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Managing Kidney Stones at Halifax Health — Center for Urology

If you’ve suffered a kidney stone, you know how painful and disruptive this common problem can be. Thankfully, Halifax Health — Center for Urology offers specialized options for prevention and treatment.

Signs of a Stone

Kidney stones are small, hard particles that form from crystals in the urine, which is produced in the kidneys. Until the stone leaves the kidney, symptoms may not be noticeable. But once it enters the urinary tract, a kidney stone may cause:

• Sudden, severe pain in the side
• Nausea
• Blood in the urine

If you think you have a kidney stone, consult your physician.

Treatment Options

At Halifax Health — Center for Urology, “treatment for a kidney stone is based on each patient’s needs. Care is always individualized,” said Micah Blackmon, MD.

Innovative therapies include the following:

• Lithotripsy — Shock waves are passed through the body to break up the kidney stone. This is the least-invasive procedure, and it typically works on smaller stones.
• Ureteroscopy — A surgeon uses a thin telescope to enter the urinary tract without an incision, then breaks up the stone with a laser and removes the fragments.
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy — A telescope is inserted through an incision no larger than 1 centimeter, breaking up the stone and removing it. This is used more often with larger stones that may fill the entire kidney.

Tips for Prevention

“A majority of kidney stones have identifiable causes,” said Dr. Blackmon. “We want people to know why they have them and how to prevent them.” Kidney stones often are caused by:

• Diet
• Dehydration
• Calcium levels
• An imbalance in substances found in urine
• Family medical history

In addition, once patients experience their first kidney stone, the odds increase that they will experience kidney stones again. However, there are steps patients may take to prevent them:

• Drink more fluids, especially during the warm summer months.
• Limit salty foods and meats, and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
• Ask your doctor about medication.

Halifax Health — Center for Urology offers patients a full evaluation, including urine and blood testing, to determine — and prevent — what’s causing their kidney stones.