Any "natural" ways to pulverize a kidney stone?

[jumpingjoe821]

Last week I passed a kidney stone for the first time.  The stone was 3 mm, and passing it was the most excrutiating pain I've ever experienced.  It felt kind of like a sharp knife thrust into my back and then slowly dragged down into my groin!!  It took about 2 days to make its way out.  Thankfully, I was able to retrieve the stone after I passed it, and my doctor sent it out to be analyzed.  The subsequent lab report showed that it was a typical calcium oxalate stone.  I also had an ultrasound done, which showed that I have another bigger stone (9 mm) inside my right kidney.  I'm drinking plenty of water and I'm also currently taking a magesium/vitamin B-6 supplement to help keep any new stones from forming; I don't ever want to experience that kind of pain again.  But with regard to the remaining stone inside me, my question is:  Is there a "natural" way - without using shock waves or surgery - to pulverize an unpassed kidney stone?
Any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated!

[saphz]

There has been some clinical evidence that raising urine pH can not only help prevent additional stones from forming, but could possibly break down stones that are currently present. Also, specifically, lemon juice appears to break down CaOx stones. I pass a kidney stone at least once a month, so I completely understand what you are going through. No doctor would expect a 9mm stone to pass on its own, its just too big. I personalyl wouldn't be that anxious to break it up though, because a 9mm stone can make quite a few smaller ones. Luckily, in some blessed individuals, stones can stay in the kidney painlessly for many years without causing any trouble at all. I understand why you would want it out of there, but personally if I were in your situation I wouldn't be that agressive with it and just hope it plays nice!

[jumpingjoe821]

Thank you, saphz.  I saw a urologist a few weeks after submitting that first post, and he downplayed the ultrasound, saying that it's not accurate for determining the actual size of stones.  He was more interested in the CT scan that was done in the hospital ER on the night that I first experienced the pain (the pain wasn't too severe at that point, but boy, would it get more intense!).  When he got ahold of that scan, it actually showed that I had TWO small stones (one 2mm, the other 3mm), very close together inside the upper part of the right kidney, so maybe it looked like one big stone on the ultrasound?  The third stone, the one I later passed, was located right by the entrance to the ureter tube.  And of course, it found its way out, thank God!!  At any rate, I haven't had any more pain, even with the two remaining stones inside me, and I'm still taking the supplement & drinking lots of water throughout the day.  Maybe I'll try the lemon juice, too - the urologist did suggest drinking lemonade once a day, too.

I feel for you having to go through that agony at least once a month.  I hope that by now you've passed them all.  

[rich3009]

I have had 2 stones around 10mm removed using retrograde ureteroscopy and a lithoclast, basicly a fibre optic up the urethra shattering the stone and vacuuming it out.
Its when the stone is in the ureter that the pain starts, renal colic is the most painful thing I have experienced, I have heard numerous stories of things that allegedly dissolve stones and few; if not all have no scientific backbone.
Leave them to the urologist if you get serious pain go to A and E.

[saphz]

I know its been a few months, but I just noticed this reply. Yeah, ultrasound isn't really accurate, as it uses indirect measuring to make an estimate. When I have one, they usually say I have one or two very large stones (>10mm), when in reality, a CT shows multiple smaller ones. I have a genetic disorder that makes my body produce lots of them, so I am afraid that my troubles are far from over.

I hope all is well with you, and I am curious, what type of stones do you have? There are several, but mine are mostly Calcium Oxalate. I am on a new treatment that seems to be helping a little bit. I'm taking a Thyazide Diuretic which prevents your body from filtering out calcium ions into your urine, removing most of the "raw materials" that build stones. I am also on Potassium Citrate, which helps replenish the electrolytes flushed out by the diuretic, plus the "citrate" is the chemical in lemon juice that makes it so good for kidney stones.

Take care!

[jumpingjoe821]

Hey saphz, glad to hear that your new regimen is helping.  Thankfully, I'm still pain-free and taking daily doses of magnesium citrate along with a B-complex vitamin, and most likely I'll be taking these for the rest of my life.  I had read in several sources that magnesium and vitamin B6 are helpful in preventing future stones.  As far as the lemonade, I did it for about a month and a half, but I got tired of drinking it every day, so I discontinued that part of my treatment.  I never thought I would get sick of drinking lemonade, I used to love it, especially on a hot summer day.  In answer to your question, the stone I passed was calcium oxalate just like yours, so I would assume that the two that are still inside me are calcium oxalate as well.  I just hope they're willing to coexist peacefully with me!
Take care of yourself, and best of luck with your treament.