Author:
Lewis Jackson
Date Of Creation:
9 May 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Kidney stones can range from moderate to severe pain, but fortunately they rarely lead to permanent damage or complications. Although uncomfortable, most kidney stones are usually small enough to be passed out without medical treatment. Drink plenty of fluids, manage pain with medication, and if advised by your doctor, you can take a urinary tract muscle relaxant. To reduce your risk of kidney stones in the future, you should limit salt intake, eat less fat and adjust your diet as recommended by your doctor.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Get rid of small sized kidney stones
See a doctor if you suspect you have kidney stones. Symptoms of kidney stones include: cramping pain in the sides, back, groin or lower abdomen, pain when urinating, cloudy urine, urinary retention or blood in the urine. Visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and choose the right treatment plan.
- Your doctor will diagnose kidney stones with blood and urine tests, ultrasound and x-rays. Tests and pictures can show the type and size of the stone, and whether it is small enough for self-excretion.
Drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of water per day. Water will purify the kidneys and may help remove stones. You can observe your urine to monitor how much water you drink. Light yellow urine indicates that you are drinking enough. If your urine is dark, you are dehydrated.- Staying hydrated will help prevent kidney stones from forming, so drinking plenty of water is essential.
- Water is best, but you can also drink ginger-flavored soft drinks and some whole fruit juices in moderation. Avoid drinking grapefruit and cranberry juice, as they can increase the risk of kidney stones.
- Avoid or reduce your caffeine intake, as caffeine can lead to dehydration. Try not to drink more than 1 cup (240 ml) of caffeine, tea or coffee per day.
Take pain relievers as needed or as advised by your doctor. Although most kidney stones are self-destructive without medical treatment, you still have pain during the process of eliminating kidney stones. You can control the pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin. Read the label carefully and use it according to the instructions.- If the over-the-counter pain reliever doesn't work, see your doctor for a prescription pain reliever. If necessary, your doctor will prescribe a high level pain reliever (such as ibuprofen), or, in some cases, a narcotic pain reliever.
- Always take prescription medication as directed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor about alpha blockers. Alpha-blockers relax the urinary tract muscles and may help ease the removal of kidney stones. Medicines are available by prescription, and are usually taken 30 minutes after a meal at the same time each day.- Side effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, diarrhea, and fainting. You should be slow when getting out of bed or when getting up to prevent dizziness and fainting. Tell your doctor if the side effects are persistent or severe.
Get a sample of kidney stones if ordered by your doctor. To get a kidney stone sample, your doctor may instruct you to urinate in a cup, then filter it out. If you have a diagnosed urinary obstruction, or if the type or cause of your kidney stone is unknown, it is necessary to take a sample of your kidney stone.
- The long-term method of managing kidney stones will vary depending on the type of stone and the cause of the stone. To find an effective treatment regimen, your doctor may need to test a sample of the stone.
- If necessary, your doctor will provide you tools and instructions on how to take the sample.
Wait at least a few weeks for the gravel to be removed. Small kidney stones can take days to months to pass from the body. During this time, you need to continue taking the medication as directed by your doctor. Stay hydrated, try to control pain and follow your doctor's advice.
- The time it takes to wait for the kidney stones to clear can make you impatient, but try to be patient. Although kidney stones often clear themselves, sometimes some stones require medical intervention. In the meantime, you should contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse. such as severe pain, urinary retention, or blood in the urine.
Method 2 of 3: Medical treatment
See a doctor as soon as urgent symptoms appear. Serious symptoms include: bloody urine, fever or chills, discoloration, severe pain in your back or side, vomiting, or a burning sensation when urinating. If you notice these symptoms while waiting for the small kidney stone to be cleared, call your doctor immediately.
- If you have not seen a doctor or have not been diagnosed with a kidney stone, get medical attention as soon as you have these symptoms.
- Your doctor may order an ultrasound or x-ray to look for kidney stones. If you find that the kidney stone is too large to clear on its own, your doctor will recommend treatment based on its size and location.
Take medicine to prevent stones from growing and forming. Your doctor will likely prescribe stone-dispersing drugs and remove substances that cause kidney stones. For example, potassium citrate that is commonly used to control calcium stones is the most common type of stone. With uric acid stones, allopurinol will help lower uric acid levels in the body.
- Side effects may include: upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, and drowsiness. You need to let your doctor know if any of these side effects are persistent or serious.
Talk to your doctor about treating the underlying cause, if necessary. Gastrointestinal disorders, gout, kidney disease, obesity and a number of other conditions can all contribute to kidney stones. To reduce your risk of kidney stones, ask your doctor about treating an underlying medical problem, adjusting your diet, or changing medications.
