Diagnosis of Kidney Stones

If a patient has renal colic pain combined with blood in the urine, their doctor will suspect kidney stones. Nausea is another symptom of the ailment. However, some other conditions have the same symptoms; therefore, the doctor will want to order more tests to confirm that their patient is suffering from kidney stones. The doctor will first ask the patient about their medical history, as they will want to know if the individual has a history of stones. If the person is running a fever, they could have a urinary tract infection; therefore, antibiotics are needed.

A blood test can be conducted to determine if there is a surplus of calcium or uric acid in the blood. Blood test can also make sure that there are no complications related to the stones.

In addition, a urine test will be conducted. Testing the urine can indicate that a patient is leaking too many stone-forming minerals or not enough stone-inhibiting materials.

A doctor many want to conduct imaging tests, such as computerized tomography, an X-ray or an ultrasound. These tests can actually show if there are kidney stones in the urinary tract.

A patient could be asked to urinate in a device that will be used to catch the stones as they discharge. The doctor can then send the stones to the lab to be tested, so he can determine what is causing them and how to avoid them in the future.

Treatment of Kidney Stones
Treatment will vary, depending on the size of the stones. Some people can pass a stone simply by drinking water. 2 to 4 quarts of water each day can help wash out a person’s system.

For larger and more difficult stones, the doctor may order shock waves, which uses sound waves to produce powerful vibrations that break the stones into small pieces. The smaller stones can then be passed more easily through the urine.

A physician might also try to use a scope that contains a camera to remove the stone. When the formation is found, there is special equipment that can be used to break the stone into pieces. A doctor can also perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy, in which a surgeon makes a tiny incision in the back to get rid of the stones.

About 1 out of 10 people will get kidney stones at least once during their lifetime. Fortunately, they normally do not cause any permanent injuries. Anyone who suspects that they might have stone needs to see their doctor, who can help them alleviate the pain and get rid of the stones.