Kidney Stones Treatment

Everyone can dissolve a kidney stone, which is below 5 mm in size naturally. They must drink plenty of water after every meal they take. A lime juice, without adding sugar and salt will be the best to drink after a meal. It is advisable to add the below-mentioned items to your daily diet.

• Apple cider vinegar
• Basil
• Celery Seeds
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Ginger
• Kidney Beans
• Pomegranate juice
• Tribulus Terrestris
• Turmeric
• Wheatgrass juice

If Nephrolithiasis is hereditary, you must consume at least 3 liters of water daily as a preventive method naturally. It is not advisable to drink carbonated beverages, especially Cola drinks.

When the above-given symptoms are noticed, instead of just ignoring the pain by taking painkillers, you are advised to visit the doctor. In response to the same, your doctor might perform certain medicines such as calcium-based antacids, diuretics, and topiramate to name a few. Other than this, there are some tests that your doctor may advise you such as checking the blood to know the presence of excess calcium or uric acid or taking the urine sample for 24 to 48 hours.

Know More about Bladder Stones Treatment

Kidney stone treatment depends on the present state of the patient’s condition. A doctor may check your past medical history, lifestyle, and eating habits too. A Nephrologist or a Kidney doctor recommends the below-mentioned test to identify the kidney stone size and location first. A kidney patient must undergo the below-mentioned tests.

• Urine Test
• Blood Test
• Computerized Tomography (CT)
• Lab analysis of passed stone through urine

After taking the above tests, your doctor may recommend the below-mentioned latest treatment to dissolve the kidney with surgery or without surgery.

• Oral medication
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
• Kidney Stone Removal through Surgery
• Ureteroscopy

Yet, your Nephrologist decides on the best treatment, which will relieve your pain and stone in the kidney. It is advisable to take kidney stone treatment as per your doctor’s advice. One must not compromise on the cost of kidney treatment. This is because; it can cause kidney failure if left untreated. This can cause death too.

A kidney patient may take a short to a long time to pass a kidney stone under medication. This once again depends on the treatment he or she is taking.

Oral Medication

A kidney stone that is less than 5 mm in size can be dissolved through oral medication. It may take 30 to 45 days to dissolve and pass the minute broken stones through urine.

Alternative Medicines

There are AYUSH remedies to curb and dissolve stones from the kidneys. They have various therapies, and they must be practiced strictly. The alternative remedies may take at least 3 – 6 months to pass a stone from the kidney.

ESWL Treatment

It will take 1 week to 4 weeks to pass a tone through urine.

Ureteroscopy Treatment

The stones are removed in a tiny bag after detecting them through ureteroscopy. This can take at least two to three hours. This is a daycare procedure too.

You must note that the size, type, and location of the kidney stone do matter.

It depends upon the stone formation type, the location of the stone, and the patient’s present state of health. Your doctor may give the necessary treatment. It also differs for people with renal diseases. But, the below-mentioned therapies work faster with the patients to dissolve kidney stones fast.

Water

Drinking plenty of water is mostly recommended for Nephrolithiasis. It is the natural way to dissolve a stone with a size of less than 1 mm.

Lithotripsy

Sound waves have shown better responses in kidney stone patients.

Alpha Blocker

This medication for kidney stone patients has shown a vast improvement in dissolving the stones in the kidney.

Our body once consumes food starts producing different kinds of waste such as carbon dioxide gas, sweat, and feces to name a few. If there is any kind of food material that is undigested, it gets excreted from the body as solid waste. Urine is one such waste produced by the body which has metabolism byproducts such as toxins, salts, and water that get mixed up in the blood. It eliminates the waste substances from the blood and eradicates them through urine.

But when there is a due buildup of salts and minerals like calcium in the urinary tract, it sometimes can cause infection but the main problem is called kidney tine. It is quite large enough that can block the kidney and if you are lucky it can be extremely tiny to just pass from the urine without any need for medicine.

