Kidney Stones Treatments

Water

For small kidney stones, drinking at least two or three quarts of water a day helps the body pass the stone in the urine. The doctor may provide a special cup to catch the stone when it passes so that it can be analyzed. If you are having a hard time keeping fluids down, you may need to be hospitalized to receive fluids in your vein.

Medications and Nerve Stimulation

Your doctor may recommend that you take pain medication. You may need medication that is given in the vein or in the muscles. Nerve stimulation therapy might also be helpful in relieving pain. * ²

Medications used to treat high blood pressure (eg, calcium channel blockers and alpha blockers) may help your body pass kidney stones. * ¹

Surgery

Surgery may be necessary if the stone is:

• Very large or growing larger
• Causing bleeding or damage to the kidney
• Causing infection
• Blocking the flow of urine

Types of surgery include:

• Stent placement—used to allow urine to pass
• Ureteroscopy and stone basketing or laser lithotripsy—a camera is used to locate the stone, and a tiny basket is used to remove the stone
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) — uses shock waves to break up stones that are too large to pass
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy—uses a scope placed through a small tube in the back to remove a large stone
• Lithotomy—open surgery to remove a stone (rarely used now)