What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones form when excess unwanted material crystallizes in the kidney. Kidney stones affect about 10 percent of the population of the United States, and men are affected more often than women.

If you have developed kidney stones in the past, you have a higher chance of developing them again.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

• Back and groin pain.
• Painful urination.
• Blood in the urine (hematuria).

Some kidney stones can cause urinary tract infections.

How are Kidney Stones Diagnosed and Treated?

An evaluation will include some or all of the following: urinalysis, blood tests, and X-rays.

A variety of treatment options exist which can be enacted in tandem depending on the circumstances and the patient.

Often the best method is for the patient to pass the kidney stone on his/her own, but other options include Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a ureteral stent, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and even open surgery.

If You Have These Symptoms

If you are experiencing symptoms, this is a warning signal that should not be ignored. Contact us to talk to our experienced urologists, who can help answer your questions.