As you have learned that kidney stones are actually made of crystals but every kidney stone is not the same, there can be many different types, such as:

• Struvite: This is another type of stone that you will find in women. It is also considered to be a kidney infection and for which to treat the underlying infection is important.
• Calcium Stones: It is one of the most common ones which is made of calcium oxalate, maleate, or phosphate. To deal with it, you are advised to eat less oxalate-rich foods.
• Cystine: This is an extremely rare type of material causing kidney storage which is naturally available in the body. But when it leaks from the kidney in the urine, it causes kidney stones.
• Uric Acid: Kidney stone is made of this type of crystal as well. It can be a result of chemotherapy or people who have gout problems. It gets developed when urine is too accident and for this, a patient needs to stop including a diet rich in purines so that acidic levels can be controlled.

This can be pretty painful and that is why, even if you notice one single symptom, you must speak with your doctor about the same.

The Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or PCNL is one of the Kidney stone treatment options available today. Your doctor will suggest this procedure when the kidney stone size is 2 cm and above. It is an invasive method, which is performed by giving local anesthesia near the pelvic region. The surgery is done by making a small hole over the skin, which will be a centimeter or more. In this hole, surgical tubes are inserted and the stone is sucked out by viewing through fluoroscopy. The PCNL procedure will hardly take 2-hours to complete by a surgeon and his assisting team.

PCNL technique is normally undertaken by the doctor when the diameter of the stone present in the kidney is over and above 2cm. The minimally invasive method helps treat the disease in a very smooth way and the recovery period is also short.

The after-PCNL surgery care will be discussed with his her patients before the surgery. We have listed a few daily routines, which you can do after this surgery.

• You must consume the medicines that are prescribed by your doctor after PCNL surgery cares at home.
• You have to take a CT scan and see if the stones are completely drained or not.
• You must avoid lifting any weight objects after PCNL surgery.
• It is advisable to take rest at least for a week or as suggested by your surgeon.
• Walk slowly in such a way that it is not painful in the incision area.
• You must drink plenty of water after PCNL surgery.
• You can eat your normal food PCNL surgery.
• You can take a bath by covering the urostomy pouch.
• You can hire a home nurse for better care after PCNL surgery.
• Avoid steps and use lifts to reach higher floors.

For a better result, it is advisable to follow what your doctor says to do so after PCNL surgery.

The PCNL surgery from a modern clinic may take one or two hours only. A conventional healthcare center may take more than two hours. It also depends on the experience of your surgeon and the number of technical and operation theatre staff he or she has for doing the PCNL surgery. PCNL is a daycare surgery. Yet, a patient might have to stay overnight if suggested by their surgeon to take a CT scan or any other test from their center itself.

The PCNL is a minimally-invasive procedure. It can risk a patient too if it is carried out by an inexperienced surgeon and from unauthorized clinics. In such a case, the below-mentioned complication can arise.

• Loss of blood due to PCNL surgery
• Infection around the incision area
• PCNL can damage nearby organs due to invasive procedures not carried out by imaging medical techniques.
• It can cause the death of a patient if it is not carried out as per the PCNL procedure.
• The patient can bleed after PCNL surgery.

However, a kidney patient can avoid these dangers by approaching the best doctor for kidney stone removal in his or her location.

There are 4-types of kidney stones. All these types do not have a common food list. Your doctor will recommend the aftercare surgery diet too. It is advisable to follow that diet. Below mentioned are a few recommended food items, which a patient after PCNL surgery can consume from home.

• Beans
• Dairy products
• Dried Lentils
• Drink Plain Lemon juice or add them to culinary.
• Frozen fruits
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Milk
• Nuts
• Orange juice
• Peas
• Pepper
• Prune juice
• Tofu
• Unseasoned Fish
• Unseasoned Meat
• Whole Grains

Consuming fiber-rich food and liquid foods is mostly recommended by doctors. This is because a few after-surgery medicines will cause constipation. It will be better to follow your doctor’s diet plan after PCNL surgery.

