Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 12 Aug 2022
Here’s a little snippet from the famous series, ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ that shows the pain and paranoid scepticism of Joey Tribbiani when he was diagnosed with kidney stones.
Doctor : Mr. Tribbiani, I’m afraid you’ve got kidney stones.
Joey Tribbiani : Umm, well, what else could it be?
Doctor : It’s kidney stones.
Joey Tribbiani : Or?
Doctor : Kidney stones!
That’s to cool you down before we look deep into the disorder.
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of chemicals present in the urinary tract, which causes immense pain when passed. Being a common disorder, it affects 3 in 10 people in the age group of 20-50 years.
The stones vary from small to large and the symptoms are prominent for the larger stones. The common symptoms include:
Colicky PAIN in the sides of your lower back
Accompanied by VOMITING
Haematuria (BLOOD in urine)
Burning Sensation while urinating
Lower Abdominal pain, genital pain and
Chronic BACK PAIN
There are few tests and scans to locate the stones and check for their sizes, which determine the apt treatment for it.
Kidney function test (Blood) Urine Analysis Ultrasound Scan X-Ray KUB CT ScanCT Scan is the most preferred diagnostic methods for kidney stones. It is the quickest with clear images and very efficient for emergencies.
The treatment method for kidney stones is decided based on the size and location of the stones. Be it small or large, while the stone passes, the pain will be blinding, which is why painkillers are a major part of the treatment.
Conservative – fluid therapy and medical expulsion therapy for small stones
Non-Invasive – ESWL – Sound waves to break Kidney stones
Ureteroscopy – We use a flexible scope for breaking Kidney and Ureteric stones with Holmium laser
PCNL (Percutaneous Kidney stone removal) – Key hole procedure for breaking and removing large kidney stones
Holmium Laser Lithotripsy for breaking stones.
