When you get a kidney stone, it can sometime feel like there’s nothing in the world that will make you feel better. Kidney stones can cause a lot of pain, and it can feel unrelenting at times. However, there are lots of effective treatment options that exist.

Read on to learn more from our AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail team!

What Is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is a hard deposit that forms in the urinary system. They form when certain substances in the urine, like calcium and uric acid, turn into crystals. These are the most common substances that can cause kidney stones, but they aren’t the only ones.

If you experience the symptoms we’ve listed below, you are likely dealing with a kidney stone.

Common Kidney Stone Symptoms

• Severe pain on either side of your lower back
• More vague pain or stomach ache that doesn’t go away
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy

What Treatment Is Effective Against a Kidney Stone?

If your kidney stone is small, you’ll probably be able to pass it on your own. However, if a kidney stone is large, medical attention is usually required.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the most used medical techniques for removing kidney stones. Sound waves are used by ESWL to break the stones into little bits that can be passed in your urine. However, as we previously stated, this is only necessary when a kidney stone is large. The treatment choices below are the most typical methods for removing a stone.

Common Kidney Stone Treatments

• Drinking water. Most kidney stones are small and will eventually pass through your urinary system, so drinking lots of water is the best way to flush them out sooner than later. Drinking fluids will dilute urine and give you the best chance at passing a kidney stone in a timely manner.
• Pain relievers. Passing kidney stones doesn’t feel good. To relieve pain, OTC medications like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can be helpful.
• Medical therapy. In some cases, your doctor may give you a medication called an alpha blocker to help pass your kidney stone. This type of medication relaxes the muscles in your ureter, which will help you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain.

Are you concerned that you may have a kidney stone? Don’t worry, we’re here for you! Visit our AFC center today.