If a patient is suffering from ureteral stones, then his or her treatment depends completely on the size of the stone, the symptoms, type of stone and what is the cause of the stone. Most of the stones can be managed by fluid intake, diet control and pain relievers. Sometimes the pain management and passing of the stone is completely dependent on medications, so that things may pass on with reduced pain. So, these kind of occurrences does not require surgery or medical procedure to remove the stones.

Treating small stones with mild symptoms:

Small stones doesn’t require much effort, only diet change and fluid intake may help if followed precisely. Further, recommendations are as follows:

  • Drinking water – It is significant to consume plenteously fluids when one is suffering from ureteral or kidney stones. Most of the urologist recommend about three to four liters of water per day. Miscellaneous fluids can also be taken but in a limited amount. This fluid intake aids in flushing the urinary tract and stones that are stuck there or in the renal zones. These days doctors prescribe some medications that are very much water based that is powder mixed with warm water and thus initiating the flushing of the stones from the zone of occurrence.
  • Pain relievers – Passing small pieces of stones even cause pain, so the concerned urologist will prescribe over the counter medications that is for pain management. These medications are basically SOS, and can be taken while the initiation of pain. These medications may be ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, etc.
  • Sometimes alpha blockers are also provided to help pass the kidney stones easily with less effort and reduced pain. It aids in the relaxation of the muscles in the ureter that helps in the quick removal of stone.

Treating larger stones/Complications:

There are few medical procedures available for severe cases such as large stones or stones that are stuck at some place where there is an urgent need of the elimination of stones. Such procedures are:

SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY (SWL)

  • Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), also known as extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, utilizes a machine known as lithotripter to crush the stones. This machine delivers shock waves via skin to the stones in order to strike them and crush them up. The sound waves generated creates vibrations that are sufficiently strong to be passed through the urinary tract, this is somewhat a little uncomfortable procedure to be carried out. Moreover, if needed doctor can offer sedation or anesthesia to help in the pain management. Consult your urologist if you intend to opt for this treatment.
  • PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY (PNL)
  • PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY abbreviated as PNL is a surgery for the removal of large kidney stones. It is done under the proper anesthetic conditions. This is done using a tiny, lighted telescope and other tools, which are inserted from the back through an incision. This is in actual is endoscopic removal of kidney stones. The hospital stay ranges from one to two day during this procedure.

URETEROSCOPY (URS)

Ureteroscopy abbreviated as URS utilizes a scope known as ureteroscope, which is a thin tube, with a light on it. This light on the thin tube helps the urologist to locate the stones in the kidney or ureter. During the procedure, the urologist insert the ureteroscope into the urethra and through the urinary track until the light gets its location over the stone. The very moment the surgeon sees the stone, he or she tries to grab the stone from the instrument and remove it. But if he or she cannot remove it then he or she will grab the stone and will break it into tiny pieces so that these stones can pass thrugh while urination.

Fewer times, doctors put a stent on to the location of procedure so as to manage swelling, pain and it also aids in the healing process. This process also requires sedation or anesthesia.

REMOVAL OF PARATHYROID TUMORS

Sometimes kidney stones are caused due to other reasons or say other diseases as well. One of these is hyperparathyroidism, which is caused to due overactive behavior of parathyroid hormone. Due to the occurrence of parathyroidism sometimes kidney stones are formed. This is due to the reason that these glands provide parathyroid hormone, but when such glands produce too much of this hormone, calcium level in the body of the patient increases, which in turn becomes the reason for the formation of the kidney stones. Sometimes hyperparathyroidism is caused by small, non-cancerous tumors that are formed on the glands which leads to the over production of parathyroid hormone that increases the level of calcium in the body.