Remedies to Remove Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that grow into small stones inside of the kidneys. Excess calcium is the most common cause of kidney stones. The stones may also pass from the kidneys into the bladder or ureter, where they get lodged. Symptoms include cloudy urine, blood in the urine, discomfort, and a feeling like you constantly have to go to the bathroom. Kidney stones sometimes pass on their own, and sometimes must be removed with medical intervention.

Watch & Wait

• According to the Mayo Clinic, 85% of kidney stones exit the body on their own in urine within 72 hours of forming. Mayo Clinic recommends drinking ample water in order to help the kidney stones pass more quickly. Between two to three quarts of water is recommended on a daily basis. You should also stay active during this time in order to help the stone pass. Over the counter or prescription pain killers can be used to relieve pain if necessary.

Minimally Invasive Treatment

• Some kidney stones are too large to pass on their own, or would cause bleeding, kidney damage, and/or excessive pain if they passed naturally. Two minimally invasive treatments can be performed on an out-patient basis to keep remove these kidney stones: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) and Ureteroscopic Stone Removal.

  ESWL involves applying shock waves to the kidney stones to cause the into crumble into easily passable fragments. The treatment is appropriate for stones smaller than 1 cm. Sedatives and/r anesthesia are used to minimize the pain associated with the procedure. Side effects may include blood in the urine, painful urination when the stone passes, and light bruising on the abdomen.

  Ureteroscopic Stone Removal is used to remove stones that are stuck in a ureter. A ureteroscope is passed through the bladder and used to capture and remove the stone. In some cases, the doctor will need to break the stone before extracting it. A stent (tube) is placed in the ureter to help minimize pain and swelling for the first several days following the out-patient procedure.

Surgical Removal

• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a doctor removes kidney stones using a nephroscope. The nephroscope is inserted into the kidney through a small incision made in the back, and removes pieces of the stone that are broken up by a laser or probe. Typically patients remain in the hospital for one to two days after the procedure.

  In some cases, Parathyroid Surgery is performed to remove growths on the thyroid glands that are causing the kidney stones to form. This treatment method is effective only in patients who have repeat kidney stones caused by benign growths on the thyroid.