Kidney Stones Specialist

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard concretions of minerals and substances (calcium, oxalate and phosphorous) that form in the kidneys. The materials that comprise stones are found normally in urine, but sometimes, they become very concentrated and begin to “clump together” to form stones. Some people are more “prone” to kidney stones than others, especially those who have a family history of kidney stones. Recurrent urinary tract infections, certain medical conditions and even digestive problems can increase the likelihood of kidney stones in some people.

What symptoms do kidney stones cause?

Stones can vary in size from very small to quite large. The smallest stones may pass through the urinary tract without causing any problems, but larger stones can cause pain and other symptoms. Symptomatic stones can result in:

• pain when urinating

• pain the lower back or belly which can range from a dull ache to a sharp pain

• fever and nausea

• blood in the urine (urine appears dark or discolored)

• urine that has a strong smell

How are kidney stones treated?

The type of treatment used to treat kidney stones depends a lot on their size. Prior to treatment, x-rays or other scans are typically used to determine how big the stone is and where it's located. For very small stones, drinking lots of water to flush the stone out combined with medication to ease pain and prevent vomiting may be all that's required.

When stones are larger, outpatient procedures that use shock waves or laser energy can be used to break up the stones. These methods use a special device that can be inserted through your urethra while you're anesthetized.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a technique for treatment that does not require surgery. The stones are broken into pieces as small as grains of sand using high energy shock waves that are passed through the body. The small sized pieces can then pass from the body along with the urine. ESWL has been around since the early 1980s and is a noninvasive procedure that's safer, and the recovery process is easier than surgery. This same-day kidney stones treatment is typically performed at an outpatient clinic. 

Another type of procedure called a percutaneous nephrolithotomy uses a small incision in your back to reach the stone in your kidney and remove it. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is performed in a hospital or surgery center.