How to Eliminate Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are small, hard objects that can form in the kidneys when urine contains too much of certain wastes. They may cause symptoms when they move into the urinary tract and become stuck. Typical symptoms include severe pain in the belly, side, or groin and sometimes blood in the urine, nausea, or vomiting. Depending on the size and placement of the kidney stone, you may be able to eliminate a kidney stone with home treatment; in some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult your doctor if you believe you're suffering from a kidney stone. He will likely perform tests to determine the size and location of the stone. These results will help your doctor decide whether home treatment is likely to be sufficient to remove the kidney stone or if surgical intervention may be necessary.

• 2

  Drink 2 to 3 qts. of water per day and try to stay physically active if your doctor recommends home treatment. If the kidney stone is small enough, these measures may help eliminate it from the urinary system.

• 3

  Take over-the-counter pain medications to control your pain. As passing a kidney stone can be very painful, you may also need prescription pain medication from your doctor.

• 4

  Return to your doctor if you think the stone is taking too long to pass on its own or if you start to experience new symptoms. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the kidney stone.