Post-Surgical Kidney Stones Precautions and Tips

Our urinary tract is susceptible. Therefore, you must take intense care, especially after post-surgical kidney stones removal. Nowadays, a non-invasive technique is used for the removal of kidney stones known as lithotripsy. It is a Kidney Stones Treatment where high-frequency sound or shock waves are used to break up the stones in the kidney, ureter, or bladder. The shock waves break the stones into tiny pieces, which is then naturally removed from the body through urine. 

When you go through the procedure, it is reasonable to experience a small amount of blood in your urine for a couple of days post-surgical kidney stones. Moreover, you may also experience nausea and pain when the stone pieces pass. It may last for 4-8 weeks, depending on the severity of the stones in your kidneys or bladder. 

You may also have some bruising on the side or back from where the stone was treated with shock waves. There may also be some numbness or pain in the treated area. 

To make your life better post-surgery, you will need to induce self-care. Here are some precautions and tips that will help you cope with post-surgical kidney stones. 

• First things first, take proper rest before you resume your daily activities (the doctor will tell you for how long you need to take rest)
• Drink plenty of water daily after treatment. It will help you pass the broken stone pieces in your kidney with ease. And most importantly, follow a healthy diet with plenty of fluids like juices
• Take medicine as prescribed by your doctor. There will be pain medications as well as something like alpha-blockers to make the passage of stones easier 
• Make sure you frequently visit your doctor post-surgery to make sure that everything is in check 
• Call your doctor if you experience any uneasiness like heavy bleeding, fever and chills, fast heartbeat, vomiting, or minimal urine production.

Warning Signs Of Kidney Stones You Should Know

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that stick together in concentrated urine. They can be painful when passing through the urinary tract, but usually don't cause permanent damage. The most common symptom of kidney stones is severe pain, usually in the side of the abdomen often associated with nausea. Most kidney stones eventually pass through the urinary tract on their own within 48 hours, with ample fluid intake.

The warning signs of kidney stones include symptoms like pain in the back or abdomen, pain or burning sensation during urination, blood in the urine, cloudy or smelly urine, nausea and vomiting, fever, and chills. These signs tell you that something is wrong with your kidneys. Sometimes kidney stone pain starts as a dull ache but it can quickly escalate to severe cramping or sharp, pain which a patient usually feels in the back or underneath the rib cage. The pain can also radiate into the lower abdomen or groin. 

Kidney stones treatment consists of fluids and urinary retention medications. The treatment includes pain relievers and drinking lots of water to help pass the stone. Medical procedures may be required to remove or break up larger stones. Pain relief may require narcotic medications. Lithotripsy procedure uses sound waves to break up large kidney stones so they can more easily pass down into the bladder. Other options for kidney stones removal are tunnel surgery and ureteroscopy. 

Natural remedies for kidney stones include drinking plenty of water, minimizing the intake of coffee, alcohol, tea, and soda while passing a kidney stone, drinking lemon juice, and raw apple cider vinegar and eating foods that are diuretic. In addition to flushing out the kidneys, apple cider vinegar can help ease pain caused by the stones. The excess fluid encourages urination, which helps move the stone along.