a kidney stone, it’s important to see your
doctor as soon as possible. While some kidney stones pass out of the body
on their own, others require medical and/or surgical treatment.
Evaluation for kidney stone disease often includes:
Xray evaluation
24 hour urine analysis to determine the risk factor for development of
kidney stones
Stone analysis of passed kidney stones
Treatment options for kidney stones
There are different ways to treat kidney stones. Treatment options often
depend on the stone (its size, location, and what it’s made of)
and your symptoms.
Treatment options for kidney stones include:
Observation: Small kidney stones (less than 5 mm) that don’t cause symptoms
may not require treatment. Your provider may recommend monitoring the
kidney stone with regular imaging tests.
Pain management: Medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or
opioids, may help relieve pain and discomfort.
Fluids: Drinking plenty of water can help flush out kidney stones from the urinary tract.
Medical management: This treatment approach may involve changing your diet, taking dietary
supplements, and taking medicine such as potassium citrate and hydrochlorothiazide.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): ESWL is a non-invasive procedure. It uses shock waves to break kidney
stones into smaller pieces. You can then pass them through the urinary tract.
Ureteroscopy: This minimally invasive procedure involves inserting a small, flexible
scope through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter. It then removes
or breaks up the stone.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL): PCNL is a minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon makes a small cut in
the back to remove the stone from the kidney using a scope.
Most kidney stone treatments include a mix of approaches. It’s best
to work with a provider experienced in treating kidney stones. At West
Jefferson Medical Center,
our urology team is here to give you the personalized treatment you need.
