Kidney Stones

[lafrankie]

I had my first kidney stone when I was 22, left side, calcium oxalate 65% / calcium apatite 35%. My second set of stones (2 total) was when I was 28, left side, calcium phosphate carbonate 70% / calcium oxalate 30%. My most recent series of stones was when I was 37, left side again, calcium apatite 80% / calcium oxalate 20%.

All three times I had to have them crushed via Lithitripsy. The most recent set of stones (5 total) needed two series of ESWL, approx 3 weeks apart.

For the past 10 years I have had sharp intermittent pain in my left middle back. To me, naturally, it feels as if it is coming internally from my kidney which has been beat up over the years by ESWL. My urologist says that it could be caused by anything exoskeletal; ligaments, muscle pulls, etc. But I know it's coming from internally. Call it intuition.

Question: is this type of pain common from maybe scarring or ESWL damage? I know there is a limit on the procedure of 1000 shocks or whatever to prevent damage. So when I do the math, my left kidney has taken approx. 4000 shocks over the past 15 yrs. I am 40 years old and in good physical health otherwise.

Any info or shared experiences would be helpful. Thank you.

[lioness]

I was diagnosed with kidney stones in 6/09. I had my stones taken out bilaterally surgically in 6/06 since then I have had 2 ESWL's & 3 URS's. My kidneys have been damaged & have lost 1/2 their function due to all my infections being that my stones were 100% infectious. At my first ESWL there were multiple stones bilaterally and they did a high voltage of shocks. I read my OR reports...I'm not sure about ESWL causing any scarring but they do have to be careful depending on how much treatment you have had...Unless there is blockage the wait and see approach is almost always used. there is no reason to speed up the treatment unless they keep causing infection. I havent had a treatment since 1/09. I am trying to get thru a year w/o any treatment...but I have to have check-ups every 6 mos.

I have had continued flank pain not believed by my uros. I just grin and bear it...