Kidney Stones
Overview
Kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, are hard deposits made of minerals and salts found inside the kidneys, such as calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and uric acid. They can also form inside the urethra or bladder. Kidney stones are more likely to occur if you don’t drink enough fluids, as a side effect of certain medications, if you have an underlying condition that increases certain substances in your urine, or if your salt intake is too high. Kidney stones can occur in one or both kidneys, and mostly affect people between 30 and 60 years old. They are quite common, with more than 1 in 10 people affected. They can be extremely painful and can lead to kidney infections or kidney failure if left untreated.
Diagnosis
Some patients may have no symptoms, especially if they have small kidney stones. Usually, these stones are passed in urination without any discomfort.
Large kidney stones may cause a range of symptoms, including:
- Blood in the urine (pink, brown or red urine)
- Pain or a burning sensation during urination
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty in urination
- Cloudy or smelly urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever with chills (if there is an infection)
- Recurring urinary tract infections
Treatment
Urgent medical attention is required if you experience severe pain, fever with or without chills, and blood in your urine.
Most stones are small enough to be removed by urination and it may be possible to treat the symptoms at home with medication. Larger stones may need to be broken or surgically removed.
It is estimated that up to half of all people who develop kidney stones will develop them again within the next 5 years. To prevent kidney stones from forming, we recommend you drink plenty of water and minimize your salt intake. It is vital that you maintain a light color of your urine, to prevent waste products from developing into kidney stones.
Why GMI
The medical and nursing staff of the Department of Nephrology, and of the Departments of Urology and Radiology, are highly specialized and trained for the diagnosis, and treatment of kidney stones.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are, and strive to find the best solution for each of our patients, taking their specific case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. That’s why our dedicated paramedics team supports patients with CKD by offering more than just expert medical care. We offer psychological help, integrative medical services (including nutritional advice, yoga classes, and acupuncture) and have a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
