Small kidney stones often pass out of the body on their own. As long as they don't cause severe pain or complications, treatment isn’t necessary. Larger kidney stones usually need to be treated. Depending on how large the kidney stones are and where they're located, they can be destroyed or removed using an endoscope (a flexible tube with a light and camera at the end of it).
Urinary stones are a phenomenon of residues and insoluble solids deposited in the kidney and urinary tract. The disease progresses silently, in some cases will cause unpleasant symptoms for the sufferer. Benign disease if detected early, treated promptly.
There are two groups of methods of treating kidney stones that are recommended by your doctor: medical treatment (medication) and surgical treatment by interventions such as caning or dissecting stones.
When the stone size is not more than 25mm, causing no complications, the appropriate and safe treatment method is active medical treatment. Patients can use herbs that have a diuretic effect, medications that support the erosion of stones without having to have surgery. This method is safe, convenient, inexpensive and suitable for the weak, elderly.
Nephrolithiasis is not dangerous if treated promptly
Use natural foods that have a diuretic effect to support treatment
You can use herbs that have a strong diuretic effect to push small pieces of gravel out. This herb group applies to stones smaller than 5mm, if larger, it is necessary to coordinate more abrasive drugs.
- Corn stalks: Simple to use, dried or freshly boiled for drinking water daily, has a diuretic effect.
- Cilantro (cilantro): Can be used in the form of dried, then boiled drinking water or pounded freshly diluted with direct drinking water, which contributes to increased urine flow and gravel erosion.
- Psyllium: Known in the treatment of kidney stones for a long time, herbs have a diuretic, anti-inflammatory effect. You can use alone in the case of small stones, combined with Herba Desmodii ...
Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment.
How do health care professionals treat kidney stones?
Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and what type they are.
Small kidney stones may pass through your urinary tract without treatment. If you’re able to pass a kidney stone, a health care professional may ask you to catch the kidney stone in a special container. A health care professional will send the kidney stone to a lab to find out what type it is. A health care professional may advise you to drink plenty of liquids if you are able to help move a kidney stone along. The health care professional also may prescribe pain medicine.
Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.
Kidney stone removal
A urologist can remove the kidney stone or break it into small pieces with the following treatments:
Shock wave lithotripsy. The doctor can use shock wave lithotripsy NIH external link to blast the kidney stone into small pieces. The smaller pieces of the kidney stone then pass through your urinary tract. A doctor can give you anesthesia NIH external link during this outpatient procedure.
Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy. During cystoscopy, the doctor uses a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone in your urethra or bladder. During ureteroscopy, the doctor uses a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope, to see detailed images of the lining of the ureters and kidneys. The doctor inserts the cystoscope or ureteroscope through the urethra to see the rest of the urinary tract. Once the stone is found, the doctor can remove it or break it into smaller pieces. The doctor performs these procedures in the hospital with anesthesia. You can typically go home the same day.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The doctor uses a thin viewing tool, called a nephroscope, to locate and remove the kidney stone. The doctor inserts the tool directly into your kidney through a small cut made in your back. For larger kidney stones, the doctor also may use a laser to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces. The doctor performs percutaneous nephrolithotomy NIH external link in a hospital with anesthesia. You may have to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure.
After these procedures, sometimes the urologist may leave a thin flexible tube, called a ureteral stent, in your urinary tract to help urine flow or a stone to pass. Once the kidney stone is removed, your doctor sends the kidney stone or its pieces to a lab to find out what type it is.
The health care professional also may ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours after the kidney stone has passed or been removed. The health care professional can then measure how much urine you produce in a day, along with mineral levels in your urine. You are more likely to form stones if you don’t make enough urine each day or have a problem with high mineral levels.
Never start or stop any treatment or diet without talking to your doctor first! Meet Dr Nguyen Thi Thai Ha, Specialist level I in Urology
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