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What are the different types of kidney stones made of?
A kidney stone is a hard object that is made from chemicals in the urine. There are four types of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. A kidney stone may be treated with shockwave lithotripsy, uteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithomy or nephrolithotripsy.
How do you know what type of kidney stone you have?
If your doctor suspects that you have a kidney stone, you may have diagnostic tests and procedures, such as:
- Blood testing. Blood tests may reveal too much calcium or uric acid in your blood.
- Urine testing.
- Imaging.
- Analysis of passed stones.
How does a kidney stone start out?
Kidney stone pain often starts suddenly. As the stone moves, the pain changes location and intensity. Pain often comes and goes in waves, which is made worse by the ureters contracting as they try to push the stone out. Each wave may last for a few minutes, disappear, and then come back again.
What is the hardest type of kidney stone?
The calcium oxalate kidney stone comes in two varieties, calcium oxalate monohydrate and calcium oxalate dihydrate. The former are harder and therefore more resistant to fragmentation by lithotripsy.
What are the 3 types of kidney stones?
Types of kidney stones
- Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate.
- Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to a urinary tract infection.
- Uric acid stones.
- Cystine stones.
What is the most common kidney stone?
Calcium stones, including calcium oxalate stones and calcium phosphate stones, are the most common types of kidney stones. Calcium oxalate stones are more common than calcium phosphate stones. Calcium from food does not increase your chance of having calcium oxalate stones.