When minerals deposit in the kidney over time, they turn into solid crystals that cause discomfort and can even lead to serious health complications. If not treated properly on time, they can also cause significant damage to the kidneys. While small stones can be dissolved or passed by medicinal treatments, surgery may be required to treat larger, more prominent stones that might be causing severe pain and discomfort.
In this blog, we will discuss how surgery can help you overcome the pain and discomfort caused by kidney stones while focusing on its comparison to medicinal treatment.
Quick Relief from Severe Pain
Kidney stones can cause severe pain, which is increased when they are passed through the urinary tract during medicinal treatment. These stones can also sometimes get stuck in the urinary tract, creating sudden, painful jolts that last several days to weeks. Surgery, on the other hand, offers quick relief from severe pain so you can feel better early and not suffer from pain.
Kidney stone removal surgery involves removing or breaking down the stone, providing a swift way to return to normal life.
Surgery is More Effective for Large or Complex Stones
While medicines are effective for small stones, treating larger ones with the same methods is difficult. Larger stones are more complicated and contain more minerals and salts, which can be difficult to treat non-surgically. Stones over 5mm in diameter can become lodged in the urinary tract, leading to an increased risk of blockages and infections.
Surgery ensures the removal of the entire stone, diminishing the chances of fragments remaining in the kidney or urinary tract.
Prevents Recurrence and Complications
Relying on untreated or partially dissolving medicines can leave kidney stones behind, increasing the chances of recurring kidney stones, infections, or kidney damage. When the crystals are not entirely dissolved, they act as a base for the growth of new kidney stones.
On the other hand, surgery eliminates the chances of recurrence by removing the entire formation. It also eliminates the source of potential infections or damage, protecting the kidneys against damage in the long term.
Faster Recovery and Return to Normal Life
Medicines take time to show results, while surgery and recovery take less time. This quicker treatment and recovery ensure you can return to your normal life quicker.
In many cases of minimally invasive surgical kidney stone treatment, the patients can return to their daily lives in a couple of weeks, which is ideal for people with busy lifestyles.
Better Option for Patients with Frequent Stones
People who suffer from medical conditions such as hypercalciuria or metabolic disorders are more prone to developing kidney stones frequently. For such people, medications can be complicated due to several factors, and hence, makes surgery a more effective option for them.
Surgery can also be helpful in aspects other than removing the stones, such as narrowing the ureters and hence significantly reducing the risk of kidney stones.
Surgery Can Address Stones Resistant to Medication
Some kidney stones are often resilient to medicines due to their composition, which usually contains calcium oxalate stones. If medicine fails to treat stones, it can be done by surgical procedures that are effective for all types of kidney stones.
Also, surgery can be helpful in treating stones such as those formed by uric acid, calcium, or any other material, so that it does not cause any pain or complications.
Minimally Invasive Procedures are Now Available
Kidney stone surgeries used to be major operations. However, with advancements in urology, kidney stone treatments have become minimally invasive, safer, and more effective. This includes techniques like laser lithotripsy, where a laser is used to break down the stones, and ureteroscopy, which allows doctors to remove these stones through the urethra.
These procedures involve minimal incisions and discomfort for the patient. Minimally invasive procedures provide quicker relief from the pain and discomfort caused by kidney stones. Surgical procedures, especially the minimally invasive ones, require shorter downtime.
Dealing with kidney stones can be incredibly painful, but there are options for finding relief. While medicinal treatments can take longer to eliminate the stones, surgery offers a quicker solution with minimal downtime.
If you're looking to reduce the discomfort and get rid of those problematic kidney stones, schedule a consultation at Shree Srinivasa UroCare for kidney stone treatment in Bangalore.