Management of Urinary Stones

Comprehensive Care for Kidney and Urinary Stones

Urinary stones are one of the most common — and most painful — urological conditions, affecting a growing number of people in India due to dietary and lifestyle factors. At NephroUroCare, we offer complete stone management, from accurate diagnosis and pain relief to advanced minimally invasive removal and long-term prevention strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence.

What Are Urinary Stones?

Urinary stones (also called renal calculi or kidney stones) are hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside the kidneys and can travel through the urinary tract — including the ureters, bladder, and urethra. Stones vary widely in size, from tiny grains that pass unnoticed to larger stones that cause significant pain and blockage.

Types of Urinary Stones

• Calcium oxalate stones — the most common type
• Uric acid stones — often linked to diet and dehydration
• Struvite stones — associated with urinary tract infections
• Cystine stones — caused by a rare genetic condition

Symptoms of Urinary Stones

• Severe pain in the back or side, below the ribs (renal colic)
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Burning sensation during urination
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Fever and chills, if infection is present

Stone pain is often sudden and severe — many patients describe it as one of the most intense pains they’ve experienced. Prompt evaluation helps confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Inadequate fluid intake / chronic dehydration
• Diets high in salt, oxalate-rich foods, or animal protein
• Obesity
• Family history of kidney stones
• Certain metabolic conditions
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Reduced urine output due to hot climates or physically demanding work
• Certain medications and supplements

Diagnostic Evaluation

• Detailed medical history and symptom assessment
• Urine tests to check for blood, infection, and crystal formation
• Blood tests to assess kidney function and metabolic factors
• Ultrasound (USG) to detect stones and assess for obstruction
• CT scan, when needed, for precise stone size, location, and number
• Stone composition analysis, when a stone is passed or removed, to guide prevention strategy

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the size, location, and number of stones, as well as symptoms and kidney function.

Conservative Management

Small stones (often under 5-6mm) may pass naturally with adequate hydration, pain management, and medications that help relax the ureter to ease stone passage.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

A non-invasive procedure that uses focused shock waves from outside the body to break stones into smaller fragments that can pass naturally through urine.

Ureteroscopy (URS)

A thin scope is passed through the urinary tract to directly visualize and remove or fragment stones located in the ureter or kidney, often using laser technology — with no external incision required.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

Used for larger kidney stones, this minimally invasive procedure involves a small incision in the back to directly access and remove the stone from the kidney.

Emergency Management

For stones causing severe obstruction, infection, or kidney compromise, urgent drainage (such as a stent or nephrostomy tube) may be required to relieve pressure before definitive stone treatment.

Your urologist will recommend the most appropriate approach based on your specific stone characteristics and overall health.

Preventing Stone Recurrence

Urinary stones have a high recurrence rate — roughly 50% of patients experience another stone within 5–10 years without preventive measures. Based on stone type and metabolic evaluation, we provide personalized prevention plans that may include:

• Increasing daily fluid intake to maintain adequate urine output
• Dietary modifications tailored to stone type (sodium, oxalate, or animal protein reduction)
• Medications to reduce specific stone-forming substances in urine
• Regular follow-up imaging to monitor for new stone formation
• Treatment of underlying metabolic or infection-related causes

When to Seek Immediate Care

Seek urgent evaluation if you experience:

• Severe, unrelenting pain
• Fever with stone-related pain (may indicate infection with obstruction)
• Inability to urinate
• Persistent vomiting
• Blood in urine with severe pain

Why Choose NephroUroCare?

• Experienced urologists skilled in the full range of stone treatment options
• Advanced diagnostic imaging for accurate stone assessment
• Minimally invasive treatment approaches for faster recovery
• Personalized, metabolic-based prevention plans to reduce recurrence
• Conveniently located in Gurgaon