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Kidney stones vary in size, ranging from as small as a grain of sand to larger than a pearl. They form due to the accumulation of excess minerals or other substances in the kidneys. Stones can get stuck in the ureter, bladder, and urethra. You may experience severe pain when passing stones, especially when they block the flow of urine. In many cases, doctors may recommend home treatment and advise drinking plenty of water to help expel the stones. Larger stones can be broken down using medical technology, turning them into smaller pieces that are eliminated through the urinary system. See Step 1 for instructions on dissolving kidney stones.
Steps
Treating Stones with Medical Methods
Learn about medications. If you're having difficulty passing the stones naturally, your doctor may prescribe alpha-blockers, a medication that relaxes the muscles in the ureter, helping to move the stones through more easily. This medication works well for small stones, but if the stones are larger, additional treatment may be needed.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) for Stone Removal. This technique uses sound waves to break down large stones, making them easier to pass. Since the procedure causes pain, patients are given anesthesia for 30-45 minutes during the process. It is an effective treatment but may result in bruising and discomfort when smaller stone fragments are passed out of the body.
Determining if Ureteroscopic Stone Removal is Possible. When a stone is too large for shock wave lithotripsy but too small for surgery, it can be removed using a ureteroscope. The scope is inserted into the ureter to locate the stone, and tiny instruments are used to break the stone into smaller pieces. This procedure can be painful, so local anesthesia or sedation is typically administered.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for Stone Removal. For large stones that cannot be broken down using shock waves, surgery is necessary to remove the stone. The surgeon will make a small incision in the patient's back, then insert a tiny instrument to extract the stone. After the surgery, the patient must stay in the hospital overnight.
Determining the Need for Thyroid Treatment. In some cases, hyperparathyroidism can cause calcium kidney stones, where the parathyroid glands release excess hormones. This condition may be caused by a small tumor growing on the parathyroid glands or another condition that triggers excessive hormone production. Once the doctor confirms that the cause is hyperparathyroidism, an appropriate treatment plan will be recommended.
Home Treatment for Kidney Stones
Drink plenty of water daily. Regardless of the type of kidney stone you have, as long as the stone is smaller than 5 mm, it will pass out naturally without medical intervention. If you feel the presence of a stone but don't experience enough pain to require treatment, your doctor will advise drinking 2 to 3 liters of water daily until the stone passes. Keeping your body well-hydrated will help flush the stone out of the kidneys.
- Drink enough water so that your urine is almost clear, which is a sign that your body is well-hydrated.
- Non-caffeinated, sugar-free, and alcohol-free drinks like ginger-flavored drinks, fruit juices, or green tea also help keep your body hydrated. Avoid drinks with caffeine, artificial sweeteners, sugar, or alcohol while trying to pass the stone.
Change your diet to shrink the stones. Kidney stones are formed by the accumulation of minerals, so reducing foods rich in these minerals can help shrink the stones. This method is very effective for calcium or uric acid stones.
- If you have calcium stones, reduce your intake of the following foods, as they can worsen the condition: salty foods, dairy products, oysters, tofu, and foods high in fat. If you have calcium oxalate stones, avoid foods high in oxalates, such as rhubarb, grapes, spinach, sweet potatoes, coffee, and chocolate.
- For uric acid stones, limit foods high in uric acid: organ meats like liver and kidneys, anchovies, sardines, beans, mushrooms, broccoli, yeast, and beer.
Drink lemon-based beverages daily. No matter what type of lemon drink you have, the acidity of lemon helps prevent stone formation. This includes lemon water with sugar, lemon juice, or simply water with a few slices of lemon squeezed into it.
Use herbal remedies. Although science hasn't proven the effectiveness of any herbal remedy for treating kidney stones, many people report that drinking herbal teas can help shrink stones and make them easier to pass. Here are some herbs you can try for small stones:
- It is believed that burdock leaf tea helps eliminate debris from the urinary system.
- Black tea increases urine flow as it is a diuretic.
- Stinging nettle leaves are also diuretic and help expel kidney stones.
- Dandelion root is considered a kidney tonic with healing properties.
- Apple cider vinegar is believed to dissolve stones; you can take 1 tablespoon (15 ml) daily or mix it with water.
- Avoid sour leafy vegetables as they can worsen calcium oxalate stone conditions.
- In India, banana stem juice is well-known for its ability to treat kidney stones.
Choose the Best Treatment Method
Determine if you truly have kidney stones. While not all cases of kidney stones cause external symptoms, sometimes even a very small stone can lead to intense pain. If you've had kidney stones in the past, you likely have reason to suspect your current condition. However, since kidney stone symptoms can resemble those of other conditions, it is best to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Here are common symptoms of kidney stones:
- Severe pain on both sides of the lower back, radiating to the abdomen and groin.
- Pain that comes and goes, often during urination.
- Urine with a foul odor, cloudy appearance, or tinged pink or brown.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Get checked with imaging tests. An X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound (as recommended by your doctor) is the best way to determine the most suitable treatment method when symptoms of kidney stones are present. Imaging technology will show the size, shape, and number of stones you have.
- If the stone is smaller than 5 mm, your doctor may suggest home remedies to help expel the stone.
- If the stone is larger or if you have multiple stones, your doctor might prescribe medication or suggest a treatment plan to break down the stones so that they can pass naturally.
Identify the type of kidney stone. Although different types of kidney stones cause similar symptoms, they can stem from various causes. Knowing the origin of the stones will help you find ways to shrink them and prevent future formation. Doctors conduct blood or urine tests to identify the type of stone you have. Once the stone is passed, they may send it to a lab for analysis. Here are the different types of kidney stones:
- Calcium stones: The most common type, formed when high levels of calcium combine with substances like oxalate or uric acid.
- Uric acid stones: These form when the urine contains too much acid.
- Struvite stones: These are formed after a urinary tract infection.
- Cystine stones: Caused by a rare inherited condition.
Advice
- Drink plenty of water every day to help pass the stones. After you’ve passed the stone, make sure to continue drinking enough water daily to prevent further stone formation.
- Reduce your risk of developing stones by drinking black or green tea daily. Studies show that these teas help reduce the chances of kidney stone formation.
- Be cautious when consuming cranberry juice for extended periods. It’s fine to drink it briefly to help pass stones or treat urinary tract infections, but drinking it long-term can actually cause stones due to its high oxalic acid content.
