Description

💎 What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. They can travel through the urinary tract and cause pain, obstruction, or infections. 🔍 Types of Stones Calcium oxalate (most common) Calcium phosphate Uric acid Struvite (infection-related) Cystine (rare, genetic disorder) ⚠️ Symptoms Sudden, sharp flank pain Blood in urine Nausea/vomiting Painful urination Urgency or frequency Fever (if infection is present) 🩺 Kidney Stone Treatment Options 🧊 1. Conservative Management (Watch and Wait) For small stones (usually <5mm): Hydration: Drink lots of water to flush the stone out Pain management: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) or acetaminophen Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin): Relax ureter muscles to help the stone pass Strain urine to catch the stone for analysis 🛠️ 2. Minimally Invasive or Surgical Options Used when stones are too big, causing severe symptoms, or not passing on their own: A. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) Non-invasive Uses sound waves to break stone into small pieces Best for stones <2 cm in kidney or upper ureter B. Ureteroscopy (URS) Endoscopic: A scope is inserted via the urethra to remove or laser-fragment the stone Ideal for mid-to-lower ureteral stones C. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) Surgical procedure: Small incision in the back to remove large stones (>2 cm) directly from kidney Preferred for large, complex, or staghorn stones 🧪 3. Metabolic Evaluation & Prevention Especially for recurrent stone formers: 24-hour urine collection: To analyze stone-forming risk factors Blood tests: For calcium, uric acid, etc. Stone analysis: To guide diet and meds Prevention tips may include: Increasing water intake Reducing sodium, oxalate-rich foods (spinach, nuts) Limiting animal protein Medications (e.g., thiazide diuretics, potassium citrate, allopurinol) 🚨 When to Seek Immediate Help Fever or chills (may signal infection) Severe pain not controlled with meds Inability to urinate Nausea/vomiting preventing fluid intake

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