Painful kidney stones have been problematic for millenia. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse mentions the case of a 7000-year-old Egyptian mummy who was discovered to have kidney stones. This common urinary tract disorder causes some 3 million people to make visits to a health care provider, according to the clearinghouse. Surprisingly, most kidney stones don't need to be removed and pass through your body without the need for invasive surgery. However, if complications arise, treatment techniques are also available.
Small Kidney Stones
The first symptom of kidney stone is excruciating, sharp pain in the area of the kidneys or abdomen, says the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. Small kidney stones, which according to the National Institutes of Health can be as small as a grain of sand, likely won't need any other encouragement other than copious fluid intake to flush them out of your body. The Mayo Clinic states that as much as three quarts of water is advised. Nonprescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen sodium can reduce discomfort.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
Some kidney stones are too large to pass, states the Mayo Clinic. They may result in blood in the urine, kidney damage and urinary tract infections. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses sound waves to break larger stones into smaller pieces, thereby allowing them to pass through the body. The clinic cautions that this treatment may be noisy--and painful. Sedation or light anesthesia may be used to make patients feel more comfortable during the procedure.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
A surgical procedure called a percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be used to treat kidney stones that are very large or located in a place that makes ESWL impossible, states the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. A tiny incision is made to allow direct access to the kidney, after which a surgeon uses a nephroscope to remove the stone. Sometimes larger stones may need to be broken down into smaller pieces during this procedure before they're removed. Patients may endure a hospital stay several days in duration while the kidney heals.
Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
Kidney stones located in the mid or low ureter may require removal using a slender, fiberoptic device called a ureteroscope. After the stone is located, it is either removed or shattered so it can pass through out of the urine. This procedure is less invasive than it sounds. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that no incision is made. Rather, the ureteroscope is slipped through the urethra and bladder and finally into the ureter.
Other
If you've had one kidney stone, you're prone to others, says the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. A simple prevention technique is simply drinking more water and other liquids. Because kidney stones have many causes, your doctor may run various lab tests and take a detailed history, including your eating habits. The composition of a stone that has been passed or removed may be analyzed to help your doctor develop a plan of care.
