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Five people out of every 100 develop a kidney stone sometime in their life. If you are or have been one of those five people, you will know that kidney stones can be a living nightmare. In fact, numerous women characterize the pain worse than childbirth. If you currently have a kidney stone, there is good new because kidney stones can be pas

sed naturally without drugs or surgery (Read last paragraph)! And if you are worried about future kidney stones, know that kidney stone prevention is as easy as changing a few simple lifestyle habits.

Kidney Stone Cures

If a kidney stone is too big to be passed naturally, you may need to have treatment to remove it another way. If your stone is 6-7mm (0.3in) in diameter, or larger, you may require treatment. This could include:

• extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
• percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
• ureteroscopy
• surgery

These procedures are explained in more detail below. The type of treatment you have will depend on the size and location of your stones.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

Kidney Stone Cure

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most common way of treating kidney stones that cannot be passed in the urine.

ESWL involves using X-rays (high-energy radiation) or ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) to pin-point where a kidney stone is. A machine then sends shock waves of energy to the stone to break it into smaller pieces so it can be passed in your urine.

ESWL can be an uncomfortable form of treatment, so it is usually performed under a local anaesthetic (painkilling medication).

You may need more than one session of ESWL in order to treat your kidney stones successfully. For stones that are up to 20mm (0.8in) in diameter, ESWL is up to 99% effective.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an alternative procedure that may be used for larger stones. It may also be used if ESWL is not suitable, for example, because the person being treated is obese.

Cure For Kidney Stone

PCNL involves using a thin telescopic instrument that is called a nephroscope. An incision (cut) that leads to your kidney is made in your back. The nephroscope is passed through the incision and into your kidney. The stone is either pulled out, or broken into smaller pieces using a laser or ESWL.

PCNL is often performed under general anaesthetic, which means

that you should not drive or operate machinery for up to 48 hours after the procedure.

As PCNL is a type of surgical procedure, it does carry more risks than ESWL. For stones that are 21-30mm (0.8-1.2in) in diameter, PCNL is 86% effective.

Kidney Stones Ureterorenoscopy

Cure For Kidney Stones

If a kidney stone is stuck in your ureter (the muscular tube that carries waste products from your kidneys to your bladder), you may need to have ureterorenoscopy. Ureterorenoscopy is also sometimes known as retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Ureterorenoscopy involves passing a long, thin telescope, called a ureteroscope, through your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body), into your bladder. It is then passed up into your ureter to where the stone is stuck.

The surgeon may either try gently to remove the stone using another instrument, or they may use lasers, or ESWL, to break the stone up into small pieces so that it can be passed naturally in your urine.

As with PCNL, ureterorenoscopy is also performed under general anaesthetic, so you should not drive or operate machinery for up to 48 hours after the procedure.

For stones up to 15mm (0.6in), an ureterorenoscopy is effective in 50-80% of cases.

Kidney Stones Surgery

If none of the methods for removing your kidney stone that are described above are suitable, it may be necessary to remove it using traditional surgery. This will involve making an incision (cut) in your back in order to gain access to both your ureter and your kidney. The kidney stone can then be removed.

Tips to Prevent Kidney Stones

1. Drink Water! Kidney Stones are caused by dehydration (not enough water) over a long period of time. Therefore, you need to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day! A good rule would be to always keep your urine clear.

2. Distilled Water! If you have the option of drinking distilled water, do it! Distilled water is water without any bacteria, viruses, heavy metals or impurities. Drinking ‘pure’ water will help prevent kidney stones while flushing out your system.

3. Lemons! This citrus fruit is easy to eat. Simply squeeze a couple slices in each glass of water and you will be eating two lemons a day! Tip: You can make free lemonade at a restaurant by mixing water, a few slices of lemon and some sweetener to your glass!

4. Exercise! If you haven’t jumped on the health train yet you better finally do it! Exercise has literally thousands of benefits including preventing kidney stones! Find activities that you enjoy and go out and do them! You should make a goal of 30 minutes of exercise for 3-4 days a week!

5. Find a step-o-meter! A step-o-meter shows you how many steps you took during the day. Step-o-meters became extremely popular years ago when McDonalds gave them out! You should make a goal for 10,000 steps per day.

6. Sleep! Most Americans either get too little or get too much! You should try to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Your body has a natural clock so it is recommended to always go to bed and get up at the same times.

7. Cranberry Juice from concentrate! Cranberry Juice will help maintain your urinary tract which will help prevent kidney stone formation.

8. Get Citrates! Citrates reduce the build up of uric acid and eliminate the build-up of calcium salts (causing kidney stones). Drink plenty of fruit and vegetable juices such at carrot, grape, and orange juices.

9. Say good-bye to soda! Many people believe that kidney stones are caused by drinking too much soda. To some extent that is true because a variety of reasons. Don’t drink soda because of high levels of phosphorous which causes kidney stones. (Stay away from carbonated drinks in general.)

10. Stay away from high sugars! High sugar intake is associated with increased risk of kidney stones. You can cut hundreds of calories and prevent future kidney stones by staying away from sugary drinks and foods.

Kidney Stone Surgery Recovery