Kidney Stones Treatment in Northern New Jersey
Kidney stones are a common urological condition that can lead to symptoms if they grow large enough. Luckily, they are treatable and rarely lead to serious problems if managed. At Bergen Medical Associates, a multi-specialty medical provider in northern New Jersey, patients can access comprehensive urology services and care for a wide range of conditions, including kidney stones. Learn more about kidney stones treatment options available at Bergen Medical Associates.
What Are Kidney Stones?
A kidney stone is a hard object that forms in one or both kidneys from chemicals in the urine. Urine normally dissolves waste and chemicals, but when there is too much waste in too little liquid, deposits begin to form. They then combine with other elements like salts to form kidney stones, which start small and can get larger.
If a kidney stone stays small and inside the kidney, it will not cause any symptoms or problems. However, when kidney stones get larger, they can travel from the kidney and down the ureter, which connects the kidney and bladder. If it is small enough, the kidney stone can get passed out of the body through the urine. Larger kidney stones get stuck in the ureter, blocking urine flow and causing symptoms.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones do not typically cause symptoms when they are small and dormant in the kidney. It is not until the stones move around inside the kidney or pass into the ureters that they start causing symptoms. If kidney stones get lodged in the ureter, they can block the flow of urine, leading to kidney swelling and painful spasms. This is often when patients experience other symptoms, which include:
- Sharp pain in the side or back below the ribs
- Pain that radiates to the lower stomach and groin
- An intense need to urinate
- Urinating frequently
- Pain or burning during urination
- Dark, red, or cloudy urine
- Foul-smelling urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain at the tip of the penis
Patients experiencing these symptoms should speak to their doctor about kidney stones or other possible causes.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Kidney Stones?
The exact causes of kidney stones are not known, besides that there is too little urine to break down the waste. However, several factors can increase a person’s risk of developing kidney stones, including:
- Family history: If a patient has family members who have had kidney stones, they are also more likely to develop them.
- Dehydration: Patients who do not drink enough water each day can have an increased risk of kidney stones because their urine has less liquid.
- Obesity: Being overweight with a high body mass index (BMI) or large waist size has been linked to an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
- Other medical conditions: Having certain conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, renal tubular acidosis, repeated urinary tract infections, and more can increase a person’s risk of kidney stones.
Certain diets and medications can also increase a person’s chances of some types of kidney stones. Although these factors increase a patient’s risk of kidney stones, not everyone with risk factors will develop them.
How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?
Patients without symptoms may be diagnosed when kidney stones are noticed on an X-ray taken for another reason. When a person comes to their healthcare provider with noticeable symptoms of kidney stones, the diagnostic process is different. They will be examined and asked about their personal and family history. They may be given blood or urine tests to look for abnormalities. The doctor will also order imaging tests to determine if stones are present, usually an ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT) scan. Imaging scans can provide information about the size and location of kidney stones.
What Are Treatment Options for Kidney Stones?
The treatment for kidney stones will depend on how big they are, their type, and where they are located. Treatments range from non-invasive to more invasive methods. They include:
Waiting for the Stone to Pass
If a patient has small kidney stones that are not causing too many symptoms, they can often wait for the stones to pass on their own without other medical intervention. Passing kidney stones through urine can be painful depending on their size, so patients should drink plenty of water and take medication for pain as needed. Sometimes, doctors may prescribe a medication that can improve the chance of passing a stone.
Surgical Removal
If kidney stones are too large to pass on their own or are lodged in a ureter, surgery may be needed to remove them. Surgical removal of kidney stones is usually non-invasive and does not require excessive downtime. The surgeries to remove stones in the kidneys or ureters are:
- Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): This process uses X-ray shock waves to break up the kidney stones and allow them to pass through urine more easily.
- Ureteroscopy (URS): This process inserts a very small telescope into the bladder, ureter, and kidney to see the stones and remove them without making any incisions.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL): This procedure is used for large stones in the kidney and involves making an incision in the back to locate the stone, break it up, and remove the pieces.
Once the surgeon has removed the kidney stones, they will send the specimens to a lab to identify the type of stones.
Learn More About Kidney Stone Treatment Today
Whether you have already been diagnosed with kidney stones or are experiencing symptoms, you can trust in the comprehensive treatment you will receive at Bergen Medical Associates. Our urology team is led by Richard Garden, MD, who is experienced in treating a wide range of urological conditions. Bergen Medical Associates has more than two decades of experience providing high-quality medical care at several office locations in the northern New Jersey area. To learn more about kidney stone treatment at Bergen Medical Associates, request an appointment today.