The risk factors are really negligible in this procedure. But the doctors and the assisting people need to be very careful otherwise there might be:

1. Infection in the urinary tract or in the adjacent area
2. There might be huge blood loss and bleeding which needs to be treated immediately
3. There are chances of injuring the adjacent organs which might lead to the death of the patient also

The procedure is normally completed within 2-3 hours if there are no complications. The follow-up is necessary to keep the condition better and to prevent the future development of any other stones.

Know more about PCNL/Keyhole Surgery

This is a modern technique to prevent open surgery for kidney stone removal. Nephrolithotomy is practiced by giving general anesthesia. Therefore, the patient will not feel any pain during this minimally-invasive surgery. The patient will be given pain medication after surgery too. The pain-related factors are also depending on a doctor’s experience.

A kidney stone 5 mm and above is considered a large kidney stone in renal disease treatment. The 5-mm and above size stones are difficult to dilute and pass through urine. Therefore, surgery is necessary to remove them from the kidney. The five millimeters means the measure from its diameter. Kidney stones are crystal-like substances. It is easy to measure by medical imaging techniques.

A kidney stone 5 mm and above is considered a large kidney stone in renal disease treatment. The 5-mm and above size stones are difficult to dilute and pass through urine. Therefore, surgery is necessary to remove them from the kidney. The five millimeters means the measure from its diameter. Kidney stones are crystal-like substances. It is easy to measure by medical imaging techniques.

The ureteroscopy procedure is usually carried out for the kidney stones present in the ureter. This is also like a biopsy method. The surgeon or urologist penetrates the tine tube with imaging instruments. This will allow them to find the stones and extract them via the tube itself. This is a someday procedure. The renal examination is done through a ureteroscope. This procedure allows the breaking of a kidney stored through a laser and by fluid medicines. This procedure is also used to examine the kidney stone type. This is not any surgery but here the urologists insert an instrument that is thin and is used for locating the stone inside the ureter.

The instrument is known as a ureteroscope and it passes from the bladder to the ureter and views the picture of the stone on the computer. Then the stone that is smaller in size can be removed using an instrument called a basket which grabs the stone and removes it if the stone is larger in size then it needs to be broken down into fragments then the rest follows.

There will be mild pain due to the involvement of a stent tube. Few patients may feel pain during the removal of a stent. However, ureteroscopy-related pain can last for 2 to 3 days. Pain medication will be given if a patient feels pain after a ureteroscopy. However, it depends on the experience of the urologist too.

It is done when the stone is in the ureter and is close to the urinary bladder. The process is simple and takes much lesser time and is quite effective.

Risks involved

The risks involved in this procedure are:

• The ureter might get affected or injured.
• Infection of the urinary tract is another problem that might happen.
• Bleeding due to injury or stone fragments might happen.
• There might be a pain in the abdomen.

The new form of this treatment also allows stones to be removed which are present in the kidney or in the nearby area.

Know more about Ureteroscopy

There are few patients, who never felt any side effects after doing a ureteroscopy. However, few cases are reported with the below-mentioned side effects. These were common to many patients who have undergone ureteroscopy.

• A pain or burning sensation while urinating
• Abdomen pain
• Anesthesia-related complications arose.
• Bleeding
• Injuries can happen to the ureter
• It can cause infection in the urinary tract.
• The swelling of tissues can block urine passage.

However, one can avoid such side effects by consulting the best clinic and doctor for ureteroscopy in your area.

The ureteroscopy and lithotripsy methods differ from each other and its result too. However, few patients have felt faster recovery with less pain. However, a doctor will decide on these methods, which is most suitable to perform according to the stone type, size, and location of the kidney stone. Yet, the success rates are more with lithotripsy than with ureteroscopy. This type of question can be answered by a patient who develops multiple kidney stones. He or she will have a chance to take both treatments.

