What are the treatments available for kidney stones?

Natural or medical: Small kidney stones can pass spontaneously - thus always drink lots of water. May be helped taking Flomax (tamsulosin) to dilate ureter. Larger stones 6 - 15mm eswl (shockwave lithotripsy). Large & staghorn stones may require percutaneous nephro-lithotripsy. Non-mechanical medical treatments are needed to prevent metabolic kidney stones, such as hydrochlorthiazide for hypercalcuria, alopurinal for uricosuria.

Many: Conservative management is hydration, pain management and perhaps a medication to facilitate passage. If stone fails to pass, it may require a procedure such as laser fragmentation under direct vision using a ureteroscope, or alternatively, shock wave lithotripsy.