Kidneys
The function of your kidneys is to remove excess fluid and water waste from your body. These organs, each about the size of your fist, are located on either side of your spine in the abdominal area. They remove the waste through the production of urine, which is stored in the bladder and then eliminated from the body via the urethra. When the components of the urine become out of balance, kidney stones can form.
Stone Formation
The urine, which is created by the kidneys, acts as a filter for the various liquids, minerals and acids that enter your body. When the balance of these substances gets uneven, the urine may contain more crystal-forming substances that any fluid that is present can dilute. As this happens, the crystals stick together to form deposits. These deposits begin to grow into kidney stones. Kidney stones are often made up of several different substances, including calcium and uric acid. When the kidney stone is formed, you will experience intense pain in your lower back, bloody or foul smelling urine, nausea or vomiting, a persistent urge to urinate, or fever and chills (if the stone leads to an infection).
Natural Stone Removal
Once the stone has formed, you must take steps to remove it from the kidney. Most stones will leave your body naturally through the normal waste removal processes. However, stones cannot be broken down by the body and must be passed whole. To pass a kidney stone, the affected person must drink up to two liters of water a day and stay physically active. This will dislodge the stone from the sides of the kidneys where it will begin to move through the body into the bladder. Once the stone is in the bladder, it enters the urine stream to be passed through the urethra. This is usually painful because the urethra is not designed to pass solid objects. Given enough time, however, you should be able to rid yourself of a kidney stone in this manner.
Medical Procedures
If a kidney stone becomes too large to pass naturally, you may need a medical procedure. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is a procedure where shockwaves break the stone up into small pieces, which can be dissolved in the urine. If the stone is still lodged in the kidney after this therapy, surgery may be needed to remove it. This is usually outpatient surgery, which requires a small incision and then removal of the stone with a laser.
