KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones can occur at any time of life, including during your later years. Most people who have had attacks of kidney stones remember them vividly, as the pain is usually described as excruciating. It often starts in the back and may move down to the groin area. You may find that you cannot sit still because the pain is so great and sometimes you may have the urge to pass urine frequently.
If your doctor suspects that you have kidney stones, he may use X-rays or echograms to confirm this diagnosis. You may be asked to collect your urine through a filtered bottle to try to “catch” the kidney stones.
Many stones are passed spontaneously and your urine may become blood-tinged as the stone passes down the ureter. If the stone does not pass by itself, it may have to be removed by surgery. A new procedure known as lithotripsy breaks the stones into many small particles by powerful shock waves. This allows the fragments to pass safely and comfortably in the urine. Surgery can thus be avoided.
Lithotripsy machines are becoming more available in the United States and patients are usually referred to special centers for treatment. After receiving an anaesthetic, the patient is immersed in a special water bath and the shock waves are focused on the stone, so that it can break up and relieve the obstruction. The success of this treatment has been quite considerable and this may become the standard method for the removal of kidney stones that are not passed spontaneously.
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