Kidney stones are a common urological condition that can cause intense pain, urinary problems and more. At Vitality Plus Urology, our team of experienced urologists specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney stones. We are committed to offering you the highest standard of care, with personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and budget.
Our dedicated team utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and imaging techniques to accurately identify the size, location and composition of kidney stones. With this information, we develop a comprehensive treatment strategy that may include conservative measures, minimally invasive procedures, or surgical interventions, depending on the severity and complexity of your condition.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone forms in your kidney when you have an imbalance in the molecular components (like calcium, oxalate and phosphate) and their concentrations in your urine. If overpopulated, these molecules join together to form crystals, they grow, and eventually result in kidney stones of varying sizes.
Do kidney stones have symptoms?
YES! Ask anyone who has had a kidney stone and they will likely tell you their tale of agony. Extreme pain is often the first sign of a kidney stone, which either appears suddenly, or builds in intensity gradually over time. The pain localizes to the back, lower abdomen or groin. It typically comes and goes intermittently. Sometimes you can see blood in the urine. You might feel nauseated and vomit. Several other symptoms that kidney stones can cause:
- Urine that is dark or red due to blood. Sometimes urine has only small amounts of red blood cells that can’t be seen with the naked eye
- Nausea and vomiting
- A feeling of intense need to urinate
- Urinating more often or a burning feeling during urination
- For men, you may feel pain at the tip of the penis
- Kidney Stones that are too large to pass get stuck in various portions of your ureter. You feel pain when the muscular wall of your ureter tries to squeeze the stone along into your bladder. The blockage of the flow of urine from your kidney into your bladder creates a “back-pressure” within your kidney, causing pain.
- Sometimes, kidney stones do not produce any symptoms. But smaller kidney stones that don’t cause severe symptoms may still trigger a dull ache, which you might mistake for muscle or intestinal pain.
- It’s common to feel the need to urinate more often, or to feel a burning sensation when you urinate. It can be difficult to start urinating. Or, you may feel that you are not emptying your bladder completely.
Schedule your kidney stone consultation at Vitality Plus Urology today, and let us help get you back on the road to recovery!