Kidney stones can often develop without your knowledge and cause severe pain as they start moving around the urinary tract. The treatment for passing a kidney stone varies widely depending on the individual, and can range from drinking more water to surgical intervention.
At Urological Associates, our specialists have considerable experience in helping people with this painful condition. We assess kidney stones using state-of-the-art diagnostics, and use minimally invasive procedures to break the stones up and remove them. Call Urological Associates today to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment online.
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. Kidney stone pain can be excruciating, but the stones don’t normally cause serious harm as long as they are diagnosed early.
Although there is no single cause for kidney stones, several factors can increase your risk, including:
A kidney stone will typically not cause symptoms until it starts to move around inside your kidney or passes into the ureters. Once this happens, you may experience:
When you urinate, your urine might be:
How long it takes to pass a kidney stone depends on its size and location.
For smaller kidney stones, your provider may recommend drinking plenty of water to help flush the kidney stones out through your urine.
Larger stones are likely to cause a lot of pain as they travel down the urethra, and can get stuck. In such cases, treatment options include:
You may require surgery if the stone won’t pass on its own, if other approaches aren’t working, or if your stone is affecting your kidneys. Speak to a urologist for a complete evaluation to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for surgery.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention: