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Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones

Talk to someone who has had a kidney stone, and the first thing they mention is the intense pain. People develop kidney stones for a variety of reasons. Treatment also depends on the size and type of stone a patient has. Our Austin urologists are dedicated to helping people prevent stones and providing timely medical treatment or surgery, if necessary. Our goal is to relieve symptoms like blood in the urine and pain and prevent complications.

What are the risk factors that increase the risk of developing stones?

Kidney stones are hard, stone-like objects consisting of chemicals in the urine. The most common type of stone is calcium oxalate, but patients also develop uric acid, struvite and cystine stones. Most people who get stones are white men in their thirties or forties, but people of both genders and any age can develop them. Here are some things that increase the risk of getting stones.

  • Dehydration or not drinking enough fluids
  • A high sodium diet
  • Obesity
  • Having gout
  • Having diabetes
  • Taking certain medications such as calcium-based antacids or diuretics
  • A family history of developing stones

The team at our Austin urology practice is always happy to talk with patients about steps they can take to prevent stones.

Stones cause symptoms like blood in the urine and pain

Some kidney stones are very small, while others can be as big as a golf ball. Generally, the bigger the stone, the more people notice the symptoms. Here are some symptoms patients experience.

  • Feeling severe pain in the lower back on either side
  • Lower abdominal or groin pain
  • Blood in the urine
  • Foul-smelling urine
  • Cloudy urine
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Having a fever or chills

These symptoms can occur with other health issues, too, so it’s vital to see a urologist for a diagnosis.

Diagnosing and managing stones

In most cases, our team relies on radiologic imaging tests to diagnose stones. These range from CT scans and ultrasounds to special x-rays with dye. Once our physicians are certain that stones are causing the symptoms, they develop an individualized treatment plan. In some cases, people can pass stones without doing any damage. Usually, people pass stones that are 5 mm or less in two to three days. While they are waiting to pass the stone, patients need to drink a lot of water and take the pain medications our urologists prescribe.

Our Austin urologists provide expert treatment for kidney stones

Patients who have larger stones or stones located in certain parts of the urologic system may need treatment to remove blockage from the kidneys, relieve pain and prevent complications or damage. Some minimally invasive surgical procedures break up or dissolve the stones, while others remove the stone.

Patients who are concerned about kidney stones should contact us for an appointment. Our Austin urologists have the skill and training to provide the care and treatment patients need.

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