Kidney Stones

Don’t let kidney stones negatively affect your quality of life when simple solutions are within reach. At Aloha Urology, board-certified urologists Garry Peers, MD, Tim Roytman, MD, and Jason Smotherman, MD, ease pain caused by kidney stones and surgically remove the stones when necessary. Aloha Urology has locations in Honolulu, Hawaii and the neighboring islands. If you experience abdominal pain or pain with urination, call our office for an appointment.


What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside your kidneys. They are either small like a grain of sand or the size of a pearl. 

In many cases, kidney stones pass through your body on their own. But sometimes kidney stones get stuck in your urinary tract, are painful, and block urine flow.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

If you have small kidney stones, you might not experience any symptoms. For larger stones or those that move around in your kidneys or pass into your ureter (the tube connecting your bladder and kidney), you might experience the following symptoms:

  • Severe pain in the ribs, abdomen, back, or groin
  • Pain with urination
  • Pain that comes and goes
  • Cloudy, red, pink, or brown urine
  • Foul-smelling urine
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Frequent urination
  • Fever and chills, with an infection
  • Urinating in small amounts 
  • Other urine abnormalities

The pain you experience may shift to other areas of your body as a stone passes through your urinary tract.

What are the risk factors for kidney stones?

Kidney stones form when urine contains high amounts of crystal-forming substances, such as uric acid, oxalate, and calcium. Your body might lack substances that prevent crystals in urine from sticking together. 

Several factors increase your risk of developing kidney stones, such as:

  • Dehydration
  • Family or personal history of kidney stones
  • A diet high in protein, sugar, or sodium
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Gastric bypass surgery
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Certain medications
  • Overactive parathyroid glands

You can’t always prevent kidney stones, and the experienced team of urologists at Aloha Urology is here for you.

What is the treatment for kidney stones?

After reviewing your symptoms, your urologist may complete blood tests, urine tests, imaging procedures (CT scans or X-rays), or a urine stone analysis to diagnose kidney stones. Your treatment varies based on the type of stone you have and how large it is. Your urologist might recommend:

Lifestyle changes

Your urologist may suggest lifestyle changes to prevent future stones or help you pass small stones. Examples include increasing water, losing weight, and making dietary changes, such as reducing sodium and animal protein intake.

Medications

Taking certain medications helps you pass kidney stones, relieve pain associated with stones, and prevent future kidney stones.

Shock wave therapy

Your doctor might use extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), or sound waves, to break up stones into tiny pieces that pass through urine easier.

Surgery

The team of experienced urologists at Aloha Urology uses various surgical methods, such as laparoscopic or robotic surgical techniques, to remove and break apart kidney stones. Your provider might recommend parathyroid gland surgery for certain types of kidney stones.

Drs. Peers, Roytman and Smotherman customize a kidney stone treatment plan just for you based on the type and size of your stone. Call Aloha Urology to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

Contact Us

Sign up to receive our updates

Our Locations

Choose your preferred location