Kidney Stones treatment in Surprise and Sun City, AZ
Dr. Ganesh Sivarajan provides testing and treatment for kidney stones across the North and West Phoenix area, including Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Waddell, Sun City, and Citrus Park. If you think you may have kidney stones, schedule an appointment with Dr. Sivarajan at 623-546-1400.
What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones can be very small and hard formations of acid salts and minerals that form on the inner surfaces of your kidneys. Normally these materials are diluted in urine, however when urine is concentrated, they can crystallize and solidify into small masses called kidney stones.
While kidney stones cause no permanent damage, passing them can produce excruciating back and abdominal pain as they move from the kidney through the ureters (vessels connecting the kidney to the bladder). Knowing the type of kidney stones that have formed and why they developed is important in preventing the formation of new stones.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones don’t usually have just one clear cause, but there are several things that can make them more likely to happen.
Kidney stones develop when there are too many crystal-forming substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in your urine. When these substances become too concentrated, your urine can’t properly dilute them. At the same time, your urine might not have enough of the substances that stop these crystals from sticking together. When this happens, it’s a perfect setup for kidney stones to form.
What are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Other than pain, patients with kidney stones often experience other symptoms such as:
- Persistent need to urinate
- Cloudy or discolored urine, usually pink, red, or brown in color
- Foul-smelling urine
- Frequent urination
- Fever or chills, typically occurs when there is an infection present
- Pain radiating from the lower abdomen and groin, or in the back below the ribs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Painful urination
Types of Kidney Stones
Not all kidney stones are the same. The exact type of kidney stone will determine the course of action used to treat the patient’s kidney stones. These types of kidney stones include:
- Calcium stones (most common)
- Uric acid stones
- Struvite stones
- Cystine stones
Treatment Options
Fluid intake and dietary changes
You may be able to pass kidney stones by drinking plenty of water (up to 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day and by remaining physically active. Dietary changes may include adjusting one’s intake of sugar, sodium calcium animal protein, insoluble fiber and vitamin C. Dr. Sivarajan can make recommendations based on the type and cause of your condition.
Pain Medication
During the course of passing a kidney stone, Dr. Sivarajan may prescribe drugs to reduce or minimize the often time debilitating pain associated with the movement of the stones from the kidney into the bladder.
Medical Procedures
Kidney stones that can’t be managed or treated with dietary and fluid intake measures, because of their size or because of ongoing urinary tract infections or bleeding, may need more involved approaches. These include:
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This common procedure uses ultrasonic shock waves to break the stones into very small particles that can be passed in your urine. Typically, a patient is immersed into a tub of water or lies on a soft cushion for the procedure.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
When ESWL is ineffective, or in conditions where a stone is very large, Dr. Sivarajan will remove the stone through a small incision in your back using an instrument called a nephroscope.
Ureteroscopic stone removal
When a kidney stone is lodged in the ureters, the stone can be removed with a small instrument called an ureterescope that is passed directly into the ureter through the bladder. Besides physically snaring and removing a stone, the ureteroscope can also be used to direct laser or ultrasonic energy to break up the stone. These methods work well on stones in the lower part of the ureter.
Parathyroid Surgery
When kidney stones are caused by overactive parathyroid glands, (located on the four corners of your thyroid gland) the cause is most often a small benign tumor in one of the glands. To correct this condition Dr. Sivarajan can surgically remove the tumor.
Schedule a Kidney Stones Consultation
Don’t wait any longer! Schedule a consultation for kidney stones today. Our urologist is ready to provide you with the care and treatment you need to address kidney stones. Don’t let pain and discomfort hold you back. Call now and take the first step towards lasting relief and better kidney health!