Kidney stones are usually of four types, calcium, struvite, cystine and uric acid. Depending upon the type, physicians can suggest tailor-made treatments appropriate to each patient. Waiting and watching- In almost 85% of kidney stone patients, stones pass out during urination. Sometimes, the stones pass out within 72 hours of symptom onset, otherwise stones pass out without one ever discovering of suffering of kidney stones. So, in initial stages it is advisable to drink as much water as possible, as much as two or three quarts every day. Also, stay physically active and exercise patience. It will eventually pay off. Your doctor may prescribe painkillers to help with the pain associated with passing out kidney stones. Also, while passing out a stone it is recommended to use a strainer so that the stone may be recovered and analyzed. Laboratory examination of the stone will reveal its mineral composition providing insight into the causes behind stone formation and also providing direction to future research for appropriate treatment and preventive measures. Medication- Today, medications are available in the markets that guarantee relief from kidney stones painlessly and effortlessly. The medication acts on the kidney stones to disintegrate them into tiny particles that may get flushed out of the body with the urine. These medications also prevent urinary tract infections and recurrence of kidney stones. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) - ESWL may be used to get rid of stones that are 1.5 centimeters or lesser in size. This therapy involves the use of shock waves to break down the stones so that they may be gradually flushed out. The patient along with the ESWL apparatus is partially submerged in a water tub. X-rays are used to locate the stone and then shock waves are directed at it. The frequency and duration of the procedure is gradually increased. Four to six sessions of shock wave therapy may be required. A session may last anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes. The shock waves are painful, so the procedure is performed with sedatives, local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy-When the stone is larger in size ESWL may not work. In that case the stone may have to be removed through surgery. A small incision is made on the back and an instrument called a nephroscope is used to break the stones and extract them. General anesthesia is used, and patients usually stay in the hospital for one to two days, with additional recovery time of one to two weeks. Ureteroscopic Stone Removal- This procedure is used by surgeons to remove stones if they have moved into the ureter. A ureteroscope is passed through the bladder into the ureter to snare the stone. This is of course conducted under anesthesia. To prevent swelling a stent may be placed in the ureter for a couple of days. Parathyroid Surgery- This surgery is performed by a general surgeon and not by a urologist as it involves removing the overgrowth on the parathyroid glands. Certain calcium stones may be a result of an overgrowth on the parathyroid glands, causing it to be overactive, making the body's level of calcium too high, which can lead to kidney stone formation. In these cases, removing the growth on the parathyroid gland will cure the kidney stone problem.
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