Ureteric Stones: What Are They and How Can They be Treated

You’ve probably heard of kidney stones and how they can be really painful. But what you may not know that there are different kinds of kidney stones. A kidney stone is a build-up of dissolved minerals that accumulate in the kidneys. Ureteric stones are the stones that have shifted from the kidney to the ureter. Ureters are the tubes that help carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Kidney stones usually do not have many symptoms. However, when the stones move to the ureter, it starts showing symptoms like severe pain and obstruction of the flow of urine. Some stones are so tiny that they pass through the urinary tract without causing any pain, while some are large enough to cause the blockage of the urinary tract.

Why do kidney stones form?

Your body naturally generates waste which your kidneys collect. This waste is mixed with water and pushed out from the body in the form of urine. However, when you don’t drink enough water, these chemicals form small crystals. These crystals, when present in high levels, accumulate to form a stone. A kidney stone can be as small as a grain of salt and as large as a golf ball.

Symptoms of ureteric stones

Even if you have a kidney stone, you may not have any symptoms until the stone is on its way out to your bladder. Till the time the stones are in the kidney, one may not have any problem. Smaller kidney stones usually don’t show any symptoms and pass through urine without causing any problem. However, large kidney stones can get stuck in the urinary tract, leading to severe pain and blockage of urine. Here are a few signs of ureteric stones that you must watch out for:

• Pain while urinating
• Pain in the area below the ribs
• Nausea and vomiting
• Change in the colour of the urine
• Burning sensation during urination
• Frequent urination
• Blood in the urine
• Fever along with the chills can be indicative of a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection

Treatment

The treatment of ureteric stones depends upon the size of the stone, severity of the symptoms and cause of the stones. Urologists can help manage the stones by prescribing pain relievers and increasing fluid intake. Some medications can help to break the stones into smaller pieces and pass them without pain or with less pain. However, in some cases, laser surgery may be recommended to either remove or destroy the stone. One of the most common methods of using lasers to remove kidney stones is holmium laser lithotripsy.

What is holmium laser lithotripsy?

If you have large stones or severe symptoms, your doctor may suggest laser lithotripsy. The method will help remove stones that are in the bladder, kidneys, and ureters. A laser is used to break the kidney stone into very small pieces. This is one of the most advanced procedures to gently remove the stones from the body. As the procedure doesn’t involve any skin incisions, there are no chances of scars or marks.

Looking for an urologist in Siliguri

If you want to get your symptoms diagnosed near to your location, search online with terms such as ‘Urologists near me’. If you are in West Bengal, visit Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre for a quality urology treatment. The hospital’s urology department has well-qualified urologists in Siliguri who specialise in different types of ureteric disorders. Learn more at http://www.neotiagetwelsiliguri.com/UROLOGY.php.