How to Break Down Kidney Stone Deposits

Passing a kidney stone can be so painful that it is often equated with childbirth. Break down kidney stone deposits before you pass them to avoid this agony. Your doctor may suggest Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as the recommended treatment. It will break down the kidney stones so you can pass them easily.

Instructions

How to Break Down Kidney Stone Deposits

1. Here is how ESWL breaks down kidney stone deposits. Shock waves are directed to the kidney-stone deposit and break it down. According to the National Institutes of Health, "Shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine."

2. Prepare for your ESWL treatment. Avoid medications that inhibit blood clotting, including aspirin, for several weeks before the procedure. Tell your doctor if you are taking any herbal remedies or vitamins, as they may have active components that inhibit clotting factors.

3. An ESWL treatment is generally an outpatient medical procedure. It's usually recommended to eat a light meal beforehand. Wear comfortable clothes that will be easy to put on after the ESWL treatment.
   On the treatment day you will receive a brief physical examination and your health history will be reviewed with you. Additionally, your doctor may offer you a sedative to help you relax. The National Institutes of Health say depending on both the doctors and the patient's preference, "Occasionally, a patient is given anesthesia---either general anesthesia, which induces a sleep-like state, or a regional anesthesia, which numbs the lower body. "

4. Lie down on the treatment table as directed by your health-care professional. The kidney stone deposits are located using an X-ray or ultrasonic device; lie very still and take shallow breaths. Water-based jelly is applied to the treatment area and then the procedure begins. During the procedure shock waves are aimed through the body's tissues at the kidney stone deposits. You will hear a clicking noise and you may feel small electrical pulses. Pain is variable from person to person. Wearing headphones is a good way to distract yourself if your doctor approves it. This process takes from 20 minutes to two hours to complete, depending on the location and severity of the kidney stone deposits.

5. Recovery time is short for ESWL. Even in patients who experience bruising, it is common for patients to engage in their daily activities in only a few days.

Tips & Warnings

• Take preventative measures, like drinking plenty of water, to avoid future kidney stone deposits.

• If ESWL treatment fails, you may need conventional surgery.

References

• National Institutes of Health
• Wind Song Urology