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How do I get Rid of Kidney Stones?

Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers

If you suffer from kidney stones, you are likely eager to be free of them as soon as possible. The good news is that there are various ways to get rid of kidney stones on your own at home, using natural remedies that may sound quite obvious. These include drinking more water, changing your diet, and exercising. On the other hand, seeing a doctor about your kidney stones at least occasionally is also helpful, as he may be able to provide additional ways to get rid of kidney stones, and can check for any sign of complications.

There may be many causes for the pain you feel, which is why it is important to see a doctor before determining that you have kidney stones and trying to treat the issue on your own. The doctor may tell you what medications to take, whether prescription or over-the-counter. He may also decide that you would benefit from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, a treatment that breaks up the stone into several smaller pieces. This hour-long outpatient procedure requires the surgeon to locate the stone and then force sound waves through the body to break it up, allowing you to pass the small pieces naturally through your urine at home.

Drinking plenty of water can both dilute the chemicals that cause kidney stones and help them pass.
Drinking plenty of water can both dilute the chemicals that cause kidney stones and help them pass.

Your doctor may decide that such a treatment is not the best route for you, in which case the first method you should use to get rid of kidney stones is to drink water. Often the very reason that kidney stones form is that minerals and acid are not moved through the body with a steady flow of urine, but instead collect and harden in the kidney. You can prevent this from occurring by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day, making sure that your urine is closer to clear than yellow. Adding more fluids to your diet will also help you urinate more forcibly, which helps encourage the stones to come out on their own.

A kidney with a kidney stone.
A kidney with a kidney stone.

A change in diet is also a good way to eliminate kidney stones. You should decrease your intake of salt, fat, and animal proteins, which are often found in chocolate, meat, dairy products, and greasy food. Replacing such food with fresh products, such as vegetables, fruit, and natural sources of protein, is advised. Additionally, you should try adding either lemonade or orange juice to your diet since both contain citrate, which can help prevent uric acid from crystallizing.

Drinking lemonade may help rid the body of kidney stones.
Drinking lemonade may help rid the body of kidney stones.

Another way to get rid of kidney stones without spending any money on treatment is to exercise. Getting into this habit is not only healthy overall, but will likely help move the stones from your body. Walking and jogging are often the most recommended types of exercise for getting rid of kidney stones, though any kind of cardiovascular workout that gets your body moving may help.

Discussion Comments

RocketLanch8

I've passed a kidney stone without going to the hospital one time, but it wasn't very large and the spasms weren't very strong. The one thing I wished I had was a prescription strength painkiller. The doctor probably would have given me an injection of demerol, but I took the strongest over-the-counter pain pills I could find and urinated as often as I could in order to keep fluids from building up behind the stone.

Ruggercat68

There are ways to reduce the chances of developing kidney stones in the future, but if you're having a kidney stone attack right now, it's a different story. Drinking more fluids can have both positive and negative consequences if a kidney stone is actually lodged in the renal tube.

On the plus side, more fluid would mean a better chance of flushing smaller stones out of the kidney and into the bladder. However, if the stone is large and stuck in the lower kidney, the pressure from the fluid build-up can cause extreme pain. The times to stay hydrated are before a kidney stone has a chance to form and after it has passed. During a kidney stone attack, extra fluid isn't always helpful.

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    • Drinking plenty of water can both dilute the chemicals that cause kidney stones and help them pass.
      By: Elenathewise
      Drinking plenty of water can both dilute the chemicals that cause kidney stones and help them pass.
    • A kidney with a kidney stone.
      By: p6m5
      A kidney with a kidney stone.
    • Drinking lemonade may help rid the body of kidney stones.
      By: vgstudio
      Drinking lemonade may help rid the body of kidney stones.
    • Orange juice contains citrate, which helps to prevent kidney stones.
      By: designsstock
      Orange juice contains citrate, which helps to prevent kidney stones.
    • Drinking large amounts of water is an effective way to prevent and pass kidney stones.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Drinking large amounts of water is an effective way to prevent and pass kidney stones.
    • It's usually best to get rid of kidney stones as soon as possible before they grow too large.
      By: airborne77
      It's usually best to get rid of kidney stones as soon as possible before they grow too large.
    • A urinalysis may be conducted to detect kidney stones.
      By: Mi.Ti.
      A urinalysis may be conducted to detect kidney stones.