Kidney Stones Specialist
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Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons
Urologic Surgeon servicing Dixon, Peru, and Sterling, IL
Kidney stones send over 500,000 Americans to the emergency room annually. If you don’t get help for kidney stones, they can eventually cause excruciating pain, along with severe urologic problems like urinary blockage. At Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons, which has locations in Dixon, Peru, Streator, Ottawa, and Princeton, Illinois, experienced urologist specialist Steve Y. Chung, MD, offers symptom relief using advanced minimally invasive procedures to help you recover fast. Book your appointment online or by calling the office now.
Kidney Stones Q & A
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are solidified minerals and salts from your urine. Although it's normal for your urine to contain these substances, high levels cause stones to form. Sometimes, kidney stones remain in your kidneys without growing or causing any symptoms. Kidney stones can be as tiny as a grain of sand, but they can also grow large enough to fill your kidney.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
The symptoms of kidney stones start when the stones leave your kidney and move into your ureter. Typical problems can include:
- Lower back, belly, flank or groin pain
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Discolored (dark) urine
- Blood in your urine
- Nausea and vomiting and fevers
Men might also experience penis pain with kidney stones.
When do I need treatment for kidney stones?
If your kidney stones are confined to your kidneys and don’t start moving, you’re unlikely to have any symptoms and thus might not know they are present. But, if the stones are large enough in the kidney or the stones move down the ureter, treatment may be recommended to prevent or minimize suffering. Dr. Chung will recommend appropriate treatment plans for the best outcomes.
How are kidney stones treated?
At Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons, Dr. Chung uses minimally invasive procedures to relieve your kidney stone symptoms. Options can include:
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure in which Dr. Chung uses concentrated shock-wave energy to shatter kidney stones. Once the kidney stones are in tiny pieces, they can pass through your urinary tract. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is an outpatient procedure. Dr. Chung has performed over 5,000 ureteroscopies for treatment of stones and other upper urinary tract diseases.
Ureteroscopy
In a minimally invasive ureteroscopy procedure, Dr. Chung uses an ultrathin scope to view your ureter and kidney. He then captures the kidney stone in a miniature wire basket to extract it. Alternatively, he can use a laser to shatter the stone and then remove the pieces. This is an outpatient procedure.
Dr. Chung treats your kidney stones with effective solutions that give you great results with minimal downtime.
Use the online appointment maker, or call the Illinois Urologic Health Surgeons office to get kidney stone help now.
