Kidney Stone Treatment in Singapore: Effective Ways to Manage and Find Relief

A lot of people have kidney stones, which can be very painful and uncomfortable. They form when the minerals and salts in pee crystallize and build into hard crystals inside the kidneys. Small kidney stones can travel via the urinary tract. Even if they don’t cause significant problems, bigger stones can stop pee from moving, which can cause pain, infections, and other issues. Suppose you’re looking for information on effective kidney stone treatment in Singapore. In that case, you can refer to specialized resources, such as kidney stone removal, to better understand the different treatment methods available.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard, mineral-based deposits in the kidneys when urine becomes concentrated and certain minerals crystallize. They come in different sizes, from tiny bits that you don’t even notice to big stones that require medical intervention to remove.

The four primary varieties of kidney stones are:

Calcium Oxalate Stones: The most common type is formed when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine.
Uric Acid: When pee is too acidic, stones form, crystallizing uric acid.
Struvite Stones: Often due to a urinary tract infection, these stones can proliferate and cause serious complications.
Cystine Stones: These are rarer types of cystine caused by a genetic trait that causes the urine to contain a lot of cystine.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The location of the stone in the urinary system and its size determine the signs and symptoms of kidney stones. While larger stones can be painful, smaller ones might go through the urinary system unimpeded. Among the usual indicators of kidney stones are:

Intense back, side, or lower abdominal discomfort

Painful urination
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Nausea and vomiting
Frequent urination or urgency to urinate
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Fever or chills—should an infection exist

Suppose you experience any of these symptoms; seeking medical attention as soon as possible is essential. Left untreated, kidney stones can cause problems like urinary tract infections, kidney damage, and more. For effective kidney stone treatment in Singapore, a doctor should be consulted to investigate the best options available.

Kidney Stones Treatment in Singapore: What Are Your Options?

The size, kind, and severity of kidney stones determine treatment. Singapore’s Kidney stone treatment offers several treatments, from less intrusive choices to more invasive operations. At this stage, these are among the most often used therapies:

The primary treatment for small kidney stones is often plain water. Drinking lots of water flushes out the stone and stops new stones from developing. To guarantee that urine is diluted and facilitate the natural passage of small stones, the standard advice should be to drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water daily. Raising fluid consumption could enable the stone to pass without more medical treatment. For kidney stone treatment in Singapore, increasing your fluid intake is one of the first steps doctors recommend to help manage smaller stones.
Pain is the most common and severe symptom, particularly when the stone moves through the urinary tract. Doctors often recommend pain-relief medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids, to help manage the pain while the stone is being passed. For kidney stone treatment in Singapore, pain management is a crucial part of the process to ensure relief and comfort during the passage of the stone.

In some cases, alpha-blockers may be prescribed to help loosen the ureter’s muscles, which can facilitate the stone’s passage. Medications may also help dissolve specific kidney stones, such as uric acid stones, by altering urine pH levels.

One method of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is often a painless operation to cure kidney stones in Singapore. High-energy shock waves break large rocks into smaller pieces, helping the body get rid of them more easily through the urinary system.

ESWL is typically recommended for stones that are too large to pass on their own or those causing significant pain or complications. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia or sedation, and patients can often return home the same day. Although ESWL is effective, it may not work for every patient, and specific stones may require other treatment options.

Ureteroscopy is another standard kidney stone treatment in Singapore. A ureteroscope—a thin, flexible conduit—is inserted through the bladder and urethra to reach the kidney or ureter. The ureteroscope allows the doctor to visualize and remove the stone using special instruments, making it a highly effective treatment in some instances.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a more invasive intervention that is typically reserved for large kidney stones that cannot be treated with ESWL or ureteroscopy. During PCNL, a small incision is made in the back to allow the doctor to access the kidney directly. A nephroscope is inserted through the incision to eliminate the stone or fragment it into smaller components for easier removal. This procedure is an advanced kidney stone treatment in Singapore, often recommended for larger or more complex stones that require direct intervention.
In very few cases, when other methods haven’t worked, surgery may be required to remove kidney stones. Removing the stone can call for cutting into the kidney or ureter. Usually, surgery is done only when the stone is enormous, causing significant damage, or is too large to be removed using other techniques. These sophisticated solutions guarantee that all sizes of rocks are correctly handled and treated for efficient kidney stone treatment in Singapore.

Preventing Kidney Stones

Once kidney stones have been treated, preventing future stones from forming is essential. Some general preventive measures include:

Staying hydrated is easier with lots of daily water, and it dilutes the urine.
Steer clear of too much oxalate-rich food consumption, sodium, and animal protein, which may increase the risk of stone formation.
A good meal with lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains will help promote kidney health.
Taking medications as prescribed by your doctor, especially if you can lower the likelihood of stone development have a history of kidney stones.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, seeking treatment promptly to avoid complications is essential. From conservative approaches like hydration and medication to more sophisticated therapies like ESWL, ureteroscopy, and surgery, kidney stone treatment in Singapore offers a great variety of choices. Your general health and the size, kind, and location will determine your appropriate treatment.

Aare Urocare – Dr Fiona Wu

Gleneagles Hospital

6 Napier Road #10-06

Gleneagles Medical Centre

Singapore 258499

Tel: +65 6252 4682

Whatsapp: +65 8876 2942

Mt Elizabeth Hospital

3 Mt Elizabeth #14-02

Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre

Singapore 228510

Tel: +65 6758 5881