my doc said only ultrasound blasting & no other medications can get rid of kidney stones. Is it true ??

Most stones less than 4 mm in diameter will pass themselves. Stones > than 5 mm are less likely to pass and stones > than 10 mm usually do not pass on their own. If your stones are greater than 5 mm and have not passed with medical therapy and hydration they are unlikely to pass on their own and you will need some help. If your stones are greater than 10 mm they will almost certainly need to have a procedure done to help pass them.

There are a number of options to help with stone passage, but shock-wave lithotripsy is the most common technique suggested. This involves immersing the patient in a bath of water and aiming sound waves at the stone to break it up. The broken up pieces then pass spontaneously. Lithotripsy is effective, but there is growing evidence that the sound waves can damage the kidney. Especially if the procedure is performed multiple times.

Open stone surgery was more common prior to lithotripsy and involves removing the stone via an operation. Surgery can now be done laparoscopically, reducing complication rate and recovery.

Per cutaneous nephrostolithotomy was developed in the 70s and is still used to remove very large stones (>2 cm), stones of certain composition that are not amenable to lithotrispy, and stones in locations that do not respond well to lithotripsy. It is less invasive than surgery and involves placing a tube into the kidney under radiology guidance and removing the stone. Nevertheless, the complication rate is similar to surgery. Interestingly, there are also lithotripsy approaches using lasers (attached to the end of flexible scopes) to break up stones.

Uretorenoscopy with basket retrieval can be used to remove stones. A flexible scope is inserted into the urethra, through the bladder and up the ureter. In the old days, the scopes they used were rigid (ouch!) or semi-rigid and this was most commonly used for stones stuck in the distal ureter (the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder). However, modern scopes are small enough and flexible enough to reach even up to the kidney. The procedure is performed by a urologist and the ability to remove the stone depends on the location and skill of the operator.

Certain medicines have been given to help with stone passage. Increased water intake can also help 'flush out' the stone.

Cranberry juice has not been shown to help pass stones. There may be some evidence that using cranberry concentrate pills bought in a health food stores can make stone formation worse (see link below). Cranberry juice can acidify the urine which might make calcium oxalate stones worse, but could help with calcium phosphate stones. Black current juice alkalinizes urine and could help prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones or uric acid stones. Without knowing what kind of stones you have, however, it wouldn't be good to start these without talking to your physician.

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You can pass the kidney stone, but there is risk involved. The stone may be too large, become stuck in your ureter (tube from kidney to bladder) or your urethra (tube from bladder to outside). If this happens, urine backs up, eventually into your kidney, causing damage. If your doctor is telling you that you need a lithotripsy, probably the best thing to do is do it...you may voice your concerns about the cost to him. They can also stick a tube into your urethra, then into your bladder and up the ureter to retrieve the stone manually. This is MUCH more painful, has more risks, and I'm not sure it's cheaper. Talk to your doctor about alternative treatment.

Yes. And you are still going to pass the stones after they are shattered by the sound waves. It is going to hurt, let me tell you this, I have done it and it hurts a lot..... Not the sound waves breaking the stones but the passing of the small SHARP edged small bits of broken kidney stones...:0( Your penis will certainly feel the bits as they pass through. Also, if you drink lots of water afterwards it will help pass them faster. Have learned that if you drink beer the stones will have trouble forming again.

DO NOT DRINK DARK BEER OR ALE THOUGH! Also Cranberry Juice helps you pass kidney stones. Everyone is right though - Nothing actually "gets rid" of kidney stones except passing them. ultrasound blasting just makes it easier to pass them...Rich

My moms doc told her the same thing so she got a second opinion. She took prescribed sodium bicarb which dissolved her stones in about 6 weeks.

I couldn't just sit around and do nothing like my doctors suggested.

They didn't want me to do anything or to take herbs or herbal remedies, but I had to try something - they just wanted me to do dialysis!

This program allowed me to take control of my health. I went from Stage 4 to Stage 3 kidney disease.

It was easy to do and my BUN, creatinine and anemia are all in better ranges.

Reversing Your Kidney Disease?

Only other way is to pass it. O.o