Causes of Kidney Stones:
A kidney stone is a hard mass formed in the kidneys that consists of insoluble calcium compounds. They stick together in concentrated urine. They can be painful when passing through the urinary tract but usually don’t cause permanent damage.
Kidney stones are caused by the following:
– Drinking less water
– Obesity
– Weight loss surgery
– Excess or insufficient exercise
– Eating too much salt and/or sugar
Removal of Kidney Stones:
Kidney stones can be treated by removing them. Healthcare professionals treat kidney stones according to their size, location and type they are.
Small kidney stones can pass through your urinary tract without any treatment. The medical professional may prescribe pain medicine.
Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you should go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.
A doctor can remove the kidney stone using the following treatments:
Shock wave lithotripsy:
The doctor can use shock wave lithotripsy to break the kidney stone into small pieces. The smaller pieces will then pass through your urinary tract. A doctor can anaesthetise you during this procedure.
Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy:
When a doctor performs cystoscopy, they will use a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone. While performing a ureteroscopy, the doctor will utilise a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope, to see images of the lining of the ureters and kidneys. Once the stone is found, the stone can be removed or broken into smaller pieces. The doctor performs these procedures with anaesthesia. Most patients typically go home the same day of the procedure.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy:
The doctor uses a nephoscope which is a viewing instrument to find and remove the kidney stone. The doctor inserts it into your kidney through a small cut made in your back. For larger kidney stones, the doctor also may break the kidney stones into smaller pieces by using a lasers. The doctor will perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy after giving you anaesthesia. You may need to remain in the hospital for several days after the procedure.
When to See a Doctor:
Kidney stones can cause several symptoms to develop. The following are some of those symptoms:
– Severe pain in your back or side that will not go away.
– Blood in your urine.
– Fever and chills.
– Vomiting.
– Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy.
– A burning feeling when you urinate.
If you have any of these symptoms then you may be suffering from kidney stones. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible to get diagnosed and treated. The Kidney Stone Clinic has several surgeons and doctors who have done many kidney stone removals. If you want to have your stones removed, then we are your best choice. Please make an appointment with us as soon as possible.
