What is the treatment available for kidney stones?
The treatment of kidney stones depends on the cause and the type, however it is important to note that most stones can be treated without surgery. Smaller than about five millimeters stones can be removed by drinking lots of water and staying physically active. The doctor may prescribe some medicines to reduce the pain or treat infections. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): This is one common method used in dealing with kidney stones. This treatment is performed under local anesthesia and uses the X-Ray imaging and ultrasound scanning to locate the stones. Once it is located, a machine called a lithotriptor is used to target shock waves to break the kidney stones into crystals small enough to be passed through the urine. Ureteroscopic Stone Removal: Like the one above, this procedure is performed under local anesthesia too. In case the stone is lodged in the ureter, then a narrow flexible instrument called a cystoscope is passed up through the urethra and bladder. This done,
