Kidney stones are a common problem affecting the urinary system. Patients with kidney stones may have symptoms of intense pain and blood in the urine, or have no symptoms. Most kidney stones are composed of a substance called calcium oxalate. Treatment of calcium oxalate kidney stones sometimes requires a comprehensive approach.
Medications
While some kidney stones, especially stones that are less than 4 mm in diameter, will pass on their own, at times it may be helpful to give medications that help with stone passage. One such medication is called tamsulosin, an alpha blocker that blocks alpha receptors located on certain cells. Blocking the alpha receptors near the bladder results in better flow of urine, which may allow the stone to pass more rapidly out of the body and ease the pain that often accompanies kidney stones.
Lithotripsy
Medline Plus describes lithotripsy as a procedure that uses high-energy shock waves to break down stones in the kidney and ureters---the tubes connecting the kidney to the bladder. If a patient has multiple kidney stones, or if a stone is not passing and is causing a significant amount of pain, lithotripsy may be used. The small pieces that are generated by the lithotripsy procedure may be more easily passed by the patient. The procedure usually lasts around an hour and, according to MedlinePlus, is quite safe. Possible complications include kidney infection, bleeding within or around the kidney, or a need for further lithotripsy to remove remaining pieces of stones.
Diet Changes
A variety of modifications to a patient's daily diet may help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Dr. Gary Curhan, writing in the medical reference UpToDate, suggests that increasing the amount of fluid in the diet by drinking more liquid throughout the course of the day may improve the rate of urine flow and protect against further formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet may also be helpful, according to a 2004 study published in the journal "Kidney International." This is most likely due to an increase in the excretion of a substance called citrate.
Finally, another dietary change that may decrease the risk for calcium oxalate stone formation is to avoid taking huge doses of vitamin C supplement. A study published in 2004 in the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology" found that taking high doses of vitamin C was associated with a higher risk of symptomatic kidney stones. This study suggests that large doses of vitamin C should be avoided in patients who are trying to prevent the formation of recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stones.
References
- "UpToDate;" Diagnosis and Acute Management of Suspected Nephrolithiasis in Adults; G. Curhan et. al.; April 2010
- "Kidney International;" The Effect of Fruits and Vegetables on Urinary Stone Risk Factors; T. Meschi et. al.; December 2004
- "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology;" Dietary Factors and the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones in Men; E.N. Taylor et. al.; December 2004
- MedlinePlus: Lithotripsy