- For struvite stones caused by an infection, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic. Take it as prescribed by your doctor, and do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor.
The gravel is as large as a shock wave. This stone crushing procedure is used to treat large sized kidney stones in the kidney or upper urinary tract. A device emits high-pressure sound waves that travel through the body and break the stone into smaller pieces. The debris can then be passed out in the urine.
- You will be given medicine to relax or sleep during the procedure. The procedure takes about 1 hour, and it will take you another 2 hours to recover. Patients usually go home the same day.
- Take a break for 1-2 days before returning to normal activities. The stones can take 4-8 weeks to go away. During this time, you may experience pain in your back or side, nausea or some blood in your urine.
A cystoscopy is used to treat large stones in the lower urinary tract. The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder and urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. A special thin device is used to find and remove larger stones in these organs.
- Your doctor may also recommend a similar procedure called ureteroscopy to remove stones in the ureter connecting the kidneys and bladder. If the stone is large, one can use a laser to disperse small pieces enough to be eliminated in the urine.
- A cystoscopy and ureteroscopy are usually performed while the patient is under anesthesia, meaning that you will sleep for the entire time of the procedure. Most patients are able to go home within the same day.
- During the first 24 hours after the procedure, you may feel a burning sensation when urinating and some blood in your urine. Tell your doctor if these symptoms last more than a day.
Ask your doctor about surgical options if other options are not working. Kidney stones rarely require surgery, but they will be needed if other options cannot be worked out or don't work.A tube is inserted into the kidney through a small incision in the back, and then the stone is removed or crushed with a laser.
- Some people need to stay in hospital 2-3 days after kidney stone removal surgery. Your doctor will guide you to change the bandage, take care of the incision and rest after the surgery ..
Method 3 of 3: Prevent kidney stones
Ask your doctor about prevention of specific stones. Your doctor will advise you on adjusting your diet to match the type of stone to treat. Adjustments such as sodium restriction, eating less fat and drinking enough water apply to all cases, but certain foods contribute to certain types of kidney stones.
- For example, if you have uric acid stones, you should avoid eating herring, sardines, anchovies, animal organs (such as liver), mushrooms, asparagus, and spinach.
- If you have calcium stones, avoid calcium and vitamin D supplements, limit calcium-rich foods to 2-3 servings per day, and avoid antacids containing calcium.
- Note that people who have ever had kidney stones are at risk of relapse. 50% of people who ever had kidney stones will recur in 5 to 10 years, but precautions will help you reduce this risk.
Try to limit salt intake to less than 1,500 mg / day. Although 2,300 mg of sodium is the recommended amount for adults, physicians generally recommend only 1,500mg / day. Avoid adding too much salt to foods, and try to limit salt when cooking.
- Instead of salt, you can flavor your meals with fresh and dried herbs, juices and citrus rinds.
- When possible, try to cook for yourself instead of going to the restaurant. When eating out, you will not be able to control the amount of salt in your meal.
- Avoid processed and marinated meats. Also, stay away from junk foods high in salt, such as french fries and canned foods. Check the sodium content on the product packaging before eating.
Add lemon to your diet, especially if you have calcium kidney stones. Squeeze lemons into drinking water or drink low-sugar lemonade daily. Lemons can dissolve calcium stones and prevent them from forming.
- Lemons can also help reduce the risk of uric acid stone formation.
- Don't choose lemon juice or other lemon products that are high in sugar.
Eat lean protein in moderation. You can eat animal products in moderation, provided it is low in fat, such as white poultry and eggs. To reduce your risk of forming kidney stones, avoid red meats, and try to get as much protein from plant sources as possible, such as pea, lentils, and nuts.
- If you are prone to uric acid kidney stones, try to limit your meat intake to 85 g or less of meat with each meal. To control uric acid, your doctor may advise you to completely cut animal protein from your diet, including eggs and poultry.
Eat calcium-rich foods, but avoid supplements. Some people with calcium stones think they should completely avoid calcium, but actually you still need calcium to maintain bone strength. Therefore, you should consume 2-3 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt per day.
- Don't take calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin C supplements. Avoid antacids that contain calcium.
Exercise regularly, but remember to drink more water to stay hydrated. Try to exercise for about 30 minutes a day. Regular physical activity is an important factor for overall health. Brisk walking and cycling are great exercises, especially if you aren't used to doing a lot of exercise.
- During exercise, pay attention to the amount of sweat released. The more you sweat, the more water you need to drink. To avoid dehydration, try to drink 1 cup (240 ml) of water every 20 minutes during intense exercise, hot weather, or when sweating heavily.
Advice
- Taking measures to prevent kidney stones is important. However, keep in mind that half of people who ever had kidney stones will come back.
