Kidney Stone Treatment Options in San Antonio

Hardened mineral deposits can form anywhere in the urinary tract. Most often, they develop in the kidneys when substances in your urine, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, become too concentrated and crystallize.

For some people, the kidney stones are small enough to pass unnoticed. For others, they can:

• Cause severe pain
• Block the flow of urine
• Lead to infection

The goal of treatment is to clear existing stones and prevent new ones from forming.

Kidney stone treatment options in San Antonio are available with our expert, experienced urologists.

If your kidney stone is small, your doctor may recommend letting it pass naturally through your urine. Passing a stone on your own can take several days or even weeks, depending on its shape and position in the urinary tract. Your urologist’s recommendations at this stage can include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids. Aim for pale or nearly clear urine. This helps flush your kidneys and encourages the stone to move.
• Taking pain medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs to relieve discomfort while the stone passes.
• A prescription for an alpha-blocker, such as tamsulosin. This medication relaxes the muscles in the ureter, making it easier for the stone to pass.

You may be given a small strainer to collect the stone when it passes. Analyzing the stone helps your doctor understand its composition. This can help determine how best to prevent future stones.

If you notice symptoms showing the stone may be too big to pass, or if you think an infection is starting, call your urologist in San Antonio right away. Warning signs include:

• Worsening pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Difficulty urinating

Further treatment, such as lithotripsy or ureteroscopy, may be necessary.

Lithotripsy

Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to break kidney stones into small fragments that can pass naturally. This option is typically recommended when:

A stone is larger than 5 millimeters
The stone is blocking urine flow or causing an infection
Pain medication is not enough for symptom relief

Lithotripsy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. You’ll receive sedation or general anesthesia for comfort.

During the procedure, you’ll lie on a table with a water cushion positioned near the kidney. The lithotripter machine sends hundreds to thousands of precisely focused shockwaves through your skin to the stone. The sound waves break the stone into smaller fragments that can be excreted in the urine.

Treatment generally lasts about an hour and requires no incisions.

Afterward, you may notice mild soreness or bruising, and your urine may appear pink or slightly red for a few days. These effects are normal and usually resolve within a week.

After the procedure, your urologist will instruct you to:

• Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day, to help flush out fragments
• Begin to engage in gentle movement, such as walking, which can help the fragments pass
• Use pain medication as prescribed

You’ll need to follow up right away if you experience:

• Severe pain not relieved by medication
• A fever over 101.5°F
• Bleeding lasting longer than a few days

Most people are stone-free within one to three months. If fragments do remain, your doctor may recommend another lithotripsy session. They may also choose a different approach, such as ureteroscopy.

Ureteroscopy

If a stone becomes lodged, this minimally invasive procedure allows the urologist to see the stone and remove it using a thin, flexible tube called a ureteroscope.

During ureteroscopy, the scope is passed through the urethra and bladder, then gently advanced into the ureter. A small camera on the end of the scope provides a magnified view of the urinary tract. Once the stone is located, your urologist can either:

• Capture and remove it with a tiny basket-like device
• Use a laser fiber passed through the scope to break it into smaller, passable pieces

After the procedure, a soft, temporary tube called a stent is usually placed inside the ureter to help maintain urine flow while swelling subsides. The stent is then removed a few days to two weeks later during a short office visit.

You may experience mild burning or urinary urgency for a short time after ureteroscopy. These symptoms usually improve within a few days. You can expect to return to regular activities within one to two days. However, you will probably need to avoid strenuous exercise until you are fully healed.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

For large or complex kidney stones that lithotripsy or ureteroscopy can’t treat well, your urologist may suggest percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

This minimally invasive surgery is often used for stones larger than two centimeters or those that occupy a large portion of the kidney, called staghorn calculi.

PCNL involves creating a small incision, about one centimeter long, in the back to access the kidney directly. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts a scope and specialized tools to locate, break apart, and remove the stone. In many cases, the fragments are suctioned out during the same procedure.

Because PCNL provides direct access to the kidney, it’s highly effective for removing large stones in a single session. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and most people stay in the hospital overnight for observation. A small drainage tube may be left temporarily to help with healing.

Recovery from PCNL generally takes a few days, and you will be encouraged to:

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Follow wound care instructions
• Attend follow-up imaging appointments to ensure the kidney has cleared completely

1. Is lithotripsy painful?

You’ll be under sedation during the procedure, so you won’t feel pain while it’s happening. Afterward, some people experience mild soreness or bruising in the treated area, but discomfort is usually brief and manageable with over-the-counter pain medicine.

2. How long does it take to pass stone fragments?

Fragments from lithotripsy or ureteroscopy can begin passing within days, but it may take up to eight weeks for all pieces to clear. Staying active and drinking plenty of water can help speed the process.

3. How can I prevent kidney stones from coming back?

Prevention starts with understanding what caused your stones. Once the type is identified, you can make targeted changes such as:

• Drinking more water
• Reducing sodium
• Balancing calcium intake
• Eating less animal protein
• Eating less food with a high oxalate content

4. What is the best treatment for kidney stones?

The best treatment for kidney stones depends on several factors. Small stones may pass on their own. Large or painful stones may require shockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, or percutaneous neprolithotomy. These kidney stone treatments are offered at Urology San Antonio.

5. Can I treat kidney stones myself?

Sometimes. Small kidney stones may pass on their own with support, like drinking lots of fluids and taking pain medication.

6. What is the fastest way to dissolve a kidney stone?

The fastest way to dissolve a kidney stone depends on its type. Only a few types of stones, like uric acid stones, can be dissolved. If it can be dissolved, your doctor will prescribe a medication to help it disappear faster.