Although “kidney stone” is a widely defined term, there are different types within this general group. Depending on which kind of kidney stone you have, your treatment may differ based on what they are made of, their size and location. Here are the common types of kidney stones:
Calcium Stones - Calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate are the most common types of kidney stones. Excess calcium not used by bones and muscle are sent to the kidneys for passage out of the body. This calcium can accumulate and bind together to form a kidney stone.
Uric Acid Stones - This type of kidney stone is formed by too much acid in the urine. This can come from eating too much shellfish and organ meat.
Cystine Stones - These kidney stones are typically the result of a genetic disorder called cystinuria. They're caused by the amino acid cystine leaking from the kidneys into the urine.
Struvite Stones - Urinary tract infections (UTI) can sometimes result in struvite kidney stones. They can develop quickly and become quite large without warning.
If you have kidney stones, it’s ideal to catch them early and seek treatment right away. A doctor's analysis of the stone can tell the patient why it formed and what to do to prevent another from forming.