Kidney Stone Specialist Doctor in Ludhiana, Punjab | Safe Removal Guide

Kidney stone is one of the more common health problems among people in Punjab. This is mainly because of Punjab’s location within the stone belt of India as well as the state’s dietary traditions. Kidney stones can be incredibly painful if not treated. That’s why it is crucial to avail the right treatment from kidney stone specialists near you in Ludhiana. 

Luckily, the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is right around the corner to help you save the day. But why do you need kidney stone specialists in Ludhiana, and what are the treatment options available for kidney stone removal? Let’s answer both these questions in detail while also learning how to choose the right specialist and hospital for your kidney stone treatment in Ludhiana.

About Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are crystalline deposits in your kidneys formed when there’s an excess of certain minerals in your urine. This can be caused by multiple reasons, ranging from dietary and lifestyle factors to genetic conditions. Kidney stones inherently do not cause any symptoms until they start disrupting the functioning of your kidneys and the flow of urine out of your body. 

This can happen when either the kidney stones get lodged in your urinary tract or they become large enough to start disrupting the functioning of your kidneys. So, when do kidney stones start becoming serious and worrisome for patients? In general, kidney stones over 5 or 6 mm require medical treatment from a kidney stone specialist in Ludhiana.

About Kidney Stone Treatment in Ludhiana

Kidney stone treatment is closely associated with the size of the kidney stones. Patients who get kidney stones in Ludhiana are recommended treatment options, ranging from dietary and lifestyle changes to advanced minimally invasive surgeries. But why do you need kidney stone treatment? Don’t kidney stones just pass directly out of your body through urine?

While the above statement is true, the primary reason patients opt for treatment in case of kidney stones is pain. It is the most prevalent symptom of kidney stones and a major discomfort for patients. Untreated kidney stones also cause irreversible kidney damage and an increased risk of medical complications like kidney failure. In fact, sometimes when the kidney stones are large, they cannot pass naturally out of your body, requiring emergency medical and surgical intervention.

Despite the condition being preventable, kidney stone treatment is required more often than not. For patients in Ludhiana, the risk of kidney stone recurrence also runs high. So, it is important to understand and follow preventative measures even after surgical treatment of kidney stones. Failure to do so would risk patients getting kidney stones again. The rule of thumb regarding kidney stone treatment and prevention in Ludhiana is to keep track of your daily hydration and try drinking at least 2 to 3 litres of water daily.

Types of Kidney Stones

There are primarily five types of kidney stones. Among them, calcium oxalate and uric acid kidney stones are the most common, accounting for over 80% of all kidney stones globally. Here’s a brief overview of the different types of kidney stones.

• Calcium Oxalate Stones: These kidney stones are caused when there’s a deficiency of calcium in your body, alongside an excess consumption of sodium and added sugar. Other medical and even genetic factors also contribute to the risk of this kidney stone.
• Calcium Phosphate Stones: Calcium phosphate stones are most likely if your urine is too alkaline (not acidic). This can be caused by certain medications or underlying health problems.
• Uric Acid Stones: Uric acid kidney stones are also very common in people with underlying health conditions like gout or diabetes. If you also consume excess animal protein like meat, poultry, seafood, or fish, it can increase your risk of this type of kidney stone.
• Struvite Stones: Struvite stones are usually caused by underlying urinary tract infections. Though they are rare, struvite stones require treatment from kidney stone specialists in Ludhiana in most cases.
• Cystine Stones: This is a rare type of kidney stone that’s most commonly caused by a genetic condition known as cystinuria.

Risk Factors of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be caused by a number of factors. Here is a brief overview of the most common risk factors of kidney stones.

• A family history of kidney stones increases your risk of getting kidney stones
• Prolonged dehydration increases your risk of getting kidney stones
• A diet rich in oxalate-rich foods like spinach, tomato, or sodium increases your risk of kidney stones
• Obesity and diabetes are often linked with a higher risk of kidney stones
• Digestive problems or undergoing gastric bypass surgery (bariatric surgery) can increase your risk of kidney stones
• Lastly, recurrent urinary tract infections can increase your risk of kidney stones

Kidney Stone Pain Area & What It Means

Kidney stone pain is sudden, sharp, and feels like cramps. Here’s a look at the different areas where you can experience kidney stone pain.

