Depending on the size of your kidney stones, you urologist can help your kidney stones pass through medication or increased fluid intake, or your urologist may perform shock wave treatments to break up larger kidney stones.

If you have small kidney stones which are less than 4 mm in diameter, your doctor may adopt a wait-and-see approach while recommending increased fluid intake, pain medication to ease discomfort, and/or alpha blocker medication to relax the ureter muscles.

Large kidney stones greater than 4mm in diameter may become stuck your urinary tract and cause severe complications. If you suffer from larger kidney stones, your doctor may perform extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy which uses shock waves to break apart your kidney stones. Lithotripsy doesn’t require surgery and can be done in a hospital, clinic or mobile unit. The procedure takes about 1 hour and you may be home the same day.

Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Kidney Stones

Shock wave lithotripsy is performed while you sit in a special bathtub filled with warm water or while lying on a fluid-filled cushion. After locating the kidney stones using x-ray or ultrasound, your doctor will aim shock waves at the stones to break them apart. You will feel just a tapping sensation during the procedure. If you are extremely anxious or uncomfortable, your urologist can give you medication or general anesthesia to help you relax and/or sleep. Before the procedure you may be given IV fluids, and a stent may be placed in your ureter to keep urine flowing during the procedure.

Kidney stones should pass within one day to several weeks. Your doctor may ask you to strain your urine to collect kidney stones or particles. During a follow-up visit, your doctor will perform an exam, an x-ray, and/or a CT scan to confirm that your kidney stones have passed and to check that no new kidney stones have developed.

Talk to your urologist about which kidney stones treatment is right for you.