If you've done your research on kidney stones, then you know that there are different types of stones. You need to treat the condition based on the type of stone you're dealing with. But one thing you may be wondering is if it's easier to pass certain kidney stones.
The quick answer to this question is no. All kidney stones can range from mild to severe. However, it will be easier to pass kidney stones based on these conditions:
Size of the Stone
It's easier to pass kidney stones if they are smaller. What you may not know is that most stones that are small will pass on their own as long as you drink plenty of fluids. If your stone is smaller than 5 mm (1/5 inch), there is a chance it will pass without further intervention. If the stone is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the odds of passing the stone without intervention decrease by around 50%. If a stone is too large to pass on its own, several treatment options are available. Larger stones often will require medical intervention such as shockwave or laser non-invasive lithotripsy surgery to dissolve and break up the stones. Some large and/or very hard stones or stones lodged in challenging locations may even require a more invasive type of surgery to have them removed.
Location of the Stone
While size is the main factor in whether stones will pass on their own, stone location in the ureter also makes a difference. Stones that are in the end of the ureter closer to where it attaches to the bladder, rather than the end that attaches to the kidney, are more likely to pass on their own. Research shows that many of these stones will pass on their own.
A Simple Way to Make the Process Easier
One of the best home remedies to help pass stones is to drink plenty of water, preferably with some citrus added like lemon juice or orange juice. However, be careful with orange juice as it may provide you with too much sugar and it also does not provide you with as much citric acid per ml. Citric acid makes urine less favourable for the formation of stones. Citrate helps prevent kidney stone formation by allowing for more citrate in the urine and decreasing the acidity of urine. Citrate prevents kidney stone formation two other ways. First, it binds with urinary calcium, thereby reducing the supersaturation of urine. In addition, it binds calcium oxalate crystals and prevents crystal growth. Citrate keeps tiny crystals from joining together to form bigger ones. Citric acid helps prevent calcium-containing stones. It does not help prevent other stone types such as uric acid stones. The more citrate you have in your urine, the more protected you are from calcium kidney stones.
Supplements Can Also Help
There are also supplements that can make a big difference in treating and managing your kidney stones. Most importantly, supplements may help you prevent future stone attacks. Chanca piedra (a.k.a. Stone Breaker) is an example of a supplement that some patients have found to help with kidney stones. A rapidly growing newer patented supplement called Kidney C.O.P. Calcium Oxalate Protector has shown in laboratory studies to be five times more powerful at inhibiting the rate of calcium oxalate crystal growth than a chanca piedra 5:1 extract. Of course, either of these supplements will work better if you drink a at least six 8oz glasses of water spread throughout the day, preferably with lemon juice added.
Track Your Symptoms Carefully
Rather than assume that the kidney stones will pass, take note of your symptoms. If they begin to get serious, you will probably need medical intervention. Large stones can lead to infections and cause agonizing pain. If you ever get to this point, you want to see your doctor as soon as possible.
