Kidney Stones Specialist

What are kidney stones?

A kidney stone is a crystalline particle or hard rock that develops in your urinary tract. These hard deposits generally form from minerals and salts when your urine becomes too concentrated. Under these conditions, the minerals can crystallize and stick together.

There are different types of kidney stones, including:

• Calcium: the most common type of stone, usually in the form of calcium oxalate
• Struvite: develop in response to an infection
• Uric acid: caused by a high-protein diet, or not drinking enough fluids
• Cystine: due to a hereditary disorder

Men and women of all ages can get kidney stones. While these hard deposits generally form inside your kidneys, they can affect your entire urinary tract, including your bladder.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

One of the most common symptoms of kidney stones is intense pain. Additional symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Blood in the urine
• Foul-smelling urine
• Passing small amounts of urine
• Pain during urination
• Radiating pain to the groin and lower abdomen
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting

In some cases, you don’t have any symptoms until your kidney stone passes into the ureter. Your ureter connects your kidney and bladder.

At Valley Urology Center, you can also rely on same-day appointments to ensure your kidney stones are treated as soon as your urologist diagnoses the problem.

How are kidney stones diagnosed and treated?

If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with kidney stones, it’s essential to contact Valley Urology Center as quickly as possible. Try to avoid eating or drinking anything before your appointment so you can receive kidney stone treatment immediately.

To diagnose kidney stones, your urologist generally performs a variety of tests, including:

• Blood testing
• Urine testing
• X-rays or CT scans

Based on the size and type of your stone, your doctor outlines a variety of treatments. In some cases, you can pass small stones by drinking plenty of water and taking certain medications.

For larger stones, Valley Urology Center offers the most advanced kidney stone treatments available, including noninvasive shock wave lithotripsy. This treatment uses strong vibrations to pulverize your kidney stone into smaller pieces that are easier to pass.

To learn more about kidney stones, call Valley Urology Center or schedule an appointment online today.