Types of Kidney Stones & Treatment

Kidney stones are common, but they can be tricky to treat. Knowing what kind of stone you have can help with treatment and prevention in the future.

Calcium-Oxalate Stones

• Calcium-oxalate stones are the most common kidney stones. When calcium is deposited in the kidneys, it usually is removed from the body through urine. If the calcium stays in the kidneys and builds up, it forms a stone.

Struvite Stones

• According to EMedTV.com, struvite stones are caused by an infection. Any infection in the kidneys or urinary tract can cause these stones, which are made of ammonia, magnesium and other waste.

Uric Acid Stones

• Uric acid stones are caused by an abnormal amount of acidity in the kidneys. Most doctors recommend eating less red meat when these stones become frequent.

Cystine Stones

• This type of stone is one of the only genetic types of kidney stones. Cystine makes up muscles and nerves, and when there is a build up a stone will occur.

Treatment

• Most doctors will allow a kidney stone to pass, which means it will find it's way out of your body through the urethra, which is typically a painful process. For bigger stones, or stones that have more problems getting out of the kidneys, there are small tools a doctor can use to take them out or surgery may be required.