our specialties

Kidney Stones Melbourne

Kidney stones can cause significant discomfort and may require professional treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications.

At Restore Urology, we offer expert care for kidney stones in Melbourne and provide our patients with tailored solutions to help them feel better and protect their long-term kidney health.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are solid crystalline deposits that form when minerals and salts in the urine stick together. These stones can range in size from a grain of sand to very large stones that may block the flow of urine.

The two bean-shaped organs known as the kidneys work to filter waste and excess salt from the blood by producing urine. However, stones form when the balance of water, minerals, and salts is disrupted.

How Are Kidney Stones Formed?

Kidney stone formation begins when urine becomes highly concentrated. This allows minerals to crystallise and stick together. Over time, these crystals grow into stones.

Contrary to what its name might suggest, kidney stones don’t just stay within the kidney. They can also move into the urinary tract, which could end up causing severe symptoms and issues.

Dehydration, excessive intake of animal proteins, and an imbalance of acid salts are some of the factors that contribute to stone formation.

Kidney Stone Descriptions

You might not be aware of this, but there are several different types of kidney stones. They include the following:

Calcium stones: The most common form, usually made of calcium oxalate.

Uric acid stones: Form in people who lose too much fluid or have high levels of uric acid.

Struvite stones: Often linked to urinary tract infections.

Cystine stones: A rare form resulting from a genetic disorder causing cystine to leak into urine.

Each type of stone may require a slightly different approach when it comes to treating and preventing them.

Causes & Risk Factors

Understanding what causes kidney stones is the key to both treating and preventing them. While stones can affect anyone, certain behaviours, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors make some people more likely to develop them.

That is why identifying your personal risk factors is very important, as it can help your doctor immediately take steps to avoid future episodes and protect your kidney health.

What Are the Different Causes of Kidney Stones?

Several factors can contribute to the development of kidney stones. They include the following:

Dehydration: Insufficient fluid intake concentrates minerals in urine.

Diets high in salt and animal proteins: These can increase calcium and uric acid in the urine.

Family history: Having relatives with stone disease raises your lifetime risk.

Medical conditions: Conditions like Crohn’s disease, kidney diseases, and chronic infections can increase the risk.

Obesity: Being overweight is another important risk factor.

Who Gets Kidney Stones?

Anyone can develop kidney stones, but certain groups are at a higher risk than others. They include:

Adults aged 30 to 60
Men more than women
People with a family history of kidney stone disease
Individuals who have had one stone previously
Those prone to urinary tract infections or metabolic disorders

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The symptoms of kidney stones can vary depending on the size and position of the stone within the urinary tract.

Some stones may cause little or no discomfort, while others can lead to severe pain and require immediate medical attention. Like with most medical conditions, recognising the early signs can make a significant difference in successfully getting kidney stones treated.

At Restore Urology, we encourage patients to seek help as soon as symptoms arise. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment of your symptoms the better because it prevents complications and reduces the potential need for more invasive procedures later on.

What Symptoms Indicate the Presence of Kidney Stones?

The symptoms of kidney stones often depend on their size and location. However, some common signs include:

Causing pain in the side, back, or lower abdomen that can be quite severe
Common urinary system disorder, such as urination pain or a frequent urge to urinate
Blood in the urine (may look pink, red, or brown)
Urinary frequency and intensity
Nausea and vomiting
Fever or chills (especially if an infection is present)

Moreover, if a stone moves into the ureter (aka ureteric stones), it can cause excessive pain and may require urgent emergency surgery if blockage becomes critical.

Diagnosing Kidney Stones

As you can imagine, accurate diagnosis is the first step in effectively treating kidney stones.

Because symptoms like urination pain, blood in the urine, and lower abdomen discomfort can overlap with other conditions, it’s important to confirm the presence of stones through proper testing.

Early and accurate diagnosis also helps determine the best course of treatment, whether the stone can pass spontaneously or requires medical intervention.

How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?

At Restore Urology, we use a combination of advanced imaging tests and laboratory assessments to locate stones, assess their size, and check for any potential complications in the urinary tract.

This ensures you receive the most appropriate care tailored to your individual needs.

What Tests Are Done?

When attempting to diagnose kidney stones, we may run the following tests:

CT scan: The most sensitive imaging technique for detecting small kidney stones and larger stones alike.
Ultrasound: A less invasive option often used for certain patients.
Urine tests: To detect infection, blood, or minerals that promote stone formation.
Blood tests: To check kidney function and look for substances that cause stones.

Kidney Stones Treatment Options

The kidney stone procedures and treatment that might be administered to you will depends on the size, location, and type of stone, as well as the severity of your symptoms.

Here is some further information about treatment options.

Medical Therapy

For small stones that are likely to pass spontaneously, your doctor may recommend:

Medical expulsion therapy: Medications that help the urinary tube open and assist stone passage.

Pain management: To relieve pain while waiting for the stone to pass.

Prescribe medication: To manage urinary tract infections or prevent stones from forming again.

Lifestyle Changes

Just by making a few simple lifestyle changes can help prevent stones from returning and assist your recovery. They include:

Increase fluid intake
Reduce excess salt and animal proteins in the diet
Maintain a healthy weight
Manage underlying conditions like Crohn’s disease

Surgical Options

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) – Uses high energy sound waves or shock waves to break up stones directly into stone fragments that can pass more easily.

Ureteroscopy – A fine camera is passed through the urethra to locate and remove or fragment stones.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – For very large stones, this more invasive procedure removes stones via a small incision in the back.

Open stone surgery – Major surgery is extremely rare today but may be needed in complex cases.

What to Expect After Kidney Stone Treatment

Most patients recover well after they have kidney stone procedures. However, it is not uncommon to notice a few side effects.

They include minor discomfort when passing urine or that your kidneys filter blood that results temporarily in you urinating pink colour. To counter this, you should drink plenty of fluids to flush out stone fragments.

Additionally, it is important to have follow-up appointments to ensure complete removal and help plan steps to eliminate the risk of stones returning in the future.

Prevention of Kidney Stones

Talking of preventing future stones, to do this, you should address the underlying causes in the following ways:

Stay well-hydrated
Follow a balanced diet low in salt and high in fruits and vegetables
Limit animal proteins if advised
Monitor for early symptoms to avoid complications
Take regular urine tests if you have a history of kidney stone disease

Our team will use their expertise to create a personalised plan for you based on your risk factors.

Meet Our Urology Doctors

At Restore Urology, our experienced urologists are dedicated to providing expert care for kidney stones in Melbourne.

Dr Gideon Blecher

Dr Gideon Blecher is an Australian qualified and internationally recognised Urologist and Andrologist. He utilises the latest technology including robotic surgery to improve patient outcomes and has the unique experience and knowledge to manage the field’s most complex problems.

Dr Christopher Love

Dr Christopher Love is one of the country’s most experienced Urological Surgeons, and the foremost Penile Implant and Peyronie’s Disease Surgeon. With over 35 years’ in the field, Dr Love is known for his highly professional yet caring approach and exceptional surgical outcomes.

Dr. Adee-Jonathan Davidson

Dr. Davidson brings with him years of experience in general urology, having worked across multiple settings, including providing urological services to the South-West of Victoria. In addition to his role at Restore Urology, he continues to work closely with a junior colleague in this region.