Introduction
Kidney stones affect 5% of the population. They are more common in an area of the country called the stonebelt which covers the southern states from New Mexico to Florida (including Texas). Of those people who develop a stone, 50% will develop another within 5 to 10 years. Our doctors have extensive experience in all aspects of stone diagnosis and treatment.

We provide state-of-the-art and convenient in-office CT scanning for our patients with the GE lightspeed scanner.  Our doctors also utilize the most state-of-the-art equipment for  treatment including flexible fiberoptic scopes and the newest laser technology. Every patient is counselled regarding their unique specific dietary guidelines and given recommendations to decrease recurrent stone formation. Please see our Links page for additional information.


Stone Types
The most common type of stone is Calcium Oxalate and accounts for over 80% of all stones. These are usually seen on a plain x-ray film if they are large enough. Calcium can also combine with other elements like Phosphate to form stones. Dietary recommendations including salt restriction and increasing fluid intake are the first approach to keeping these stones from coming back. At this time there is no known medication that will dissolve this type of stone.

Uric acid, in high enough concentrations, can crystallize out to form stones. These can be difficult to see on plain x-ray. A CT scan is sometimes needed to appropriately see these stones prior to rendering any treatment. They are mostly seen in patients who have a high protein diet or suffer from gout. Dietary recommendations can be effective, however many times medication is utilized to dissolve a stone or prevent its recurrence.

Struvite or Infection stones can be found in people who have recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI's). Many times there is no pain from the stone however, the infection continues to come back despite appropriate treatment with antibiotics. These stones are usually well seen on plain x-rays and respond effectively to treatments.


Diagnosis & Treatment
Symptoms from kidney stones can be variable. Most people complain of a sharp and severe pain in their back localized to one side or the other. It may slowly evolve over a few days or it may come on quickly. The pain may radiate down into the abdomen and groin or even cause nausea and vomiting. Some patients will note blood in their urine or a very dark urine.

A urine check in the office is necessary to make sure there is no infection. Blood is not always present in the urine. An x-ray in our office may show an obvious stone, however, if no stone is seen and the symptoms are consistent with a kidney stone, a CT scan or IVP may be needed.  These special x-rays help find a stone that is too small to be seen or is invisible to plain x-rays. 

If a stone is found there are many options available. Small stones will usually pass on their own however it is impossible to predict when this will occur. If the stone is blocking the kidney, creating infection or causing severe symptoms, there may be a need to intervene before the stone passes. A small stone in the ureter (thin tube connecting the kidney to the bladder) can be treated with a procedure called ureteroscopy if it does not pass on its own. This involves passing a small scope into the bladder and up the ureter where the stone can be visualized and ablated with a laser. Larger stones in the kidneys can usually be treated with a procedure called Lithotripsy. This is a way to break up the stone in the kidney without making any incisions or utilizing any scopes. The shock waves create very small stone particles that are then passed into the urine within a few days. 

If stone fragments are obtained, they can be sent for analysis. This information can help us decide the appropriate way to counsel patients on preventing future stones. In difficult cases we may need to collect urine over a 24 hour period or send special blood studies. Dietary recommendations are given to help prevent future stones.  These recommendations can be found in the patient education section of this website.