Patients who suffer from recurrent stones may benefit from a medical workup. This may include stone analysis as well as blood and urine tests. Your doctor will decide which tests are appropriate for you. In some patients these tests may reveal abnormalities in your blood or urine, which may predispose you to kidney stones. Sometimes these abnormalities may be corrected with medical therapy, which can help prevent stone growth and recurrence.

For large kidney stones that can’t be effectively treated with lithotripsy or ureteroscopy, your urologist can perform a minimally invasive surgery through a 1-centimeter incision in your back. Using a scope and special tools, the urologist can break apart the stone and suction it out. This typically requires hospitalization at least overnight.