If you’ve ever had the unfortunate fate of having a kidney stone, then you know how incredibly painful they truly are. What’s worse is when they’re too large to pass on their own. Thankfully, there are treatment options in the way of modern technology that can take care of them and get you feeling back to your normal, healthy self. One of the most preferred ways to treat a kidney stone is through extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, or ESWL for short.
Extracorporeal means “outside the body.”
Litho means “stone.”
Tripsy means “to break.”
So when you put it all together, quite simply ESWL means breaking up stones from outside the body. That means that ESWL is the only non-invasive treatment option — meaning no scalpels required — for kidney stones.
How to Lithotripsy Work?
Kidney stones are like tiny rocks that form inside your urinary system. Some are small enough to pass naturally, but bigger ones can block the flow of urine and cause intense pain.
ESWL uses shock waves that travel from the machine through your skin in a highly targeted fashion to break up the stones. There is no harm done to the surrounding tissues. When the waves reach the kidney stone, they cause it to break into smaller pieces — sort of like hammering on a rock till it crumbles into gravel.
So what happens after the stone breaks? Once the kidney stone is broken into tiny fragments, your body naturally passes them in your urine.
What to Expect During and After the Procedure
When you arrive at our lithotripsy unit, you’ll lie on the table. You may receive an IV with some light sedation. The lithotripsy technician will locate the stone and aim the shock waves directly at it. The treatment typically takes 30-60 minutes and most people go home shortly after. The recovery time is typically a day or two with minimal downtime.
Some Things to Keep in Mind
It’s important to note that not every stone and not every person is a great candidate for ESWL. Your doctor will determine if ESWL is appropriate based on stone size and your overall health. Additionally, if you do receive ESWL, not that passing the fragments afterward can sometimes cause mild discomfort. If you experience pain, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
The Bottom Line
Think of ESWL like a shockwave hammer. Instead of surgery, doctors use invisible “shockwave hammers” to break a kidney stone into small, passable pieces. For many patients, it’s a safe, effective, and much less invasive way to get relief fro the pain of kidney stones.
When you’re ready to line up your lithotripsy consultation or appointment, fill out our contact form here, or call us at (919) 404-7255.