CT Scan for Kidney Stones

Every year more than half a million people suffer from the issue of kidney stones. The risk of this disease has increased because of other diseases that are linked with it such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

How do you know you have kidney stones and treatment options are available? A Ct scan for kidney stones is conducted to detect the presence of stones in your kidney.

Dive in to know more about it.

What is Kidney Stone?

When hard objects from the urine chemicals are formed inside your kidney, the reason is that urine consists of body waste. Thus, if the quantity of liquid is less than crystals begin to form inside it, these hard objects are formed. Calcium, oxalate, urate, cysteine, etc., are a few of the chemicals that can form solids.

The kidney eliminates the chemicals that can form crystals when the person drinks enough fluid. But the symptoms are not observed until the stones move around the kidney and pass inside the ureters.

The bladder and kidney are connected via the ureters. Thus, if the passage is blocked due to the presence of the stone, then the person can experience pain while urinating.

If the stones are smaller, they might pass out when a person urinates. But, if the stones are greater in size, the urine is held inside the kidney. Hence, a person experiences excruciating pain. Thus, go for CT scan for kidney stones if you suspect you have stones.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Ensure that you drink enough fluid to minimize the chances of kidney stones. But observe the following symptoms.

• The sensation of pain during urination
• Frequent spots of blood in your urine
• Excruciating pain during urination
• Vomiting
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Pink or brown-colored urine
• Fever
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Strong smell in your urine
• Severe pain that prevents you from sitting comfortably

 Diagnosis of Kidney Stones

If you observe the symptoms, then you should visit your healthcare facilitator Or go for a CT scan for kidney stones. First, he will ask you about your medical history, and later you will be asked to go for certain tests.

1. X-ray or Ultrasound

Imaging tests such as X-rays or ultrasound can be conducted. For example, the kidney stone ultrasound or CT scan for kidney stones.  helps detect whether you have stones or not. With these tests, your doctor will try to analyze the size of the stone, the number of stones, and their location. After the analysis, your doctor can only provide the treatment that can suit your needs.

2. Blood Test

Apart from a CT scan for kidney stones, a blood test shows the amount of uric acid or calcium levels present in your blood. Thus, with the help of blood tests, your health care facilitator can monitor the health of your kidney. Medicines and treatments are offered after the analysis.

3. Urine Testing

Urinalysis is done so the healthcare facilitator can analyze your urine sample. Thus, this test can show the minerals’ levels responsible for forming kidney stones. In addition, with the help of urine testing, your doctor might examine the presence of blood and your condition.

4. CT Scans

The doctors mostly prefer CT scans to obtain images of the tract. The reason is that high-end technology used in the machines is reliable and produces better results. For example, a CT scan for kidney stones is a reliable method of examining the stones in your body.

Your healthcare facilitator might inject you with the contrast medium to make structures inside your body. Then, abdominal CT scans are done, enabling the facilitator to obtain better images that can be examined accurately.

Treatment Options

When the CT scan for kidney stones is done and after the tests are done and if you have the problem of kidney stones, your doctor might recommend the following treatments.

1. For Small Stones

When a CT scan for kidney stones is done and If you have small stones that can pass through your urine, your doctor will not offer surgery options. Instead, you will be asked to drink almost 3 quarts of water. Thus, this will prevent the stones from forming, and with frequent urination, small stones will pass out.

Drinking plenty of fluids can produce clear urine, which is essential for health. Your health care facilitator might also prescribe you some drugs that can help you pass the stones present in the kidney. With the prescribed medicines, you can pass the stones quickly.

Also, you will be given pain relievers such as Motrin IB, Aleve, etc. This is because a person can experience some discomfort even if smaller stones pass by. Thus, the pain relievers can relax the muscles and help the person urinate the stones with less pain.

2. Sound Waves Therapy: Breaking the Stones

If you are diagnosed with large stones after the CT scan for kidney stones, your doctor will recommend certain extensive treatments.

Sound waves therapy is the procedure of shock wave therapy as the strong vibrations are created to break the stones. The process usually takes fifty to sixty minutes to get completed, and you can experience some level of pain

But don’t worry, your doctor might give you anesthesia so you can tolerate the treatment.

3. Surgery

The doctors will read a CT scan, your full-body CT scan, or your CT scan NJ or go for a CT scan for kidney stones and then opt for further surgeries. They might also conduct a CT scan of the lungs in order to be extra sure about your condition. If your medical condition is not good, your doctor might ask you for surgery. A process is known as nephrolithotomy to remove the kidney stones surgically.

You will be given general anesthesia because a small telescope is inserted in your back to remove the stones. After the surgery, you will stay at the hospital for two or more days as your doctor will analyze your condition.

Another surgery can also be performed by entering a light tube consisting of the camera in your bladder to your ureter. Again, certain tools are used to break the stones so they can easily pass out via your urine. It is indeed a painful process, and you will be given anesthesia so the treatment can be completed easily. Moreover, it is indeed a successful treatment.

Final Thoughts

The problem of kidney stones is increasing because of the lack of awareness among people. Thus, it is essential to stay vigilant and don’t take the symptoms lightly. Visit your doctor for a CT scan for kidney stones if you suspect that your condition is not good.

You can simply Google a full-body scan near me if you want to search for the nearest hospital. Or if you’re looking for a New Jersey-based imaging center for affordable imaging, full body ct scan NJ, contact AQMDI today! They have a professional diagnostic imaging network, excellent diagnostic services, CT scan services, and more that you can avail yourself of immediately if you suspect you have kidney stones.