Kidney Stones: Prevention & Treatment

Learn about kidney stones, their causes, prevention tips, treatment options, and the latest innovations used in managing and removing kidney stones effectively.

Kidney Stones: Prevention & Treatment

Kidney stone symptoms

Kidney stone symptoms will depend on the size, location, and movement of the stone. Some individuals will be asymptomatic until the stone begins to move or block an area. The following are the most common symptoms of kidney stones:

Main Symptoms

Severe Pain (Renal Colic):

  • Sudden, severe pain in the side and back, below the ribcage
  • Pain radiates to lower abdomen and groin
  • Comes in waves and varies in severity
  • Pain while Urinating (Dysuria):
  • Burning or stinging sensation when urinating
  • May be mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI)

Blood in Urine (Hematuria):

  • Pink, red, or brown urine
  • Sometimes only visible under a microscope (microscopic hematuria)

Urinary Symptoms

  • Frequent Need to Urinate
  • Urinating Small Amounts
  • Cloudy or Strong-Smelling Urine

Other Possible Symptoms

  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Due to extreme pain or a reflex of the gastrointestinal system
  • Fever and Chills
  • Indication of an infection of the kidney or urinary tract (medical emergency)
  • Restlessness or Inability to Assume a Comfortable Position
  • As a result of extreme pain

How to prevent kidney stones?

Prevention of kidney stones requires dietary modifications, hydration, and lifestyle, based on the stone type (e.g., calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, cystine). Follow this detailed guide to avoid them:

Stay Hydrated

  • Drink plenty of fluids (2.5 to 3 liters/day) to maintain dilute urine.
  • Best: Water, lemon water, barley water, coconut water.
  • Avoid: Sweetened beverages, colas, and too much tea/coffee.

Restrict Oxalate-Rich Foods (for calcium oxalate stones)

Decrease consumption of:

  • Spinach, beets, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, nuts, chocolate, soy
  • Take calcium with oxalate foods at meals to bind oxalate in the intestine.

Reduce Salt (Sodium) Consumption

  • Too much sodium raises calcium in urine.
  • Skip: Processed food, chips, pickles, fast foods.
  • Keep intake to <2,300 mg/day (approximately 1 teaspoon of salt).

Consume the Right Amount of Calcium

  • Avoid avoiding calcium unless instructed—low calcium raises oxalate absorption.
  • Include: Dairy (if not on restrictions), fortified plant milk, sesame seeds, tofu.

Restrict Animal Protein

  • Red meat, poultry, and eggs raise uric acid, which can encourage stones.
  • Consume moderate amounts of meat; balance with greens.

Include Citrate-Rich Foods

  • Citrate stops the formation of stones.
  • Best sources: Lemon juice, oranges, amla, strawberries

Avoid High-Dose Vitamin C Supplements

  • High-dose Vitamin C will increase oxalate.
  • Avoid >500 mg/day except on prescription.

Control Underlying Conditions

  • Manage thyroid diseases, gout, urinary tract infections, etc., that raise risk.

Regular Check-ups

  • If you've had stones in the past, undergo a metabolic workup to identify the stone type.
  • Follow with urine and blood tests to check for risk factors.

Kidney stone treatment options

Kidney stone management varies with size, type, location, and symptoms of blockage or pain. The following is an organized summary:

Home Management (In Small Stones ≤5 mm)

a. Intake of Fluid

  • Take 2.5–3 liters of water a day to remove the stone.

b. Relief of Pain

  • Use NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) or acetaminophen for analgesia.

c. Medical Expulsion Therapy

  • Alpha-blockers (such as tamsulosin) relax the ureter and aid in passage.

Medical Procedures (For Larger Stones or Complications)

a. Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL)

  • Non-invasive: High-energy shock waves shatter the stone into little pieces.
  • Best for stones <2 cm in kidney or upper ureter.
  • May need multiple treatments.

b. Ureteroscopy (URS)

  • Minimally invasive: Thin scope is inserted via the urethra to the stone.
  • Laser is usually employed to shatter the stone.
  • Suitable for ureter or bladder stones.

c. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

  • Surgical removal via small incision in the back.
  • Used for big, multiple, or complicated stones (>2 cm).
  • Done under general anaesthesia.

d. Open or Laparoscopic Surgery

  • Done rarely, for extremely large or unapproachable stones.
  • Involves removal of the stone by surgery.

Best medicine for kidney stones

The ideal medication for kidney stones varies with the type, size, and symptomaticity of the stone. Below is a summary of medications by indication and stone type:

Pain Relief (For All Types)

Ibuprofen (Brufen), Naproxen, or Diclofenac

  • Taken for short periods to control pain due to stone movement

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

  • Alternative for patients with kidney disease or ulcers

Stone Passage Support (Medical Expulsion Therapy)

Tamsulosin (Flomax)

  • Relaxes the muscles of the ureter to facilitate easy passage of small stones (≤10 mm)
  • Frequently used for 1–2 weeks

Nifedipine (less frequently used)

Laser treatment for kidney stones

  • Laser lithotripsy is a minimally invasive and highly effective laser treatment to crush and clear kidney or ureteral stones with the use of laser energy.

What Is Laser Lithotripsy?

