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Kidney Stone Treatment in Charleston, SC

Kidney stones are a common urological condition that can cause intense pain, urinary problems, and other complications. At Lowcountry Urology, our team of experienced urologists in Charleston specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney stones. We are committed to offering you the highest standard of care and personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs.

Our dedicated team utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and imaging techniques to accurately identify the size, location, and composition of kidney stones. With this information, we can develop a comprehensive treatment strategy that may include conservative measures, minimally invasive procedures, or surgical interventions, depending on the severity and complexity of your condition. Schedule an appointment at one of our urology clinics in Charleston today!

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone forms in your kidney when you have an imbalance in the molecular components (like calcium, oxalate and phosphate) and their concentrations in your urine. If overpopulated these molecules join together to form crystals, grow, and eventually result in kidney stones of varying sizes. According to The National Kidney Foundation the most common types of kidney stone form from a combination of calcium and oxalate. But these “calcium” stones are usually unrelated to the amount of calcium in your diet. In addition to excess amounts of the molecular components, kidney stones could be caused by a lack of stone inhibitors which are normally present in urine.

Do kidney stones cause symptoms?

YES! Ask anyone who has had a kidney stone and they will likely tell you a tale of agony. Extreme pain is often the first sign of a kidney stone. Pain either appears suddenly, or builds in intensity gradually over time. The pain localizes to the back (or flank), lower abdomen, or groin. It typically comes and goes intermittently (colic). Sometimes you can see blood in the urine. You might feel nauseated and vomit. Urology Care Foundation listed out several other symptoms that kidney stones can cause:

  • A feeling of intense need to urinate.
  • Urinating more often or a burning feeling during urination.
  • Urine that is dark or red due to blood. Sometimes urine has only small amounts of red blood cells that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • For men, you may feel pain at the tip of the penis.

Sometimes, kidney stones do not produce any symptoms. But smaller kidney stones that don’t cause severe symptoms may still trigger a dull ache, which you might mistake for muscle or intestinal pain.

Kidney Stones that are too large to pass get stuck in various portions of your ureter. You feel pain when the muscular wall of your ureter tries to squeeze the stone along into your bladder. The blockage of the flow of urine from your kidney into your bladder creates a “back-pressure” within your kidney, causing pain.

It’s common to feel the need to urinate more often, or to feel a burning sensation when you urinate. It can be difficult to start urinating. Or, you may feel that you are not emptying your bladder completely.

Schedule a Kidney Stones Consultation

Do the answers to these questions sound like what you are experiencing? Contact us and speak to an expert at Lowcountry Urology Clinics to see which treatment options is best for you.

Better Urologic Health Awaits

Don’t wait any longer – request your appointment today!