Treating Kidney Stones: Homeopathic, pain management, and other ways I battle stones

Over the years, I’ve offered a lot of advice to my friends suffering with a kidney stone. I had my first kidney stone when I was 17 and had stones on many other occasions. I often play the game, “Is it back pain or is it a stone?” Chances are, if someone had a kidney stone, they’re likely to have another one.

I have read reports that kidney stones cause some of the worst pain imaginable. When I was in the ER once, I overheard a nurse say that she had given birth 3 times and had kidney stones once and the stones were the worst pain she’s ever had. I don’t have birth to compare kidney stones to and I’m not sure if I believe kidney stones are worse than giving birth, but they are the worst pain that I have ever been through.

The mere thought of another kidney stone makes me want to skip salt, nuts, large doses of Vitamin C, processed foods, and foods with a lot of sodium. Even with limiting those things, I still get stones. If the stones are small enough, I try to pass them on my own without going to the hospital.

I’ve done a lot of research over the years on kidney stones and have talked to many doctors and nurses. They have offered me a lot of advice. Some of the advice is  old wives’ tales and some are science based. Here are some homeopathic ways to fight kidney stones.

• Drink lots of water: The number one thing anyone with a kidney stone should do is drink a lot of water.
• Add lemon juice to water: Lemon juice helps break up and dissolve the stones. Be careful with how much you drink, though. Lemon juice can cause sores in the mouth and stomach. For me, I’ll take a mouth sore over a painful stone any day. I drink one glass of water with lemon juice every day, whether or not I have a kidney stone.
• Add 2 ounces of Apple Cider Vinegar to 2 cups of water: Whenever I think I might have a kidney stone, I drink this nasty concoction. There are a lot of benefits to drinking apple cider, such as lowering blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. It also helps break up kidney stones. Apple cider vinegar can be rough on your throat and stomach. I wouldn’t be able to drink this every day, but I have noticed that it helps. Adding ice cubes helps take the bite out of the drink.
• Add Olive Oil to a drink: I do not know if this works or not, but anyone with kidney stones knows you’ll try anything. If I think there is a bad one in there, I add a little olive oil to a drink. The belief is that olive oil helps everything slip out easier.

To help with pain in the lower back, I alternate between an ice bag and a heating pad. I’ll also use muscle relaxer ointment, like Bengay or Icy Hot.

One doctor suggested eating an edible with THC to deal with kidney stones. The THC can help dull the pain and help with nausea that comes along with the kidney stone pain.

For minor pain, I’ll take ibuprofen and acetaminophen. If the pain is unbearable, then I’ll get more potent medication from the doctor.

On one occasion, I visited a chiropractor who gave me an adjustment. The adjustment helped me to pass the kidney stone. The adjustment helped with mobility and pain.

I have had all kinds of treatment for kidney stones. Here are my thoughts on each one.

• Shockwave Therapy: I have had this done several times and I’ve usually needed an additional method to break up the stones. For shockwave therapy, a patient needs to be under local anesthesia. Large stones are broken up into smaller pieces with this means of treatment.
• A stint: The stint is my least favorite way of treating a kidney stone. A stint is a small tube that is placed into the ureter. A string is at one end. For men, the stint goes through the penis and coils into the kidneys, helping the stone move from the kidneys to the bladder. Taking the stint out is terrible. When it’s time to have the stint taken out, I recommend taking one of the pills your doctor prescribed for pain. It can help dull the pain a bit when the stint is removed.
• If those don’t work, surgery might be needed. There are two types of surgery performed on kidneys stones.  A small incision in your back or with a uteroscope through your ureter.

It’s important to strain your urine to save the kidney stone. After passing it, give it to your urologist. The urologist can send it to a lab to see what kind of kidney stone it is and what might cause them.

I’m not sure if kidney stones are the worst pain imaginable, but I know they are horrible. I hope there’s something in here that may help you.

I am not a doctor. I have never been to med school. I only go by what I’ve heard and what I use. It’s important if you have kidney stones to visit a doctor. If the pain is too much, go to the emergency room.

Good luck with those stones.