Kidney Stone Help – What Can Be Done to Get Relief?

Kidney stones can be painful, ranging from mild to excruciating. Symptoms can include:

  • Recurring pain under the ribs, in the back or in the side
  • Pain that can spread to the groin and lower stomach area
  • A constant “need” to urinate
  • Painful urination
  • Discolored urine that is brown, red or pink in color
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • If infection is present, fever and chills with pain

When a person needs kidney stone help, he or she has several options. The first source of help should be a medical professional that can rule out any other source or cause for the pain the individual is in. A medical professional should be able to diagnose the problem and suggest the proper treatment for the type of stone, and degree of pain the patient is in.The first option for kidney stone help can be over-the-counter pain medication, for those that are suffering with mild or temperate pain. Over-the-counter pain medicine can offer temporary relief from mild symptoms while the stone or stones pass safely through the system. Examples of this pain medicine include Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Acetaminophen and Aleve.

However, there are also medications have also been used to dissolve existing stones and prevent the recurrence of stones. One OTC medication that is proving to be extremely beneficial in kidney stone help is a diuretic with potassium magnesium. This diuretic prohibits new formation of stones. Diuretics that have been helpful in the dissolving of existing stones contain citrate salts. Any medication should be taken with plenty of fluids to help flush the stone or stones out more quickly, and only used under a doctors supervision.

For sufferers that have symptoms that do not respond to OTC medications, kidney stone help can come in the form of sound waves or surgery. The doctor can prescribe prescription-strength medications to help manage the pain before these procedures are done. Both the sound wave therapy and surgery can be a quick method of removing the stones to decrease the recovery time associated with passing stones.

The sound waves are a part of a procedure called lithotripsy. Lithotripsy uses these sound waves to to send a strong current of vibrations through the stone or stones to break them into smaller pieces that will pass on their own. A mild sedative can be given during the procedure to help with the mild discomfort that occurs.

Surgery can also be used for kidney stone help to remove extremely large stones. This procedure is done with a little incision in the patients back. This surgery is generally only done in the cases of extremely large stones or in cases where lithotripsy does not work.

Kidney stone help is readily available for anyone suffering from stones. These stones can be treated with modern technology, and both over-the-counter and prescription medications for effective pain management and the removal of the stones, both large and small.