Kidney stone care in Cobb County and the northwest metro

A stone starts as mineral crystals in the urine that stick together and grow. Small ones often pass without help; others get stuck on the way out. Depending on where a stone sits and how big it is, it may cause no pain or a great deal.

Common symptoms

• Flank or back pain under the ribs, sometimes moving toward the groin
• Pain that builds, eases, then builds again
• Urine that looks pink, red or brown
• Pain or burning when urinating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever and chills, which can mean infection

Why stones form

Low fluid intake, salty or high-protein eating, too little citrate in the urine, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and gout, overactive parathyroid glands, and past bowel surgery can all contribute. People who have formed one stone often form another, so our urologists look for the reason, not just the stone.

Treatment at the Marietta surgery center

Scans and urine and blood tests happen during the office visit. Stones that need a procedure are usually treated one of two ways: shock wave lithotripsy breaks them up from outside the body, or ureteroscopy uses a thin scope and a laser from the inside. Both are performed under anesthesia at the Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center. Our urologists will explain which approach fits your stone and the risks of each.

Clinic first, when it's appropriate

Calling a urology office first often gets a stone scanned and tested sooner than an ER wait would. Canton, Dallas and Jasper all offer in-office testing, and any procedure is scheduled in Marietta.

More on this topic from Advanced Urology: kidney stones

Educational information, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks, benefits and alternatives to discuss with your clinician.