Passing a kidney stone can be one of the most painful experiences in a person’s life. Stones are one of the most common urologic concerns, with over 10 percent of Americans developing one - these rates are even higher in Georgia.
Fortunately, the physicians at Georgia Urology are experienced leaders in treating and preventing kidney stones, and our program is one of the largest in the Southeast. We offer the most advanced techniques and technologies, from non-invasive to surgical to diagnose and treat any kidney stone.
If you need a fast kidney stone appointment, call Georgia’s Kidney Stone Hotline 24x7, at 1-855-786-6311 to schedule a same-day or next-business-day appointment.
Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine and stick together to form small “pebbles.” Crystallization occurs when particular metabolites become too concentrated in the urine, often from dehydration in the summer heat. In fact, Atlanta is part of the stone belt that compromises most of the Southeast United States. Stones can be as small as grains of sand or can fill the entire collecting system of the kidney. Stones form in the kidney but can eventually block the flow of urine when they become lodged in the ureter, which is a tube that connects the bladder to the kidney.
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Kidney stones often cause sudden, intense, and unrelenting flank pain due to the blockage of urinary flow from the kidney and increased pressure in the urinary system. The pain may move from the upper back to the lower abdomen as the stone moves toward the bladder.
Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, bloody urine, and frequent and painful urination. If you have a fever, this indicates an infection, which is a medical emergency, and you should contact your urologist immediately. The combination of infection and urinary blockage may lead to a blood infection.
Stones may also form within the kidney. These larger stones may also cause pain, bleeding, infection, and kidney damage. Bacteria can “hide” in the kidney stone, escaping antibiotics and causing chronic urinary tract infections (UTI). The volume of the stone may also impede normal urine flow and affect kidney function.
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Kidney stone treatment depends on the stone’s size, location, number, and composition. Small asymptomatic stones can be watched and treated later if they grow or cause symptoms.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): A non-invasive procedure performed from outside the body that uses shock waves to break up kidney stones. These fragments can then pass in your urine. ESWL is a safe outpatient procedure with minimal pain, and most people return to work within 1 to 2 days.
Ureteroscopy with Laser Lithotripsy:: Ureteroscopy uses a small endoscopic instrument called a ureteroscope to access the ureter. Laser energy is used to fragment the stone. This technology allows treating more complex and larger stones, leading to a stone-free rate greater than 95 percent.
Percutaneous Lithotripsy (PCNL): Tiny instruments are placed directly into the kidney through an access port in the flank. This allows the removal of larger and more complicated stones. PCNL is surgery and requires a hospital stay, but it offers excellent stone-free rates.
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After you have had kidney stones, you are more likely to have them again. Your urologist may make recommendations for prevention based on the specific cause(s) of your stone formation.
For most patients who do not exhibit significant metabolic abnormalities, the most important measures are to increase fluid intake (water is best) to produce 2.5 liters of urine per day. In addition, preventing urinary tract infections by using the restroom at regular intervals and ensuring that the bladder completely empties at those times may help prevent certain types of kidney stones from forming.
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