On a bright spring morning, a middle-aged man, Mr. Li, walked into the consultation room with deep concern. He held the recent medical examination report in his hand and frowned, clearly confused by the results. Reports indicate that he has kidney stones, but not yet to the extent that they require urgent treatment. Mr. Lee's concern stems from a common misconception that the only solution to kidney stones is surgery.
In years of medical practice, it is not uncommon to encounter patients like Mr. Li who are anxious due to kidney stones. This condition is quite common among middle-aged and elderly people, but the understanding of how it is treated is often one-sided. When many people hear the word "kidney stones", they immediately think of surgical treatment and ignore other possible treatments.
Causes and effects of kidney stones
Kidney stones, a common but often misunderstood health problem, are the result of a combination of factors. In many cases, the root cause of this disease is the excessive concentration of certain substances in the body (such as calcium, oxalic acid, uric acid) in the urine, which gradually form crystals over time. In addition to genetic factors, lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise, unhealthy diet Xi habits (high sodium, high protein intake), and insufficient water intake can exacerbate this process.
The impact of kidney stones on the human body should not be underestimated. The most immediate effect is pain, especially when the stone moves to the urethra, and the patient may experience severe pain. In addition, stones can also lead to urinary tract infections and, in extreme cases, even in extreme cases, long-term untreated kidney stones can impair kidney function and cause more serious health problems. Therefore, understanding the causes and effects of kidney stones is essential for early diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosing kidney stones: more than just pain
Diagnosing kidney stones does not depend solely on the symptom of pain. In fact, many patients may not experience significant discomfort in the early stages. Doctors usually use methods such as ultrasound, urinalysis, and computed tomography (CT) to determine the presence of stones, their size, and location. These diagnostic tests not only confirm the presence of kidney stones, but also help in the development of a treatment plan.
Early diagnosis is essential to prevent kidney stones from getting worse. Therefore, for those individuals with a family history of kidney stones, or patients who experience symptoms such as recurrent urinary tract infections and hematuria, they should pay more attention and seek medical attention in time. Understanding and recognizing the underlying symptoms of kidney stones is essential for prompt treatment.
Non-surgical treatments: possibilities and limitations
When discussing the treatment of kidney stones, surgery is not the only option. For small stones, nonsurgical treatments, such as adequate fluid intake to help the stone pass naturally, and the use of specific medications to relieve symptoms or help dissolve the stone, are often effective.
However, these methods are not suitable for all patients. For example, for larger stones, or stones that cause urinary tract obstruction and recurrent infections, nonsurgical treatment alone may not be effective. In addition, the patient's overall health and the specific type of stone (e.g., calcium oxalate or uratestone) can also influence treatment options. Therefore, non-surgical treatments, while applicable and convenient, have their limitations and must be tailored to the specific situation of the patient.
Surgery: When is it necessary?
For patients with kidney stones who do not respond to or are not suitable for non-surgical methods, surgical treatment becomes necessary. Indications for surgical treatment usually include when the stone is too large to pass on its own, persists in severe pain, and leads to a urinary tract infection or renal impairment. Currently, there are several ways to surgically treat kidney stones, including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which is a non-invasive treatment that uses shock waves to break up the stone and make it easier to pass out of the body.
There's also percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, a minimally invasive procedure in which doctors go directly to the kidney through a small incision in the patient's back to break up and remove the stone. The choice of these surgical methods depends on a variety of factors, such as the size, location, and number of stones, as well as the overall health of the patient.
When considering surgical treatment, it is important to communicate closely with your doctor about the pros and cons of various treatments, as well as their impact on an individual's health. Only after a thorough assessment can the most appropriate decision be made.