• Cystoscopy is carried through a cystoscope and ureteroscopy is carried by a ureteroscope.
• Cystoscopy is used to find and analyze renal diseases. Ureteroscopy is to dissolve or take out kidney stones.
• Cystoscopy is done through general anesthesia. Whereas, the Ureteroscopy is carried out by giving local anesthesia.
• Cystoscopy thoroughly examines the urethra for the presence of stones. Ureteroscopy thoroughly examines the bladder side.

This procedure is normally undertaken by doctors when the size of the stone present is large and cannot be dealt with by any of the above-mentioned procedures ESWL or PCNL.

Risks involved

The procedure is safe but every surgery has its own risks and the risks are as follows:

1. The patient might bleed which can be only dealt with by supplying additional blood.
2. Infection due to the surgery might occur.
3. There are risks involved in the application of anesthetic drugs.
4. After surgery, patients normally recover within a period of 4-6 weeks and then can get back to normal life.

The average cost of Kidney Stone Removal Treatment would range from Rs. 12,000 to 35,000 Rupees. Cost depends upon the size of the stone & the complexity of the treatment and at Care Well Medical Center we are trying to make the treatment as affordable as possible while maintaining the quality of treatment.

Kidney stones are hard crystalline minerals and salty materials which develop within the kidneys or the urinary tract. While filtering waste from the blood, kidneys create urine. Often, salt and mineral particles present in the urine stick together and take the shape of stones. These stones are initially formed in the kidneys and as they grow in size, they cause a blockage and gradually push into the ureters. In the early stages, kidney stones are as small as sugar crystals and are hardly noticed. With time, the stones grow as bigger as a ping pong ball and cause severe pain to the patient. The medical term for kidney stones is Nephrolithiasis.

According to kidney surgeons, 1 in 20 people have kidney stones, at least once in a lifetime. Every year, more than half a million individuals are reported to develop stones in their kidneys. Men face a 19% risk of forming stones in their kidneys. Women are 9% at risk. In most men, the first stone forms after 30 years. However, it can also happen before. Certain medical problems like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes can also increase the chances of having kidney stones.

In the US, the percentage of kidney stones gradually increased from 3.8% in the late 1970s to 8.8% in the 2000s. In other countries including India, kidney stone is becoming a common concern among the masses.

• Dehydration is the primary cause of stone formation in the kidneys. When the body suffers from an acute deficiency of water, it forms stones. Also, those who consume less than 8 glasses of water, face the risk of kidney stones.
• Uric acid is a significant component of urine and needs to be diluted. Due to the lack of adequate water, the acid remains in a concentrated state and makes urine more acidic by nature. This gradually leads to the development of stones.
• Certain substances in urine help to prevent crystals from sticking together. The lack of such vital substances makes an ideal environment and influences kidney stone formation.
• Medical issues like infections in the urinary tract, hyperparathyroidism, Crohn’s disease, renal tubular acidosis, medullary sponge kidney, and Dent’s disease increase the chances of developing kidney stones.
• Natural imbalance of salt, water, minerals, and other constituents of urine brings the potential threat of kidney stones.
• Changes in calcium levels in the urine also cause kidney stones.

Well, the initial stages are unknown since small stones easily pass through urine, provided the person consumes a sufficient amount of water. However, if the stone is large in size, it blocks the urine passage and moves into the ureter. Sharp pain in the back or lower abdomen becomes common. It is then that people become aware of the presence of a stone in their kidneys.

Yes. People coming from a family history of kidney stones are more likely to suffer. Also, rare hereditary diseases like renal tubular acidosis account for more than 70% of kidney stone patients. Two other genetic metabolic disorders, cystinuria, and hyperoxaluria, also increase the risk of having kidney stones.

