Kidney Stones Treated Offered by Urology Doctors in Baltimore

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in your kidneys and can range in size from small pebbles to golf balls. They are made of salts and minerals that stick together and can stay in the kidneys or travel out of the body through the urinary tract.  Kidney stones are one of the most painful urological disorders. 

What causes Kidney Stones?

There is no single cause of kidney stones. Adults over 40 and men are more likely sufferers of kidney stones. Changes in the make-up of the urine can result in kidney stones. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day is an important kidney stone prevention tip. Other risk factors may include:

• Family history
• Obesity
• Dehydration
• Diet, including high salt consumption
• Digestive diseases and gastric bypass surgery can increase the likelihood of kidney stone creation

Kidney stones may stay in the kidney and cause no symptoms at all.  Patients become aware of kidney stones as they travel from the kidneys through the urinary tract. Sudden and severe pain is often a patient’s first sign of kidney stones. Kidney stone pain may occur in the side, the belly, or the back and can travel down to the groin area and hit in waves of intense pain. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Painful urination or urge to constantly urinate
• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or bad-smelling urine

Kidney stone symptoms can also include fever and chills if a kidney infection has occurred.
Diagnosing kidney stones is done with simple blood tests, urine tests, and imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds or even dye injected tests that can show the kidney stone in the urinary tract. Some patients are able to save a passed kidney stone and a lab analysis can identify the composition of the stone so our doctors can develop a treatment plan to minimize future stones from developing.

Most kidney stones leave the body without any medical intervention. Pain medication and lots of glasses of water can help pass the kidney stone or stones. If the stone is bigger than pebble size, surgery may be needed to remove the stone. Other options include:

• Shock wave or laser treatment (non-invasive lithotripsy) breaks up stones into smaller pieces that pass out of the body in the urine.
• Stent placement (a small flexible plastic tube) in the ureter keeps it open while stones leave the body.