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Demystifying Urinary Stones: Frequently Asked Questions, Myths, and Facts
2023-06-15
Demystifying Urinary Stones: Frequently Asked Questions, Myths, and Facts

Demystifying Urinary Stones: Frequently Asked Questions, Myths, and Facts

Q.1: What is the treatment for a urinary stone/kidney stone?

Answer: The treatment of urinary stone/kidney stone depends on the size of the stone and where it is located. Most of the people (80%) have stones 6 mm or smaller. l Stones 6 mm or smaller pass on their own or with medication in most (80%) people. Stones 10 mm or larger are less likely to pass on their own, so such a small stone that does not come out by itself (stuck stone) is removed by operation.

 Stones located in the lower part of the kidney tube (ureter), bladder, or urine tube (urethra) are more likely to pass on their own than stones located in the upper part of the kidney or ureter.

Q.2: What are the symptoms of a kidney stone?

Answer: Unbearable pain in the side of the back or lower abdomen (severe flank pain)

  • Pain that keeps increasing, decreasing, and coming again and again.
  • Vomiting or the urge to vomit.
  • Burning sensation while urinating.
  • Retention of urine
  • Blood in urine

Q.3: How are kidney stones formed?

Answer: The main function of the kidney is to filter the blood, remove the impurities of the blood (useless salts) from the body in the form of urine, and maintain the balance of water and useful salts in the body.

Whenever the ratio of salts and water in the urine exceeds a certain amount (solubility coefficient), the salts begin to accumulate and form stones.

Q.4: What are the reasons for kidney stone formation?

Answer:

  • Drink less water
  • Excess of animal protein and salt in the diet.
  • Lack of exercise in routine.
  • Having a family history of kidney stones.
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Being obese
  • Q.5: I have a kidney stone. What should I do?

Answer: You should consult a trained Urologist (Qualified Urologist). The urologist will do a physical examination, note down the history of symptoms, order radiological tests (ultrasound or CT scan), urine tests, and, if necessary, blood tests (kidney function tests).

Q 6: I have a kidney stone, but I do not feel pain. What should I do?

Answer: The stone gives pain only when it moves from its place, tries to come out, or gets stuck and obstructs the urinary tract.

Sometimes obstructive stones do not cause pain, which is a serious problem because they can damage the kidneys.

Generally, those stones that lie quietly in the kidney and do not cause obstruction do not cause pain. But if they remain in the body for a long time, their size can increase, and they can block the ureter. That's why it is said that painful stones are good because they keep reminding you to get treatment.

Often, people ignore kidney stone and their symptoms, which can prove to be dangerous for them.

Therefore, in case of kidney stones, you should consult a qualified urologist.

Q.7: I have been having pain on the left side for two days. A 5.6 mm ureteric stone was found in an ultrasound examination. Will I have to undergo an operation?

Answer: Stones 6 mm or smaller pass out on their own or with the help of medicines in most (80%) people. Therefore, your treatment with medicines is possible.

If everything goes well as expected, then after two weeks, an ultrasound test will be done to make sure that the stone is gone.

But if the following problem occurs during the two weeks, it should be shown randomly:

  •   acute pain that does not respond to medication
  •    retention of urine
  •    get fever
  •    worsening of kidney function tests

The above symptoms indicate that your stone is stuck, so in such a situation, an emergency operation has to be done, even for very small stones.

Q 8: I have been having pain on the right side for a long time. In the ultrasound, there was a stone in the right ureter. I have taken a lot of home remedies. But there is no relief from pain. I got an ultrasound done again, in which there is no stone. What should I do?

Answer: You should consult a qualified urologist. The urologist will note down your problems, medical history, and look at the ultrasound. Sometimes stones 6 mm or smaller are not visible in an ultrasound. Therefore, if needed, they will get a CT scan and a urine test done.

CT scan is the best test for kidney stones.

Q.9: I have a kidney/ureteric stone on the right side, and my right kidney is found defective in the IVP test. What should I do?

Answer: The IVP report can be confusing at times, especially when the kidney is blocked by a stone.

You should consult a qualified urologist, who will do some tests like a blood test (kidney function test), a CT scan, a color or plain (CECT or NCCT), and a DTPA scan if required.

After seeing all the reports, if needed, they can temporarily bypass the kidney blockage with a DJ stent or PCN and get it checked again after some time.

If the kidney is working less than 15% then it should be removed.

If the kidney is working more than 15% then the stone is removed.

Q.10: Kidney/Uric stone has damaged my kidney, can it be cured? What can be done?

Answer: The Kidney is such a part of the body that the part of it that is damaged cannot be restored.

Our effort is to save whatever part of the kidney is left.

Q.11: My kidney is damaged due to a kidney/ureteric stone. Is it necessary to remove it?

Answer: Absolutely.

A bad kidney should be removed because pus can collect in it at any time, which is an emergency and life-threatening.

Q.12: How are the operations of urinary stone (urinary system stone) done?

Answer: The operation of urinary stone depends on the size and site of the stone (where it is located).

In the operation (cystolithotripsy) of stones located in the urine bag (bladder) or urine tube (urethra), the stone is removed by telescope without any incision through the urethra.

In case of very large stones, it is removed by breaking through a small hole in the urine bag and using binoculars (PCCLT).

  The lower ureteric stone located in the lower part of the kidney tube is removed by breaking the stone without any incision, using a partial turning telescope.

There are several methods of operating for stones located in the upper part of the kidney or ureter.

PCNL (PCNL) In this operation, the stone is removed by breaking through a small hole in the kidney through the back and through a telescope.

RIRS (RIRS) In this operation, by way of the urinary tract, with a flexible telescope and laser (LASER), without any incision, the stone is broken and made into sand.

ESWL (ESWL) In this method, an attempt is made to break the stone by focusing the sound waves on the stone, which depends on the hardness of the stone.

Sometimes, in case of very large stones, the stone located in the upper part of the ureter is removed by several microscopic holes in the abdomen and by the telescope of the abdomen, LAPAROSCOPIC PYELO / URETERO LITHOTOMY.