Kidney Stones Specialist

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones develop when acid salts and mineral deposits build up inside the kidneys, the organs that filter toxins and excess fluids from your body.

There is no single cause of kidney stones. The stones can form if your urine has high levels of calcium and other substances that can crystalize together. You may also develop stones if your urine doesn’t have enough substances to prevent crystals from sticking together.

Your risk for kidney stones increases if you don’t drink enough water every day or if you eat a diet that’s high in sodium (salt). You may also be at increased risk for kidney stones due to:

• Family history
• Weight challenges
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Use of certain medications

People who undergo gastric bypass surgery may also be more likely to develop kidney stones.

When do I need treatment for kidney stones?

You can often pass small kidney stones without any treatment. However, larger stones can block the ureters, the tubes that pass urine out of your body. This blockage can lead to a variety of painful symptoms that can worsen without treatment.

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Texas Urological Clinic if you have symptoms of kidney stones that don’t get better on their own or that interfere with your quality of life.

Symptoms of kidney stones can include:

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Persistent need to urinate
• Burning during urination
• Sharp pain in the back or side

Some people may also experience nausea or vomiting due to kidney stones.

How are kidney stones treated?

To flush out small stones, you may need to drink extra water. Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce any discomfort you have until the stone passes.

If you have large kidney stones that you can’t pass on your own, Dr. Todd may request a computed tomography (CT) scan to evaluate the location and size of the stones. He may also order urine tests or blood tests to determine what’s causing your stones.

Texas Urological Clinic offers several treatments to address large kidney stones, including:

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)

ESWL uses ultrasound technology to break up large stones into smaller pieces, so you can pass them more comfortably. This treatment is noninvasive and takes about 45-60 minutes to complete.

Ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy is a procedure to remove kidney stones with a special lighted scope. The scope can remove stones or break them down into smaller stones, so you can pass them during urination.

Surgery

If nonsurgical therapies aren’t effective at treating large kidney stones, Dr. Todd may recommend minimally invasive surgery. He makes small incisions in your back to remove painful kidney stones with specialized surgical instruments.

If you’re bothered by pain or other symptoms of kidney stones, call Texas Urological Clinic today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation, or book an appointment online.