Laser lithotripsy involves the application of a Holmium:YAG laser through a ureteroscope to:

  • Shatter kidney or ureteral stones into microscopic fragments
  • Enable natural drainage or retrieval through a small basket

Visit to Our Web Page - Kedney Transplant Treatment 

When It's Used

Treatment with a laser is usually prescribed for:

  • Medium-sized to large stones (≥8 mm) that do not pass by themselves
  • Stones in the ureter (tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder)
  • Multiple or asymmetrical stones
  • Stones not successfully treated with other options such as shock wave lithotripsy (SWL)

Procedure Overview

  • An incision is not needed.
  • A very thin, flexible ureteroscope is passed through the urethra into the bladder and then into the ureter/kidney.
  • A laser fiber is aimed at the stone to break it up.
  • Pieces can be taken out or allowed to pass on their own.
  • A stent can be inserted temporarily to allow urine to drain as the ureter heals.

Home remedies for kidney stones

Some good home remedies to manage and even prevent small kidney stones (≤5 mm), particularly in the initial stages:

Stay Well Hydrated

  • Consumption of 2.5–3 liters of water a day
  • Prevents urine from getting concentrated and aids in flushing out the small stones
  • Use lemon or amla juice for additional citrate, which inhibits the formation of stones

Lemon Juice (Citrate Source)

  • High in citrate, which binds calcium and prevents stone formation
  • Mix 4 tbsp lemon juice with warm water, consume twice a day
  • Alternate: Fresh amla juice (Indian gooseberry) in limited quantities

Decrease Salt Consumption

  • Excess sodium raises calcium in the urine
  • Avoid: Pickles, chips, processed foods, and restaurant food

Barley Water (Jau ka Pani)

  • Natural diuretic that stimulates urine production
  • Boil 1 tbsp barley in 2 cups water; strain and consume 1–2 times/day

Coconut Water

  • Hydrating and could help pass tiny stones
  • Consume unsweetened fresh coconut water daily

Basil Leaves (Tulsi)

  • Works as a kidney tonic and can lower uric acid
  • Chew 4–5 fresh leaves or take tulsi tea every day

Watermelon

  • Rich in water and potassium
  • Natural diuretic, particularly useful for calcium or uric acid stones

Pomegranate Juice

  • Antioxidants and astringent properties can help with kidney function
  • Take fresh, unsweetened juice every day

Ajwain (Carom Seeds) Water

  • Can help in flushing out small stones
  • Boil ½ tsp ajwain with 1 cup water; take warm

What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stones occur when certain materials in the urine become very concentrated and form crystals that later solidify into masses. A number of dietary, medical, genetic, and lifestyle factors are involved in their development.

Dehydration (Most Common Cause)

  • Inadequate consumption of water leads to concentrated urine where salts and minerals adhere to each other and crystallize
  • Prevalent in hot weather or individuals who excessively sweat

Excessive Salt (Sodium) Consumption

  • Increased salt raises the urine excretion of calcium
  • Encourages formation of calcium-based stones (calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate)

Diet High in Animal Protein

Red meat, eggs, poultry raise:

  • Uric acid production
  • Calcium excretion
  • Decrease urinary citrate (naturally occurring stone inhibitor)

High Oxalate Foods

  • Spinach, beets, nuts, chocolate, and soy increase urinary oxalate, resulting in calcium oxalate stones

Medical Conditions

  • Hyperparathyroidism: Raises urine calcium
  • Gout: Increases uric acid
  • Obesity: Disturbs urine chemistry
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI): Results in struvite stones
  • Inflammatory bowel disease or gastric bypass: Raise oxalate absorption

Genetics / Family History

  • A family history of kidney stones increases your risk
  • Cystinuria is an uncommon inherited disorder that produces cystine stones

Some Medications & Supplements

  • Vitamin C (>1000 mg/day), calcium supplements, diuretics, and antacids raise risk
  • Some antivirals, anticonvulsants, and protease inhibitors may as well

Low Citrate in Urine

  • Citrate attaches to calcium and holds it in place, preventing a stone
  • Low levels increase the likelihood of calcium stones

Kidney stone surgery recovery

Laser Lithotripsy (URS with laser)

  • Daycare or 1 day
  • 2–5 days

Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL)

  • Outpatient
  • 2–3 days (normal activities)

PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

  • 2–3 days
  • 1–2 weeks

Open/Laparoscopic Surgery

  • 3–5 days
  • 2–4 weeks

Minimally invasive kidney stone treatment

Minimally invasive kidney stone treatments are very successful and the treatment of choice for quicker recovery, less pain, and fewer side effects. They vary depending on the size, location, and composition of the stone.

Best Minimally Invasive Kidney Stone Treatments:

Ureteroscopy with Laser Lithotripsy (URS + Laser)

  • How it works: A small scope is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter/kidney. A Holmium laser shatters the stone into fragments.
  • Best for: Kidney or ureter stones (5–15 mm)
  • Anaesthesia: General or spinal
  • Stent can be placed temporarily
  • Success rate: 90–95%
  • Recovery: 2–5 days

Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL)

  • How it works: External high-energy shock waves shatter stones into tiny sand particles eliminated through urine.
  • Best for: Kidney or upper ureter stones <2 cm
  • Non-surgical and outpatient
  • No incision, no scope
  • Recovery: 2–3 days (some require repeat treatments)

Mini-PCNL (Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

  • How it works: A minor incision (5–10 mm) in the back is made to open up the kidney and take out stones through the use of very small instruments.
  • Best for: Multiple stones or stones larger than 2 cm
  • Less pain, less bleeding compared to routine PCNL
  • More clearance of large stones
  • Recovery: 5–10 days

Why Choose GetWellGo for Kidney Stones Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for kidney stone treatment.
  • Expert urologist with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food

Recent Blogs

Best Kidney Transplant Hospitals In India
GetWellGo Team • November 11, 2024

Best Kidney Transplant Hospitals In India

Kidney transplants were formerly limited to open surgery. But because of recent developments in medical technology, kidney transplants using robotic assistance are now less invasive (RAKT).

Read More