There are many options available for kidney stone treatment, ranging from adopting healthy lifestyles to taking medication and possibly even resorting to surgery.
It depends on the size and location of the stones formed, their type, the severity of the pain and symptoms you are experiencing, and the complications associated with that, such as a blockage in the urinary tract or a defect in kidney function.
1- Waiting for the kidney stone to pass
Most of the time, the kidney stones that form are small enough that your body alone can pass them through your urine. Your doctor may suggest you wait 2-4 weeks and watch for the kidney stones to clear up naturally.
During this period, you should drink a lot of water, about 3 liters per day, and make it a daily habit that will continue even after recovery to prevent the formation of new stones.
2- Medicines for kidney stone treatment
Sometimes, even though your stones are small, their presence can cause pain, discomfort, and more. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend any of the following :
Pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol.
Alpha-blockers ( such as tamsulosin ) relax the muscles lining the ureter (a cylindrical tube that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder) and thus widen the passage through it, making it easier for stones to pass through it and exit on their own.
In cases of acute pain, it is necessary to go to the emergency room to take opioid analgesics and intravenous anti-inflammatories and follow up the case closely with the doctor.
3- Surgery for kidney stone treatment
Sometimes the formed kidney stones are stuck inside the urinary tract or are too large to be allowed to pass naturally on their own, such stones may cause a blockage in the urinary tract so that you lose your ability or have difficulty urinating, or repeat infection of the tract Urinary tract, forcing your doctor to resort to using a minimally invasive surgical procedure to break up and remove kidney stones.
There are three basic techniques approved for kidney stone surgery. Your doctor will explain the benefits and risks of each, to choose the most appropriate method for your case, taking into account several factors including the size and location of your stone, medications you are taking your health status, and your preferences.
A- Shockwave sound for kidney stone treatment
From simple, non-invasive outpatient treatment options, you can go home the same day and resume your daily activities within two to three days. It takes about 45-60 minutes and may need light sedation.
It is an effective way to break up small and medium-sized kidney stones (kidney stones less than 20 mm in size). This technique is based on directing high-energy sound waves from outside the body through the skin towards large stones to break them up during collision into smaller pieces that are eliminated by passing them through the urine.
Shock waves are one of the widely used and safe options for breaking up kidney stones. They may be accompanied by some side effects such as blood in the urine, especially in the first days after treatment.
If you suffer from the formation of large or hard kidney stones, especially those composed of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or cysteine, shock waves are not among the effective options available to you.
B- Endoscope and laser for kidney stone treatment
Ureteroscopy, one of the latest therapeutic procedures used to break up kidney stones, is performed under general anesthesia without causing any incision or incision in the body, and you can leave on the same day.The doctor inserts it through the urinary opening through the urethra to the bladder and then into the ureter to get rid of kidney and ureter stones.
The doctor resorts here to direct laser beams or shock waves towards these stones to break them up so that they are easily removed through the urine depending on the course of the operation and your health condition.
C- Percutaneous extraction for kidney stone treatment
It is the best option for removing large kidney stones, especially after other treatment options have failed to break them down. It is done under general anesthesia and requires a stay in the hospital for a day or two until it recovers completely.
During the operation, the doctor makes a small incision in the back to pass the endoscope into the kidney where the stones are located, to see the stones and determine their exact location, and then direct a source of energy such as a laser or ultrasound to break up the stones into small pieces that are suctioned through an external tube directly.
