Kidney stones are a buildup of minerals and salts that harden inside your kidneys. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract including the kidneys, bladder and ureters. Some stones stay in the kidneys and do not cause any problems. Symptoms of kidney stones are normally experienced when the stone moves around in your kidney or passes into your ureter.
Passing kidney stones can be painful, but usually cause no long-term damage when treated properly. In some situations, stones can be passed by taking medication and drinking lots of water. If you have an increased risk of developing kidney stones, your doctor may recommend preventative treatment to reduce your risk.
Our urologists at Urology Clinics of North Texas will develop a custom treatment plan for your kidney stones with your best interest in mind.
Kidney stones do not have a known cause, but several risk factors make them more likely to develop. The risk factors for kidney stones often include:
- White men over 50 years of age
- Family history of kidney stones
- Dehydration
- Diets high in protein, sodium or sugar
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases
- Medical conditions such as hyperparathyroidism
The most common symptom of kidney stones is intermittent pain in the lower back, typically on either the left or right side. Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Stomach ache
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
The first step to diagnosing kidney stones is to take a urine sample. Blood or mineral deposits in the urine signal kidney stones. Blood tests may also reveal minerals in your blood and help doctors monitor the health of your kidneys. If blood and urine tests show signs of kidney stones, imaging tests may be done to show where the stones are located. Abdominal x-rays may reveal large kidney stones, while CT Scans reveal very small stones.
Kidney stones that cannot be passed may require more extensive treatment. There are several procedures to treat kidney stones including:
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) – This procedure uses sound waves to create vibrations to break up the stones, making them small enough to pass.
- Utereroscopy – This procedure passes a thin lighted scope with a camera into your bladder and uses tools to break the stones into pieces that you can pass in your urine.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy – This procedure is the surgical removal of the stone using small scopes through a small incision in your back.
After stones are passed, analysis may be done to determine what’s causing the stones and how to prevent more stones from forming. Additional medications may be prescribed to control the minerals in your urine that are causing kidney stones. Dietary changes are suggested as well for prevention of recurring kidney stones.
Kidney stones do not have a known cause, but several risk factors make them more likely to develop. The risk factors for kidney stones often include:
- White men over 50 years of age
- Family history of kidney stones
- Dehydration
- Diets high in protein, sodium or sugar
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases
- Medical conditions such as hyperparathyroidism
Kidney stones happen in 13% of men and 7% of women.
The most common symptom of kidney stones is intermittent pain in the lower back, typically on either the left or right side. Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Stomach ache
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
Urine and blood samples may be taken to determine kidney health and presence of kidney stones. Additional imaging may be done to determine the location of the kidney stones.
Kidney stones are a buildup of minerals and salts that harden inside your kidneys. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract including the kidneys, bladder and ureters. Some stones stay in the kidneys and do not cause any problems. Symptoms of kidney stones are normally experienced when the stone moves around in your kidney or passes into your ureter.
Passing kidney stones can be painful, but usually cause no long-term damage when treated properly. In some situations, stones can be passed by taking medication and drinking lots of water. If you have an increased risk of developing kidney stones, your doctor may recommend preventative treatment to reduce your risk.
Our urologists at Urology Clinics of North Texas will develop a custom treatment plan for your kidney stones with your best interest in mind.
Kidney stones do not have a known cause, but several risk factors make them more likely to develop. The risk factors for kidney stones often include:
- White men over 50 years of age
- Family history of kidney stones
- Dehydration
- Diets high in protein, sodium or sugar
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases
- Medical conditions such as hyperparathyroidism
The most common symptom of kidney stones is intermittent pain in the lower back, typically on either the left or right side. Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Stomach ache
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
The first step to diagnosing kidney stones is to take a urine sample. Blood or mineral deposits in the urine signal kidney stones. Blood tests may also reveal minerals in your blood and help doctors monitor the health of your kidneys. If blood and urine tests show signs of kidney stones, imaging tests may be done to show where the stones are located. Abdominal x-rays may reveal large kidney stones, while CT Scans reveal very small stones.
Kidney stones that cannot be passed may require more extensive treatment. There are several procedures to treat kidney stones including:
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) – This procedure uses sound waves to create vibrations to break up the stones, making them small enough to pass.
- Utereroscopy – This procedure passes a thin lighted scope with a camera into your bladder and uses tools to break the stones into pieces that you can pass in your urine.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy – This procedure is the surgical removal of the stone using small scopes through a small incision in your back.
After stones are passed, analysis may be done to determine what’s causing the stones and how to prevent more stones from forming. Additional medications may be prescribed to control the minerals in your urine that are causing kidney stones. Dietary changes are suggested as well for prevention of recurring kidney stones.
Kidney stones do not have a known cause, but several risk factors make them more likely to develop. The risk factors for kidney stones often include:
- White men over 50 years of age
- Family history of kidney stones
- Dehydration
- Diets high in protein, sodium or sugar
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases
- Medical conditions such as hyperparathyroidism
Kidney stones happen in 13% of men and 7% of women.
The most common symptom of kidney stones is intermittent pain in the lower back, typically on either the left or right side. Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Stomach ache
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
Urine and blood samples may be taken to determine kidney health and presence of kidney stones. Additional imaging may be done to determine the location of the kidney stones.
