If you've ever had a kidney stone, you know how painful it can be. But what exactly are kidney stones, and what can be done to treat them? Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form in the kidneys.
They're usually made of calcium or other minerals. When they become large enough, they can cause severe pain and blockage in the urinary system. Depending on the size and location, several treatment options are available for a kidney stone.
Some of the most common include shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a minimally-invasive technique used to extract kidney stones through a minuscule incision in the skin.
In most cases, treatment is successful, and the stones eventually pass without causing any further problems. However, some people may require surgery to remove a more prominent kidney stone or those that don't respond to other treatments.
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