What is the best treatment for kidney stones?

Written by Chen Feng
Urology
Updated on February 14, 2025
00:00
00:00

The treatment methods for kidney stones vary based on the size of the stone and whether it causes obstruction. If the kidney stone is relatively small and can pass through the ureter and urethra on its own, no special treatment is needed. In such cases, drinking more water, urinating frequently, and jumping can help the stone to pass naturally. If the kidney stone is relatively large but does not cause obstruction in the kidney or bladder, these patients can be temporarily observed with regular check-ups to monitor the stone's condition, without needing special treatment. Only when a large stone gets stuck at the junction of the renal pelvis, ureter, or urethra during its passage does it cause urinary obstruction, and the patient may also experience pain. In such cases, the treatment generally involves surgically removing the stone.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
41sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Patients with kidney stones need to visit the urology department of their local hospital for standard examinations and treatments. Doctors will conduct an ultrasound and CT scan of the urinary system to determine the exact size of the stones. If the stones are relatively small, measuring less than 1.52 centimeters, they can be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. If the stones are larger, surgical treatment is necessary. Currently, the main method is a minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy with holmium laser lithotripsy. Patients generally need about 7-10 days post-operation before they can be discharged from the hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Feng
Urology
1min 1sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
49sec home-news-image

Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Feng
Urology
49sec home-news-image

What is the best treatment for kidney stones?

The treatment methods for kidney stones vary based on the size of the stone and whether it causes obstruction. If the kidney stone is relatively small and can pass through the ureter and urethra on its own, no special treatment is needed. In such cases, drinking more water, urinating frequently, and jumping can help the stone to pass naturally. If the kidney stone is relatively large but does not cause obstruction in the kidney or bladder, these patients can be temporarily observed with regular check-ups to monitor the stone's condition, without needing special treatment. Only when a large stone gets stuck at the junction of the renal pelvis, ureter, or urethra during its passage does it cause urinary obstruction, and the patient may also experience pain. In such cases, the treatment generally involves surgically removing the stone.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jian
Urology
51sec home-news-image

Is kidney stone surgery painful?

For the treatment of kidney stones, larger kidney stones or multiple stones, stag-horn stones might consider surgical treatment. There are two types of surgery, the first is percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which involves inserting a nephroscope through a puncture in the kidney to break up and expel the stones from the body; the second type of surgery is ureteroscopy, which does not require an incision, by entering the kidney through the urethra and ureter, and then breaking up the stones and expelling them from the body. Both surgical methods are performed under anesthesia, so the patient will not feel pain. However, pain after ureteroscopy is typically less than that after percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which requires absolute bed rest post-operation, while ureteroscopy does not.