Kidney Stones - Treatment Overview

Your first diagnosis of kidney stones often occurs when you see your doctor or go to an emergency room because you are in great pain. Your doctor may suggest that you wait for the stone to pass and take pain medicine or have a procedure to remove the stone.

Most small stones [less than 5mm] move out of the body (pass) without the need for any treatment other than taking pain medicine and drinking enough fluids.

• The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to pass on its own. About 9 out of every 10 stones smaller than 5mm and about 5 out of every 10 stones 5mm to 10mm pass on their own. Only 1 or 2 out of every 10 kidney stones need more than home treatment.¹
• The average time a stone takes to pass ranges between 1 and 3 weeks, and two-thirds of stones that pass on their own pass within 4 weeks of when the symptoms appeared.²

Not all kidney stones are diagnosed because of immediate symptoms. Your stone may not be causing you pain, and your doctor may find it during a routine exam or an exam for another condition or disease. In this case, you have the same treatment options as noted below.

Treatment for your first stone

If your doctor thinks the stone can pass on its own, and you feel you can deal with the pain, he or she may suggest home treatment, including:

• Using pain medicine. Nonprescription medicine, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), may relieve your pain. Your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medicine if needed.
• Drinking enough fluids. You'll need to keep drinking water and other fluids when you are passing a kidney stone. If you don't get enough fluids, you could getdehydrated. Drink enough fluids to keep your urine clear, about 8 to 10 glasses a day. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and are on fluid restrictions, talk with your doctor before increasing your fluid intake.

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help your body pass the stone. Alpha-blockers have been shown to help kidney stones pass more quickly with very few side effects.⁵ Ask your doctor if these medicines can help you.

If your pain is too severe, if the stones are blocking the urinary tract , or if you also have an infection, your doctor will probably suggest medical or surgical treatment. Your options are:

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL uses shock waves that pass easily through the body but are strong enough to break up a kidney stone. This is the most commonly used medical treatment for kidney stones. See a picture of ESWL .
• Ureteroscopy. The surgeon passes a very thin telescope tube (ureteroscope) up the urinary tract to the stone's location, where he or she uses instruments to remove the stone or break it up for easier removal. Occasionally, you may need a small hollow tube (ureteral stent) placed in the ureter for a short time to keep it open and drain urine and any stone pieces. Ureteroscopy is often used for stones that have moved from the kidney to the ureter. See a picture of ureteroscopy .
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy. The surgeon puts a narrow telescope into the kidney through a cut in your back. He or she then removes the stone (lithotomy) or breaks it up and removes it (lithotripsy). This procedure may be used if ESWL does not work or if you have a very large stone. See a picture ofnephrolithotomy .
• Open surgery. The surgeon makes a cut in the side or the belly to reach the kidneys and remove the stone. This treatment is rarely used.

Should I use extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for my kidney stones?