• Sides (Flank): This is the most common area for kidney stone pain. In some people, the flank pain may also register as persistent and serious lower back pain. Flank pain is often the first sign of a kidney stone and may suggest that the stone is disrupting your kidney functioning, or it has reached your upper ureter.
• Lower Abdomen/Groin: This pain indicates that the kidney stone is moving through your urinary tract from the upper ureter towards your bladder. The lower abdomen pain may register as thigh pain or groin pain in some individuals.
• Genital Region: Men and women may experience genital pain differently. For men, the pain may come as intense testicular pain. In women, it may appear as pain in the labia.
• Painful Urination: This pain indicates that the stone has reached the junction of the ureter and the bladder. The stone may pass out of the urethra after this point.

Diagnosis & Kidney Stone Treatment in Ludhiana

Diagnosis of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are diagnosed using a combination of blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging tests. These tests help kidney stone specialists in Ludhiana determine the kidney stone type, size, and location.

• Blood Tests: The blood tests are used to check for the level of certain minerals in your body, such as calcium or uric acid. These tests flag your risk of kidney stones, based on presented symptoms.
• Urinalysis: Urinalysis is used to check for the level of certain minerals in your urine. Excess amounts of minerals like oxalate or phosphate in your urine can indicate the presence of kidney stones.
• Imaging Tests: Imaging tests like ultrasonography and CT Scans are used to accurately monitor the size and location of the kidney stones. Imaging tests are considered the gold standard of kidney stone detection and diagnosis.

Methods for Kidney Stone Removal

Kidney stones can be removed from your body without making any surgical incisions, thanks to the advancements of surgical technology. Here’s an overview of the specialised methods for kidney stone removal available at MASSH PROLIFE Hospital in Ludhiana, Punjab.

• Ureteroscopy (URS): URS is a minimally invasive kidney stone removal surgery. The surgery involves the insertion of a thin and flexible scope with a high-resolution camera attached to its head into the urethra, called the ureteroscope. The ureteroscope is used to visually inspect the kidney stones in the urinary tract and remove them using surgical tools.
• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): This is an advanced minimally invasive surgery for kidney stone removal. The procedure involves making a small incision into the flank (side) of the patient’s body to directly access the kidneys. This procedure is useful and successful in treating complex kidney stones.
• Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS): RIRS is also an advanced kidney stone removal surgery that uses high-powered lasers to disintegrate large kidney stones. The smaller stones are then flushed out of the kidneys in urine or removed surgically from the body.
• MiniPerc: MiniPerc, also known as a Mini PCNL surgery, is a less physically straining variant of a regular PCNL surgery. In a MiniPerc surgery, specialists use smaller incisions and use highly precise surgical tools for a safe and quick surgical recovery.

Our Hospital in Ludhiana

The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital, located in Ludhiana, specialises in effective kidney stone treatment and prevention. The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is a part of the MASSH group of hospitals located across North India, namely in Delhi, Noida, and Punjab. The name MASSH is an acronym that stands for Minimal Access Smart Surgery Hospital. This shows our passion and specialisation in offering advanced minimally invasive surgical treatments to our patients.

The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital in Ludhiana is a 100-bed hospital specialising in the treatment of Orthopaedics, Laparoscopy & GI, Bariatric Surgery, Advanced Urology, Mother & Child Care, Trauma Care, Neurosciences, Laparoscopic Gynaecology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine & Critical Care, Dialysis, Paediatrics, and Oncology.

Why MASSH PROLIFE Hospital?

You should choose the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital for our patient-first care approach. Every medical care decision at MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is governed by our P5 medical treatment approach. The P5 principles are: Personalised, Participatory, Predictive, Preventive, and Precision medical care. These principles allow us to offer holistic medical care to patients that promotes overall health improvements beyond surgical treatments.

