I was diagnosed with small kidney stones. What is the treatment for small kidney stones?
Good Day. Drink plenty of water, seek medical assistance for pain management.
The most important factor in managing small kidney stones is increasing fluid intake. Patients are usually advised to drink ample water, typically around 2 to 3 liters 5.2 pints each day, to aid in flushing out the stone. To alleviate discomfort, a doctor may suggest over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen Tylenol, ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, or naproxen Aleve. In certain situations, medications can be prescribed to facilitate the passage of the stone. Alpha-blockers like tamsulosin Flomax work by relaxing the ureter muscles, widening the passage and easing pain, while calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine, may also be utilized. Making dietary adjustments can help prevent the formation of future stones. This might involve reducing sodium, animal protein, and foods high in oxalates. It's essential for patients to be aware of their symptoms and seek medical attention if any complications occur. If the pain becomes intolerable or if symptoms such as fever, chills, blood in the urine, or signs of infection develop, immediate medical care is necessary.
Generally speaking, the treatment for kidney stones focuses on increasing urine flow by increasing water intake, increasing urinary citrate by consuming fruits that contain high amounts of citrate (e.g. lemos, limes, oranges, and watermelon), limiting salt intake, increasing dietary calcium intake through dairy products (or you can take one Tums before every meal0, and increasing dietary intake of omerga3 fatty acids (helps also to boost urinary citrate). You may also want to look into the DASH Eating Plan (DASH Eating Plan | NHLBI, NIH <https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan>). DASH stands for dietary approach to stop hypertension. It has been demonstrated in clinical trials to help better manage high blood pressure, but it is also effective as an adjunct to other forms of treatment for kidney stones. These recommendations are basic. You first need to talk with your doctor about obtaining a stone risk profile, which will better inform your doctor about your risk factors for kidney stones.
The best treatment for passing small kidney stones is drinking plenty of water to flush the stone out of kidneys. Avoid sugar y beverage like., juice, sweet tea. sweetened carbonated beverages that can worsen your discomfort. Also avoid dairy milk products that contain calcium which could increase the stone. Applying a warm heating pad or soaking in a warm bathtub can help relieve discomfort from the stone. Tylenol, ibuprofen, or naproxen over the counter can also be taken to relieve your discomfort. Taking a short walk can help to pass the small stone through the kidneys but don’t engage in strenuous exercise or workout as this can cause muscle spasms and worsen your discomfort. Lying on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between them and also with alleviate your discomfort. Avoid salt when you are trying to pass your kidney stone as the salt will retain the fluid and you don’t want to retain the fluid but instead pass it with hopes of the stone passing in the fluid. You can try eating celery as it has water in it will help the stone to pass. If you like pomegranate this can also be eaten to help breakdown crystallization of the stone to allow it to pass. Lastly once you have finally passed your stone and later discover that you are prone to having repeated kidney stones you might want to consider eating a banana daily that is, if you don’t have any underlying health issues or reasons that would contraindicate you being able to eat a banana. Bananas contain potassium that play a role in excreting excess calcium deposits from within the body. Please note that if you experience increase pain, fever, nausea, vomiting or unable to keep fluids down seek medical attention immediately.