Early-stage stones don’t show any symptoms and easily pass through urine. Larger stones block the flow of urine and might also get stuck in the ureter- the tube connecting the bladder to the kidneys. In such circumstances, the following symptoms are more common:

• Different Forms of Pain: Based on the location of the stone, patients are subjected to experience different types of pain. It all starts with mild pain in the flanks, ribs, pelvis, and upper and lower abdomen. Gradually, as the stone moves through the ureter and its muscles contract and relax surrounding the stone; there’s a steep and sharp pain. The stone also migrates through the urinary tract, which brings severe pain to the testicles. There can be changes in the intensity of pain since it largely depends on the exact location and movement of the stone. Pain while urinating is another typical pain symptom of having kidney stones.
• Cloudy, Stinking, and Bloody Urine: Kidney stone-affected people have smelly urine. Their urine is not clear, rather appears to be cloudy. Kidney stones also bring blood into the urine. As a result, urine often appears pink, red, or brown in color. Most people also face difficulty while urinating.
• Frequent Urination: Another common symptom of having a kidney stone is the frequent need to urinate. Most people develop an urge to urinate more frequently than during normal hours. While urinating, they have burning sensations.
• Nausea: Vomiting and nausea are some other warning signs of having a large kidney stone. People start feeling weak, develop sickness, and become unable to move. Acute pain in various parts of the body makes them confined to bed.
• Fever and Chills: In addition to the above signs, a high fever and a constant feeling of restlessness give a sure signal of having a kidney stone.

On suspecting kidney stones, doctors suggest the following medical tests and examinations:

• Urine Test: Doctors recommend urine collection for two consecutive days, in a 24-hour period. The test reveals if the patient is excreting too many minerals that form stones or fewer substances that prevent stone formation. From the test reports, doctors get a good idea about the condition of the patient and can devise a solution accordingly.
• Blood Test: Blood test reports speak about the health and condition of the kidneys. It also reveals the amount of calcium and uric acid present in the blood. Based on these reports, doctors also check other medical conditions of the patient.
• Imaging: Imaging shows the exact location of kidney stones in the urinary tract. There are different imaging tests like simple abdominal X-rays, high-speed tomography, ultrasound, and non-invasive tests. X-rays done in the abdomens do not reflect the small kidney stones (if any). Therefore, to get a better picture of the tiniest stones; high-speed or dual-energy computerized tomography (CT) is performed. In intravenous urography, surgeons inject dyes into the veins of an arm. As the dues travel through the kidney and the bladder; they take X-rays (the process known as intravenous pyelogram) or CT images (the process known as CT urogram). After the imaging test, doctors get a complete idea about the travel of stone.
• Passed Stones Analysis: Doctors also ask patients to urinate through a strainer and they catch stones that might pass through the urine. The collected stones are sent to the lab analyst who thoroughly assesses and talks about the formation and structure of the kidney stones. Using such information, the doctors start determining the causes behind the formation of stones and also form a plan to prevent the growth and development of kidney stones.

The contents of the stone tell a lot about the major constituents responsible for causing stones in the kidneys. In some cases, kidneys develop stones due to excess amounts of uric acid or less amount of calcium in the urine. In other cases, stones get formed from dehydration. By examining the stone components, doctors understand the reason behind its development and can then plan out the right treatment for preventing kidney stones.

Only if the stones are small enough to be passed through urine, doctors provide oral medications. In such cases, patients are advised to drink enough water so that the stone can pass along with their urine. However, while the stone passes, it brings potential pain and discomfort to the patient. To ease this, doctors prescribe pain medications to reduce the pain and enable the patient to pass out the stones, conveniently.

The following three procedures are more prevalent for treating kidney stones:

• Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL): The most prevalent kidney stone treatment, ESWL involves the creation of shock waves outside the body. These waves then travel through the tissues of the body and skin and finally hit the denser stones, where it breaks them down into minute particles and passes the small particulate stones via the urinary tract in the urine. Different kinds of ESWL equipment like x-rays and ultrasounds are used in this procedure. Such devices enable the surgeons to locate the stone in its exact location. Local anesthesia is provided to the patients, at the time of treatment.
• Ureteroscopy: Stones located in the mid and lower ureter are best removed through ureteroscopy. In this process, surgeons don’t make any incisions; rather inject a small fiberoptic instrument known as a ureteroscope. The instrument passes through the urethra and the bladder and finally reaches the uterus. Surgeons then pinpoint the stone and remove it using a cage-like device. In many cases, they also use a specialized instrument and break the stone; thereby producing a shockwave. After this, they leave a small tube (stent) for a few days to facilitate the proper flow of urine.
• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): In cases when the stone is too large or its location does not allow ESWL treatment, PCNL is performed. In this treatment, doctors create a small incision at the back and form a tunnel directly into the kidney. They use an instrument known as a nephroscope, which helps in locating and eliminating the stones. To treat large-size stones, the surgeons apply some kind of energy probe such as ultrasonic or electrohydraulic, and break the stones into smaller particles. In this procedure, patients have to stay in the hospital for quite a few days after surgery. A small tube called a nephrostomy is left in the kidney during the recovery tenure.

If kidney stones are left untreated, they may gradually lead to kidney failure.

Kidney stone formation has no age. Kids and teens, especially those having a family history have potential chances of having stones in their kidneys. An imbalanced diet and the kind of fluids consumed by children develop stones in the kidneys. Some other causes include infections in the kidneys, blockage in urinal flow, and inherited problems.

• The very first step towards preventing kidney stones is by drinking a sufficient amount of water, all throughout the day. On average, a person must consume 2.5L of water. Those living in tropical weather must increase their water consumption since their body tends to dehydrate naturally. Going less on animal protein and salt can also prevent the risks of developing stones.
• Cutting down on foods that are rich in oxalate like nuts, tea soy products, chocolates, Swiss chard, spinach, etc, is another good way to restrict kidney stones.
• And finally, incorporating calcium-rich food into a regular diet works wonders in lowering the risks of forming stones.

The fact that you have developed a stone inside your kidney is no less than a danger. In most cases, kidney stones are 4-5mm in diameter. Such stones pass easily through urine. However, until it gets out of your body, you need to bear a lot of pain. Stone more than 5mm in diameter is a red alert.

Surgery for the removal of kidney stones is necessary when the size of the stones is above 5 mm. When they cause severe pain, bleeding, and inability to urinate, a doctor may recommend surgery after a complete renal examination and blood test. This is because; there are four types of stones. Each needs different methods to treat. However, a doctor may suggest kidney stone surgery, if it is not breaking or dissolving through non-surgical methods of treatment. This can be a case of a hard stone present in the kidney, which is less than 5 mm too. In such a complication of getting the infection to the renal system, surgery is recommended.

YES!! These large-size category stones block the urinary tract, cause infections in it, and increase your pain. SURGERY is the only way to get rid of it.

Is a 1cm kidney stone big?

They are not just big but VERY BIG & DANGEROUS TOO. 1cm equals 10mm, which means they fall into the extremely large category. You really cannot waste any more seconds in operating such large kidney stones. Visit a doctor NOW!!

If your kidney stone is 6-7mm in size, it won’t pass naturally. In this case, you need to opt for treatments, one of them being shock wave lithotripsy. The location of the stone is another important factor to decide if it is suited to lithotripsy. Experienced doctors can provide the best advice in this regard.

Unfortunately, not all kidney stones can be removed. Even then if you wish to reduce the stone size, follow these steps:

• Increase fluid consumption and always stay hydrated
• Have a calcium-rich diet
• Reduce intake of sodium and animal protein
• Cut short all kinds of oxalate-rich food
• Refrain from consuming Vitamin C supplements
• Include more natural herbs in your daily diet

Why not? Depending on the size and exact location of your kidney stone, you can explore other options to remove it from your body. However, if the diameter of the stone is 6mm or more, ESWL or Surgery is the only option. Consult a doctor for appropriate advice.

Lithotripsy is perhaps the best possible way to remove kidney stones. In this treatment, surgeons apply ultrasound shock waves to break the large kidney stones into smaller particles, enabling them to pass out of the body through urine. It causes lesser pain and is more convenient than other procedures.

Read Details Lithotripsy