Can kidney stones recur?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Kidney stones are recurrent because their formation is related to daily water intake, diet, genetics, lifestyle habits, and certain diseases. Therefore, even if the stones are treated surgically or expelled from the body through conservative means, recurrence can occur if dietary and lifestyle habits are not monitored or if the primary disease is not controlled. It is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and dilute the urine to reduce the recurrence of stones. If there are specific diseases present, such as hyperuricemia or hyperparathyroidism, active treatment is necessary.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How to check for kidney stones?

For kidney stone examination, it is necessary to conduct an ultrasonography of the urinary system. Patients can go to the urology department of their local hospital for a formal examination. The ultrasound of the urinary system primarily looks at the size of the kidney stones and whether there is any water accumulation in the kidneys. Based on the results of the examination, an appropriate treatment plan can be formulated. For example, smaller kidney stones can be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, while larger kidney stones may require minimally invasive surgery.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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Early symptoms of kidney stones in women

The initial symptoms of kidney stones in women vary depending on the size of the stone and whether the stone causes an obstruction. Generally, during the early stages of kidney stones, the stones are relatively small and do not cause obstruction in the kidney or bladder, and typically do not present any symptoms. However, if a small stone moves downward and accidentally gets stuck in a naturally narrow part of the ureter, it can cause symptoms such as pain and discomfort in the lower back, nausea, and vomiting. If the stone gets stuck at the junction of the ureter and the bladder, it irritates the bladder mucosa, leading to symptoms of frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. However, small stones generally pass on their own. Analgesics can be used for symptomatic treatment. Additionally, medications that dilate the ureter, along with drinking plenty of water and physical activity such as jumping, generally help the stone to pass.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How to relieve pain during a kidney stone attack?

When kidney stones occur, there are often significant pain symptoms. This is mainly due to the smaller stones in the kidney moving within the kidney or falling into the ureter, stimulating the ureter wall, causing ureteral spasms and subsequent pain. The pain usually appears suddenly and can be very intense. In such cases, it is necessary to go to the hospital promptly for spasm relief and pain treatment. Medications such as scopolamine, atropine, or tramadol can be used for pain relief. If necessary, scopolamine may need to be administered intravenously. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Are kidney stones severe?

The severity of kidney stones depends on the size of the stones and their location. For example, stones within the kidney parenchyma, if not large and not moving, generally do not cause much trouble. However, if the stones block the area of the renal pelvis and calyces, or even move downward to block the ureter, causing the urine produced by the kidneys to not be excreted smoothly, it will cause the patient to experience renal colic. This type of pain is very intense, radiating to the back and causing abdominal pain, as well as pain in the perineal area. Patients often may also experience fever and other clinical symptoms. Prolonged obstruction of the urinary system can lead to renal failure, which is quite dangerous.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How is kidney stone surgery performed?

How is kidney stone surgery performed? For kidney stone surgery, if the indications for surgical treatment are met, it is generally carried out in the following ways: The traditional method is open stone removal, which involves large traumas and high risks, adversely affecting the patient's postoperative recovery. Nowadays, there are some minimally invasive techniques, such as crushing the stones with a laser and then removing the stones through a corresponding tube, or directly removing the stones using a corresponding soft-endoscope. Therefore, the choice of surgery for kidney stones is generally based on related examinations to select an appropriate treatment method to alleviate the patient's condition.