How Common Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are common. Over a lifetime, they affect roughly 15% of white men and about 6% of women, and once you have formed one stone your risk of forming another is significantly higher. The good news: most stones are both treatable and, with the right plan, preventable.

Many small stones never need surgery. Stones smaller than 5 mm often pass on their own with hydration, pain control, and sometimes medication to relax the ureter. Larger stones, or stones that cause blockage, infection, or uncontrolled pain, usually need a procedure.

A complete program

We pair the right treatment for the stone you have today with a long-term prevention plan so you form fewer stones in the future. Learn more about diet changes that prevent stones.

Comprehensive Metabolic Stone Evaluation

Most stones are preventable once we understand your unique risk factors. Our evaluation looks for the imbalances that drive stones — and then we fix them.

Blood Work

  • Metabolic panel (kidney function, electrolytes)
  • Calcium, uric acid (and others as indicated)
  • Parathyroid testing when appropriate

24-Hour Urine Collection (MSP)

  • A metabolic stone profile (MSP) — also called a Litholink panel — collected over 24 hours (sometimes repeated over two days)
  • Volume, pH, citrate
  • Calcium, oxalate, uric acid
  • Sodium, creatinine, other stone promoters/inhibitors

What we do with the results: Create a targeted prevention plan for long-term management. We can almost always prescribe a medication to reduce stones — most commonly potassium citrate, a potent inhibitor that raises urinary citrate and alkalinizes urine to prevent crystals from forming. We pair this with personalized diet and fluid changes and periodic repeat testing to confirm the plan is working.

How We Diagnose Stones

Ultrasound (US)

  • Radiation-free, quick, and office-friendly
  • Great for screening and follow-up

Computed Tomography (CT)

  • Highest accuracy for stone size and location
  • Guides decisions on medical vs surgical management

Treatment Options (When You Have a Stone)

Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET)

  • For stones <5 mm likely to pass on their own
  • Prescription medication to relax the ureter and ease passage
  • Pain control + hydration plan, close follow-up

ESWL (Shock Wave Lithotripsy)

  • Non-invasive; no incisions
  • Breaks stones into sand-like fragments to pass naturally
  • Performed pain-free under general anesthesia in our ASC
  • Best for stones under 2 cm; less effective for large, dense, or lower-pole stones
  • Learn more about shock wave lithotripsy

URS + Thulium Laser & Stent

  • Flexible ureteroscopy reaches the stone through natural passages
  • Modern thulium laser precisely dusts the stone
  • Excellent for ureteral and lower-pole stones and for stones too dense for ESWL
  • A temporary ureteral stent often supports drainage and healing
  • Learn more about ureteroscopy for kidney stones

PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

  • The preferred option for large stones over 2 cm (including staghorn stones) or when ESWL and ureteroscopy have not cleared the stone
  • The stone is removed through a small tract directly into the kidney
  • Highest single-procedure stone-free rate for large stones
  • Typically involves a short hospital stay and a temporary tube or stent

Comparing the Procedures

Procedure Best For Less Suited For
ESWL (shock wave) Stones <2 cm; patients who prefer a non-invasive option Large, dense, or lower-pole stones
Ureteroscopy (URS) Ureteral stones and lower-pole stones; dense stones Very large stone burden (may need staged procedures)
PCNL Stones >2 cm, staghorn stones, or when other methods fail Small stones that simpler options can clear

Which option is best? The right choice depends on the stone's size, location, and density, along with your anatomy, overall health, and goals. We make this decision together — a shared decision — to clear your stone with the least pain, downtime, and chance of recurrence.

Common Causes of Kidney Stones

  • Low fluid intake (concentrated urine)
  • High sodium diet
  • Low urinary citrate (a natural inhibitor)
  • High oxalate or uric acid in urine
  • Genetics and family history
  • Metabolic conditions (e.g., gout, hyperparathyroidism)
  • Certain medications or supplements
  • Digestive diseases or bariatric surgery (malabsorption)
  • Obesity and insulin resistance

Diet & Fluid Recommendations

Fluids

  • Aim for urine output ≥ 2–2.5 liters/day (usually 2.5–3 L fluid intake)
  • Spread fluids throughout the day; add a glass at bedtime
  • Water first; consider citrus-infused water to boost citrate

Sodium

  • Limit sodium to ~1,500–2,000 mg/day
  • Avoid heavily processed/restaurant foods

Calcium & Oxalate

  • Do not over-restrict calcium; get normal dietary calcium with meals
  • Pair calcium foods with oxalate-rich foods to bind oxalate in the gut
  • Moderate high-oxalate items (spinach, nuts, beets, rhubarb, dark chocolate)

Protein & Citrate

  • Moderate animal protein; incorporate plant proteins
  • Add citrate-rich foods (lemons, limes, oranges)

Medications That Help Prevent Stones

  • Potassium citrate: boosts urinary citrate and raises pH — a potent stone inhibitor
  • Other options may include thiazides or allopurinol, depending on your 48-hour urine profile

We personalize therapy to your stone type and metabolic results, with periodic monitoring to keep you stone-free.

When to Call Us

  • Severe flank/abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
  • Fever or chills (possible infection)
  • Difficulty urinating or worsening blood in urine

We offer rapid access, same- or next-day surgical options, and comprehensive prevention plans.