Kidney Stone Disease

Kidney stone disease is common — more than 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives. But that doesn’t make this uncomfortable condition any easier to deal with. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney stones or have unexplained pelvic pain or urinary issues, it’s time to get help.

Urologists at UMass Memorial Health have extensive experience diagnosing and treating kidney stones, bladder stones and other types of urinary tract blockages. We offer advanced treatments and a compassionate approach to help you feel better as quickly as possible.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones, or renal stones, are hard deposits resulting from a buildup of waste and minerals in your urine. The buildup forms solid crystals that stay in your kidneys or travel through your urinary tract.

Kidney stones can block the flow of urine and be difficult to pass. They can also lead to serious health complications such as kidney damage, bladder blockage, ureteral obstruction or sepsis, a life-threatening infection.

Common causes of kidney stone disease include dehydration, bacterial infections, or eating foods high in protein or certain acids and minerals. Your risk of developing kidney stones increases if you have a family history of kidney stones, are obese or have had gastrointestinal surgery.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

Symptoms of kidney stones may include:

• Blood in your urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Fever and chills
• Frequent urination
• Inability to urinate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in your lower back or abdomen
• Urinary tract infection or inflammation

Our Approach to Kidney Stone Removal

Your urologist will talk to you about your medical history and do a physical examination, in addition to blood and urine tests. We may also recommend imaging exams to evaluate the size and location of stones.

Small stones often pass on their own. Your urologist can give you medication to aid the process and relieve discomfort. If you have a large stone blocking your urinary tract, you may need a procedure to remove it.

Urologists at UMass Memorial offer several types of kidney stone removal:

• Shock wave lithotripsy: This nonsurgical treatment uses high-energy shock waves to break kidney stones into pieces so they’re easier to pass through your urine. Shock wave lithotripsy is the most common treatment for stones in the kidneys. 
• Ureteroscopy: You may need a ureteroscopy if you have a stone in your ureters, the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder. A urologist inserts a special telescope through your urethra and bladder to reach and remove the stones. 
• Minimally invasive surgery: We may remove large stones through a tiny incision in your back. A urologist either removes the stone in one piece, called nephrolithotomy, or breaks it up and removes the fragments, called nephrolithotripsy.