Treatment for Kidney Stones: Which One is Best for You?
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form inside your kidneys. When they grow large, they can cause severe pain, fever, nausea, blood in urine, and difficulty passing urine. If you are suspected of kidney stones, you may undergo some diagnostic tests and procedures, including analysis of passed stones, blood testing, imaging, and urine testing.
Fortunately, there are several treatment options for people living with kidney stones. These include medications, noninvasive procedures, ureteral stones removal, and surgery. The treatment for kidney stones, however, varies depending on the cause and type of the stone. So, to better know your options, it’s necessary to understand the different types of kidney stones and the available treatment options for each.
Small or medium stones with minimal symptoms
If you are diagnosed with small kidney stones, your doctor may recommend you to take medications and drink plenty of water to prevent the stones from forming and push them through your urinary tract. Drinking as much as 1.8 to 3.6 liters a day will likewise keep your urine dilute and produce clear urine.
On the other hand, if you are experiencing mild pain and discomfort due to passing a small stone, you may be advised to take pain relievers.
Another treatment option for small or medium stones is the procedure called Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL). It is noninvasive and considered the most common kidney stone treatment. This procedure used shock ways to find the kidney stones and break them up into small pieces, which will pass through your urinary tract and released out of your body with urine.
SWL usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. You can go home on the same day after the procedure is completed. However, you may experience some side effects, such as blood in your urine or cramps. Thus, be sure to talk to your doctor and understand the risks and benefits of kidney stone treatments.
Large stones with major symptoms
If your kidney stones are too large to pass or already caused bleeding and kidney damage, you may need to seek extensive treatments. These may include surgery called nephrolithotomy, parathyroid gland surgery, and ureterorenoscopy. But if your stones are very large or ureteral stones removal isn’t possible, open surgery might be an option.
Open surgery is rarely performed and is only done when other treatment methods have failed to remove the stones. In this procedure, the surgeon uses an incision in the patient’s abdomen to reach and remove the kidney stones. He then places a catheter near the kidney to drain urine until the former heals. After the surgery, you will be hospitalized for six to nine days and be able to resume your normal activities within four to six weeks.
What to consider and think about
Kidney stones can be detrimental to your health. That’s why preventing them is very important! With a proper diet, plenty of water, and a healthy lifestyle, you can minimize the chances of getting them. Or if you’ve already had kidney stones, make sure to seek medical consultation right away to know which treatment option – medication or ureteral stones removal – suits you best.