Removing a Kidney Stone

Kidney stones are stones that develop out of minerals and acids in urine. The substances build up and form a stone that becomes very painful to pass. Symptoms may include severe pain around the kidney along with fever and chills. Although the kidney stones may feel extremely painful they will often pass after consuming a lot of water. At times, the stone will not break down and medical attention must be sought to remove the stone surgically.

Description

A kidney stone forms out of substances in urine that build up and unable to pass through the urine. These stones can form from calcium, magnesium and ammonia, uric acid and cystine stones. Smaller stones can be broken down and flushed from the kidneys in the urine, through the intake of large quantities of water. Larger stones may get stuck in the urethra, ureter or bladder and may become very painful and difficult to flush.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a kidney stone include lower back and lower abdominal pain around the kidney, painful urination, blood in the urine or urine that is excessively cloudy and bad smelling. Fever and chills often come when a kidney stone is at a more serious point and sometimes nausea and vomiting follow the severe pain.

Treatment

Kidney stones can be passed through the urine at home by drinking a minimum of twelve glasses of water. Adding apple cider vinegar is said to be very effective in removing a kidney stone and eating fresh parsley is also said to be helpful. Caffeine and other acidic foods such as red meat, should be avoided while trying to pass and recover from kidney stones. Water and rest are the best cures for treating kidney stones.

Removal

There are a few techniques used by doctors for removing a kidney stone. One method is to apply shock waves to the stone so that it breaks down into smaller pieces and is able to pass through the urine. The stone may also be removed through tunnel surgery which involves cutting into the back to remove the stone or ureteroscope which involves inserting a wire with a camera on it through the urethra to pull out the stone or destroy it.

Prevention

Making sure that 8 to 12 cups of water are consumed daily is a very important step in preventing future kidney stones. Adding a daily dosage of 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to your water will also help to keep the kidneys clear. It is essential to get enough fiber in the diet so that waste can effectively be eliminated. Build up slowly to eating 20 to 30 grams of fiber daily. Exercise is highly recommended for toning and keeping the kidneys performing well.