Thinking that you may have kidney stones is enough to make you cringe. Made from acid and mineral salts, kidney stones develop in your kidneys in the form of small, hard little rocks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Kidney stones often result from imbalances in your urine that lead to the formation of crystals. Sometimes the crystals bind together and form stones. Passing a kidney stone can be very uncomfortable, starting with pain under the ribs that travels to your lower abdomen and groin area as the stone moves through your urinary tract. You can expel kidney stones at home if the stones are not too big, but medical intervention is sometimes required. Consult your doctor if you feel you may have a kidney stone.
Step 1
Drink between two and three quarts of water a day, advises the Mayo Clinic. Large amounts of water help flush out your urinary system and make the stone pass more smoothly.
Step 2
Obtain over-the-counter pain medication to deal with the discomfort, if necessary, as you wait for the stones to pass. Take the medication as directed and obey any warnings on the label.
Step 3
Consent to an extracorporeal sound wave lithotripsy, if your doctor suggests it. This procedure uses sound waves to help break up larger stones, before they are passed out in your urine. This is a medical procedure that may require light anesthesia.
Step 4
Schedule surgery to remove the stones if they are too large to pass naturally. Kidney stones can usually be surgically removed on an out-patient basis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Step 5
Remove the kidney stones through a procedure called a ureteroscopy, in which the doctor passes a small tool called a ureteroscope through the urethra and bladder, into the ureter to locate the stones. The scope shatters kidney stones with a shock wave or removes them manually.
