The treatment of kidney stones at home is very common nowadays. People usually go with non-surgical methods. Many people have no idea that they have a kidney stone until symptoms develop.
If you are looking to learn more about kidneys without visiting a doctor, the most reliable way to check your kidney function and performance is a home test for kidney[1] function. Kidney stones typically leave the body without the intervention of a doctor, but it can be a slow and painful process.
According to research described in 2014 reviews[2], 48% of stones formed in the ureters that allow passage of urine from the kidney to the bladder pass without intervention. This number rose to 79% for stones that form closer to the bladder
Kidney stones[3] may cause mild or severe symptoms, and if they are not treated, they could lead to some serious problems.
Small stones often travel without any problems or symptoms. Larger stones may lodge in the ureter, causing pain. Without removal, large stones can cause complications such as infection and kidney function damage.
There are several factors that can affect how quickly a kidney stone will pass. This article will provide further information about the ways on how to force a kidney stone to pass, accelerate the process, and other remedies as well.
What Do You Know About Kidney Stones Treatment
Kidney stones[4] (renal calculus) are very common and are the result of calcium deposits from the diet that can obstruct the urinary tract. When the stones become too big, they cause severe pain on their back and side. Kidney stone treatment[5] is available that can break up the stone into smaller and more passable pieces. Not all kidney stones need treatment. If it is a small stone, you might be able to get rid of it by passing it when you urinate. Kidney stone interventions depend on where and how big you’re stone and what symptoms you have.
Small stones with minimal symptoms
Most of the small kidney stones will not require invasive treatment. It is possible that a small stone will pass spontaneously simply by:
Drinking water. Between eight and ten 8 ounces glasses of water[6] will prevent kidney stones and may help minerals from accumulating in their urine. Aim to produce copious, clear urine to facilitate the flow, which allows them to pass more easily
Painkiller. Passing kidney calculus can cause some discomfort. To relieve mild pain, your doctor can recommend painkillers such as ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium to ease discomfort.
Getting a prescription. The doctor can give you a medicine known as alpha-blockers[7]. Alpha-blockers help to relax the muscles of your ureter, the tube that carries the urine from the kidneys to your bladder, so you can pass the stone more quickly and with less pain.
Large stones and those that cause symptoms
Stones that are too large to pass themselves or cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections may require further treatment. In this case, the doctor can break the stone in several ways, so your body can finally get rid of it. These include:
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL):
This kidney stone treatment[8] lasts approximately one hour. The procedure aims high-energy sound waves to break stones into small pieces. Shock waves come from outside the body, which is why the procedure is called Extracorporeal SWL. Your doctor will talk about your options for anesthesia, so you can be comfortable under sedation or light anesthesia.
Ureteroscopy (Using a scope to remove stones)
This procedure[8] deals with stones that are in the kidneys or ureters. The doctor uses a thin and flexible scope passed from the bladder into the ureter to find and eliminate stones. As soon as the stone is located, special tools can crush stone or break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. They will use a small basket to eliminate small stones. For the larger stones, the surgeon passes a scope and uses lasers to break them.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or percutaneous nephrolithotripsy:
These similar surgical procedures[9] are options if your stone is large or if other procedures are not successful. Your doctor uses a thin tube inserted through your skin and tissue to reach the kidney and the stone to eliminate them(nephrolithotomy) or break them up (nephrolithotripsy).
Parathyroidectomy (Parathyroid gland surgery)
Your parathyroid gland[10] can make too many hormones that cause a renal calculus. By removing the gland, it can stop the process.
How To Get Rid Of Kidney Stones?
Preventing kidney stones[11] from forming is extremely crucial, especially if you had this problem in the past. Most of the time, the people who have had a history of kidney stones, are very susceptible to their recurrence. Therefore, making small adjustments to your current diet and your nutrition plan[11] can go a long way towards the prevention of kidney stones.
The most effective kidney stone treatment is to drink an appropriate amount of water[12]. Drinking a large amount of water daily will help pass small stones more easily and help prevent the formation of others. Increased water consumption must be supervised by a doctor because complications can occur, especially if you have other diseases.
How to pass kidney stones fast?
The best way for passing kidney stones quickly is to drink plenty of water. Excess liquid encourages urination, which helps to move the stone.
A person can also take steps to prevent new stones from forming and letting existing ones become increasingly larger. These steps include:
- Eat more citrus fruits (oranges)
- Reduce calcium intake
- Limit protein intake.
- Consume less salt
Citrus fruits contain chemical citrate[13], which helps prevent the formation of kidney stones.
In addition, dietitians or doctors can give medical advice and suggest diet plans to help manage renal stones.
How to get rid of kidney stones while pregnant?
The majority of pregnant women with a renal calculus respond well to conservative therapy by increasing water intake, avoiding too much calcium intake (not more than 1000-1200 mg/day)[14] the right pain management, and antibiotics if there is an infection, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) provides temporary pain relief, while other pain medications need to be prescribed by your doctor. If this doesn’t work, then other procedures may be needed. Increasing pain, the existence of an infection, or childbirth necessitates more aggressive and possibly surgical intervention.
Home remedies for kidney stones
A home remedy to pass a kidney stone can be done with natural ingredients that are available right at home. These are cheaper, effective, and better alternatives than expensive medical procedures.
A home remedy on how to force kidney stones to pass can include the following:
- High fiber food[15]. Fiber helps eliminate calcium and your urinary oxalates that can reduce the risk of a stone.
- Carrot. Carrots contain vitamin A which is important to us and for healthy kidneys. Carrots can give you twice your daily requirements for this nutrient.
- Lemonade. Lemonade made with real lemon can increase the level of citrate in your urine which helps prevent stone formation.
- Water. Drink lots of water. You have to drink about one gallon of water per day if you are at risk of being hit by stones.
- Vitamin B6[16]. Medications like vitamin B6 help keep the body from forming oxalate. Too much oxalate in the body is the main contributor to stone formation.
New Treatment Could Ease The Passage Of Kidney Stones
Muscle relaxants delivered to the ureter can reduce contractions that cause pain when passing a stone.
Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have now devised a potential treatment that could make passing renal calculus faster and less painful. They have identified a combination of two drugs that relax the walls of the ureter — the tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder — and can be delivered directly to the ureter with a catheter-like instrument.
This approach could also be useful for relaxing the ureter to help doctors insert a ureteral stent. It could also help when placing any other kind of instrument, such as an endoscope, in the ureter.
Local drug delivery
The researchers tested various doses of this combination of drugs in ureters removed from pigs and showed that they could dramatically reduce the frequency and length of contractions of the ureter. Tests in live pigs also showed that the treatment nearly eliminated ureteral contractions.
For these experiments, the researchers delivered the drugs using a cystoscope, which is very similar to a catheter but has a small fiber-optic channel that can connect to a camera or lens. They found that with this type of delivery, the drugs were not detectable in the animals’ bloodstream, suggesting that the drugs remained in the lining of the ureter and did not go elsewhere in the body, which would lessen the risk of potential side effects.
Conclusion
Although it may be uncomfortable, it is possible to pass a kidney on your own. You can take over-the-counter analgesics to decrease any pain you may be experiencing. These include ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Once a kidney stone passes, you may want to save it to take it to your doctor to perform tests. To save the kidney stone, you need to strain the urine to catch the stone. Your doctor can determine what kind of stone it is and help develop a specific prevention plan. Moreover, you can add home remedies to your usual regimen after the stones pass. This can help prevent more stones from being formed. And last but not least, make sure to talk with your doctor before taking any medications or herbs.