How are kidney stones treated?

How are kidney stones treated?

Treating kidney stones primarily is focused on symptom management; passing a stone can be very painful. If a person has a history of kidney stones, home treatment may be suitable. A person who has never passed a kidney stone should seek the help of a medical professional. 

If hospital treatment is sought, personnel will hydrate the patient via an intravenous tube and administer anti-inflammatory medication. Narcotics are often used as medication in an attempt to make the pain of passing the stone tolerable. Anti-emetic medication can treat a patient suffering from nausea and vomiting. 

In some cases, a urologist can perform a shock wave therapy called lithotripsy - a treatment that will break the kidney stone into smaller pieces and allow it to pass. A study indicated that shock wave therapy for kidney stones is linked to an increased risk of diabetes.

Patients with large stones located in regions that do not allow for lithotripsy may receive surgical procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (removal of the stone through an incision in the back) or ureteroscopic stone removal (removal of the stone through a thin tube into the urethra). 

A study carried out by researchers at the University of California stated that patients stone disease may benefit from drinking diet sodas.