Kidney Stones

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are deposits of salts and minerals that form inside your kidneys, the organs responsible for filtering waste and excess fluids from your body.

You may be at increased risk for developing kidney stones if you don’t drink enough water each day to flush excess minerals out of your body. Other risk factors for kidney stones include:

• Obesity
• High-salt diet
• Digestive diseases
• Recurring urinary tract infections

You might also be prone to kidney stones if you have a family history of the condition.

When should I seek treatment for kidney stones?

Small kidney stones may pass on their own if you drink plenty of water. However, if you have large stones, you should schedule a consultation at Sun City Kidney, PA.

Symptoms of kidney stones that need medical attention include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Burning with urination
• Red or brown urine

Severe abdominal or back pain can occur with large kidney stones. You may also experience pain that shifts into other areas as the stone travels through your urinary tract.

Sun City Kidney, PA uses ultrasound imaging to locate kidney stones and evaluate their size. If you can’t pass kidney stones on your own, your provider can create a treatment plan to remove them.

How are kidney stones treated?

Drinking water and taking over-the-counter pain relievers can help you pass small kidney stones more comfortably. For larger stones, you may need medications that relax the muscles in your urinary tract so you can pass the stone with more ease.

If you have very large stones, the kidney specialists at Sun City Kidney, PA offer extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). This noninvasive treatment uses sound waves to break stones into tiny pieces, so you can pass them in your urine.

When ESWL isn’t possible, your provider can remove large stones with a lighted scope that goes into your kidney through your ureters, the small tubes that urine passes through to leave your body. They can also remove stones surgically through a small incision in your back.

In addition to treatment, lifestyle and diet changes can lower your risk for new kidney stones. The team recommends eating a low-salt, low-protein diet and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. You may also need medications that control minerals and salts in your urine.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for kidney stones, call Sun City Kidney, PA today or book an appointment online.