Condition
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can cause severe pain. We diagnose, treat, and help prevent recurrence with both medical and minimally invasive approaches.
Common symptoms
- Sharp flank or back pain
- Pain radiating to the groin
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea or vomiting
Kidney stones are one of the most painful conditions we treat — and one of the most preventable. With the right approach, most patients can both clear current stones and dramatically reduce the chance of new ones.
Why stones form
Stones form when minerals in the urine become concentrated enough to crystallize. The most common causes are not drinking enough water, dietary patterns (high salt, animal protein, oxalate-rich foods), and metabolic conditions that change urine chemistry.
How we diagnose
A CT scan is the most reliable way to confirm a stone, locate it, and measure its size. We pair imaging with urinalysis, blood work, and a 24-hour urine collection to understand why your stones are forming.
Treatment options
- Pain control and fluids — small stones often pass on their own
- Medical expulsive therapy to relax the ureter
- Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) — non-invasive, breaks stones with focused energy
- Ureteroscopy with laser — outpatient procedure that fragments and removes stones
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) — for very large stones
Preventing the next stone
After your first episode, we work with you on a prevention plan tailored to your stone composition and metabolic profile. For most patients, the answer is some combination of better hydration, dietary changes, and sometimes a single daily medication.