Kidney Stones Specialist
Urologists located in Pasadena, CA
Kidney stones can cause extreme pain if they get stuck or cause an infection. The experienced team at Pasadena Urological Medical Group in Pasadena, California, specializes in using minimally invasive procedures to treat kidney stones. Dr. Chandrasoma is the only urologist in Pasadena with fellowship training for the advanced management of complex kidney stone disease. His additional expertise results in higher stone clearance rates. To find out how you can benefit from exceptional kidney stone treatment, call Pasadena Urological Medical Group or book an appointment online today.
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that develop in your kidneys. Similar stones can also form in other areas of your body, including your bladder or urethra.
Kidney stones typically form when your urine is too concentrated, often due to mild chronic dehydration. Concentrated urine encourages salt and other minerals to form crystals that create kidney stones.
You can often have kidney stones for years without knowing it until the stone moves around in your kidney and passes into your ureter (the tube connecting your kidney and bladder). Kidney stones may then cause symptoms such as:
Kidney stones can cause severe pain in your side and back that spreads into your lower abdomen and groin. As the stones travel along your urinary tract, the pain’s location and intensity might change. Pain from kidney stones can be excruciating at times.
Sometimes rest and drinking plenty of water are all you need to pass a kidney stone. If necessary, your urologist can also prescribe medication to help expel the kidney stone.
You might need to undergo surgical treatment if you have an infection or the stone gets lodged in your urinary tract. The Pasadena Urological Medical Group team has expert skills in endourology, a minimally invasive technique used to break down and remove kidney stones via the urethra.
Surgical options for kidney stones include:
ESWL breaks up stones inside your urinary tract with shockwaves generated by a lithotripter machine. The small fragments pass through your urine; any that don’t pass naturally are easier to extract using endourology techniques.
Ureteroscopy involves passing a ureteroscope (small lighted tube) through your urethra and bladder and into the kidney. Your urologist can gather the stones using a basket device and remove them whole. If the stones are too large, they may need to be broken down using a laser first.
In this procedure, your urologist creates a passageway through the skin on your back to your kidney, using special instruments to remove any stones. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is an option for larger stones or cases where less-invasive procedures aren’t possible.
To get expert help for your painful kidney stones, call Pasadena Urological Medical Group or book an appointment online today.