Treatment of Kidney Stones 

The treatment of kidney stones includes:

• Treating the pain and other symptoms of a kidney stone while the stone passes.
• Break up or removal of the stone, if necessary.
• Preventing new stone formation by increasing fluid intake and making dietary changes.
• When you pass a stone, treatment usually is limited to medication to control pain. Kidney stones usually pass within 48 hours after symptoms begin. Treatments to break up or remove the stones may be needed if the stones are not likely to pass on their own because of their location or size. Surgery is rarely needed to remove stones. Some patients may be admitted to the hospital if complications like infections or uncontrollable pain arise.
• There are multiple treatment options for the management of kidney stones including: observation and pain control, shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous surgery, and open surgery.