Meet Our Specialists for Kidney Stone Removal in Ludhiana

The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is proud to be the home of the top kidney stone specialists in Ludhiana. Led by Dr. Varun Mittal, who has over 17 years of experience and has performed over 30,000 urological surgeries, the medical team at MASSH PROLIFE Hospital provides unparalleled treatment accuracy to patients. Thanks to the inspiring leadership of Dr. Varun, specialists for kidney stone removal in Ludhiana offer personalised pre- and post-surgical care for holistic medical support to every patient.

Benefits of Advanced Kidney Stone Removal Surgeries at The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital in Ludhiana

There are numerous benefits of opting for kidney stone removal surgeries at the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital in Ludhiana. To help you get a better idea, here’s a point-wise list of the most patient-friendly benefits offered at the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital.

• Personalised Treatment: Every treatment and surgical decision at MASSH is taken based on your specific case details, not hospital care protocols. This means our specialists review your overall health while determining surgical options to ensure safe surgical outcomes and quick recovery for patients.
• World-Class Infrastructure: The MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is equipped with world-class medical and surgical infrastructure. This improves surgery time and reduces recovery time for patients.
• Experienced Specialists: The medical team at MASSH PROLIFE Hospital is led by the top specialists with decades of experience in both advanced urology and specifically kidney stone removal using advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques.

FAQs around Kidney Stone Treatment in Delhi

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are small stone-like formations inside your kidneys caused by dehydration and the increase of certain stone-forming minerals in your urine, like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. Kidney stones can be very painful, and if left untreated, they can impair the functioning of your kidneys, leading to long-term, often irreversible kidney damage.

How bad is kidney stone pain?

Kidney stone pain is often described as one of the worst pains ever experienced by patients. It is often described as more painful than childbirth. On a scale of 1 to 10, patients often say kidney stone pain is a 9 or 10.

What is the best way to treat kidney stones?

The best way to treat kidney stones depends on the size, location, and number of kidney stones. Small stones can be washed out with dietary and medical treatments. Advanced kidney stones often require surgical treatment.

Can kidney stones be prevented?

Maintaining adequate hydration every day, eating a balanced meal, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy body weight can help prevent kidney stones. While these practices do not guarantee you will never get kidney stones, it certainly reduces your risk.

What can I do if I have risk factors for kidney stones?

If you have existing risk factors for kidney stones, like diet or lifestyle factors, you should consider changing those habits. If your risk factors are underlying health conditions, please consider getting the required medical treatment in order to lower your risk of kidney stones.

Is kidney stone treatment at the MASSH PROLIFE hospital safe?

Yes, MASSH PROLIFE Hospital specialises in kidney stone treatment that’s safe and effective. The hospital specialises in advanced minimally invasive surgeries that allow quick recovery for patients while ensuring complete and effective removal of kidney stones from the body.

What is the cost of kidney stone treatment at the MASSH PROLIFE hospital?

The treatment cost for kidney stones at the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital in Ludhiana depends on factors like the type of treatment recommended. Generally, lifestyle and dietary changes are extremely low-cost treatments that are easy to get started with. Medicinal treatment is also a low-cost treatment option. Surgical treatments are marginally more expensive compared to the other treatment options.

How soon can I get discharged from the hospital after kidney stone removal surgery?

Most patients undergoing kidney stone removal surgery at the MASSH PROLIFE Hospital get discharged within 48 hours of the surgery. Some patients can get discharged on the same day as the surgery as well. In most cases, patients are offered discharge on the next day after the surgery (24 hours).

What is the recovery time for kidney stone removal surgery?

The recovery time for minimally invasive kidney stone removal surgery is generally less than a week. People with sedentary jobs can go back to work within seven days of surgery. Patients with more physically demanding jobs can go back to work within 10 days of the surgery.

How do I get in touch with MASSH PROLIFE Hospital?

You can contact us through our website or call us using the phone number mentioned online. Similarly, you can write to us at info@massh.in or visit us directly at our premises in Ludhiana, Punjab.