Permanent relief from kidney stones pain

Facts about Kidney Stones

1. Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Some stones can be smooth while others can be snaggy. Some kidney stones can be yellow while some stones can be brown.
2. Kidney stones are medically known as renal calculi.
3. It is not necessary that these stones occur only in the kidneys. The stones can develop anywhere in the urinary tract- kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.
4. Once you have one kidney stone, you are likely to have more kidney stones.

What are the different types of kidney stones?

The following are the types of kidney stones-

Calcium Stones

80 percent of people are diagnosed with calcium kidney stones, making it one of the most common types of kidney stones. These kidney stones can be further categorized into two types-

Calcium oxalate- These stones develop when you eat a lot of high-oxalate food such as potato chips, peanuts, chocolate, beets, spinach.

Calcium phosphate- These stones develop due to conditions such as hyperparathyroidism or urinary tract infections.

Uric Acid Stones

Uric acid stones develop in 5-10 percent of people. The risk of developing this type of kidney stones increases due to the following factors-

• Overweight or obesity
• Chronic diarrhea
• Diabetes, especially Type 2
• Gout
• A high animal protein diet
• Eating fewer fruits and vegetables
• When uric acid (waste matter) does not dissolve in acidic urine, it crystallizes into these stones.

Cystine Stones

These stones develop due to a rare, inherited disorder known as Cystinuria. People suffering from this metabolic disorder have high amounts of cysteine (amino acids) in the urine. These types of stones are more likely to develop in children.

Infection Stones

Around 10 percent of people suffer from this type of kidney stones. These stones are also known as struvite. As the name suggests, these stones develop due to urinary tract infections (UTIs). By the time these stones are diagnosed, they are already large enough as they grow very fast. People who suffer from recurring UTIs or face difficulty while emptying their bladder due to neurologic issues are more prone to developing struvites/infection stones.

What happens in shock wave lithotripsy for kidney stones?

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is one of the most common treatments for kidney stones. In this procedure, shock waves targeted at the kidney stones break the stones into fragments. The process is also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy.

After the stones are broken into tiny pieces or stone dust, it easily passes through urine. 

SWL involves no incisions but the treatment is done under the influence of anesthesia, so that the patient does not feel any pain. The doctor might even conduct the procedure under light sedation. SWL is performed as a daycare procedure and the patient can head home the same day if there are no other complications.

The biggest advantage of SWL is that it can treat kidney stones without any incisions. The hospital stay in the process is very short and the recovery time is much faster.

What happens in laparoscopic kidney stone surgery?

In laparoscopic surgery for kidney stones, the surgeon begins by inducing anesthesia to the patient. The surgeon then makes tiny incisions in the patient and inserts a laparoscope through the incisions. The laparoscope guides the surgeon to the kidney stones which are then removed by the surgeon. 

Laparoscopic surgery for kidney stones is considered to be one of the best treatment for kidney stones due to the following advantages:

• The patient experiences minimal pain
• Shortens your hospital stay
• The patient recovers quickly
• No risks and complications