Home / Treatments / Kidney Stone Treatment

Kidney Stone Treatment

From medical management of small stones to laser lithotripsy and PCNL for large ones — complete stone care with a consultant urologist and 24×7 emergency cover.

Kidney & Ureteric Stones

What is kidney stone disease?

Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys and can travel down the ureter, causing some of the most severe pain known — classic "renal colic" that comes in waves from the flank to the groin. Punjab’s hot climate and dietary patterns make stone disease especially common here, and stones that block urine flow can silently damage the kidney if ignored.

Common causes

  • ✓ Not drinking enough water — the single biggest factor
  • ✓ High salt and animal-protein intake
  • ✓ Family history of stones and previous stone episodes
  • ✓ Hot climate and chronic dehydration
  • ✓ Certain metabolic and urinary conditions
Know the Signs

Experiencing any of these symptoms?

Common symptoms

  • ✓ Severe wave-like pain from flank to groin (renal colic)
  • ✓ Blood in the urine or dark, smoky urine
  • ✓ Burning urination or urinating in drops
  • ✓ Nausea and vomiting during pain attacks
  • ✓ Recurring urinary infections

See a doctor urgently for

  • ✓ Stone pain with fever or chills (infected obstructed kidney — an emergency)
  • ✓ Complete inability to pass urine
  • ✓ Uncontrolled vomiting with severe pain

Emergency 24×7: 091551 00001

Diagnosis

How is it diagnosed?

Ultrasound and urine/blood tests are done in-house; a non-contrast CT (the gold standard) precisely locates the stone and measures its size when needed. Size, position and kidney function together decide the treatment — many stones need no surgery at all.

Treatment Options

Your treatment options, honestly explained

Non-surgical management

Stones up to ~5–6 mm often pass on their own with hydration, pain control and medical expulsion therapy — we monitor rather than operate. Prevention advice (fluids, diet, and testing stone composition) matters as much as treatment, because half of stone-formers recur within years.

Surgical treatment at Bawa Hospital

For stones that will not pass: ureteroscopy (URS) with laser fragmentation for ureteric and many kidney stones — no incision, through the natural passage; PCNL (keyhole through the back) for large kidney stones; and stenting where drainage is urgent. All performed by our consultant urologist with modern endoscopic equipment.

We recommend surgery only when it is genuinely the best option for you — and explain why, in plain language, before you decide.

Recovery

What recovery looks like

Day 0–1

URS/laser: usually day-care or one night; PCNL: 2–3 days.

Week 1

Mild burning or urgency settles; desk work within days.

Week 1–2

Stent (if placed) removed in a short OPD procedure.

Ongoing

Prevention plan — fluids, diet, and metabolic work-up for recurrent formers.

Timelines are typical for uncomplicated cases — your surgeon will give you a personalised plan.

Cost & Insurance

Transparent pricing, no surprises

What decides the cost?

The final cost depends on the technique used, the complexity of your case, the type of room you choose and your length of stay. After your consultation you receive a clear, itemised estimate — before you decide anything.

Using health insurance?

Bring your policy details or insurance card and our front-desk team will help you with the paperwork and coordination with your insurer from admission through discharge.

Serving North India

Patients travel to us from across the region

Bawa Hospital in Ludhiana treats patients from across Punjab — including Chandigarh, Mohali, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, Moga and Khanna — as well as Delhi NCR, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

For outstation patients we plan the consultation, pre-operative tests and surgery to minimise trips — often completed in a single visit, with follow-up support on WhatsApp.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can kidney stones dissolve with medicines or home remedies?

Only rare uric-acid stones can be genuinely dissolved with medication. For the common calcium stones, no drink or remedy dissolves them — small ones pass, larger ones need removal. Anyone promising to "dissolve" every stone is not being honest with you.

What stone size needs surgery?

As a rule of thumb: under 5–6 mm usually passes with medical support; above that — or any stone causing infection, obstruction or persistent pain — needs intervention. Position matters as much as size, which is what your urologist assesses.

Is laser stone surgery painful?

URS with laser is done under anaesthesia through the natural urinary passage — no cuts at all. Afterwards there may be a few days of burning or urgency, especially if a stent is placed, which settles quickly.

Why do my stones keep coming back?

Recurrence is common if the underlying cause — chronic low fluid intake, dietary factors, or a metabolic tendency — is never addressed. We include a prevention work-up so you treat the cause, not just this stone.

Is stone pain with fever really an emergency?

Yes — an infected, blocked kidney can deteriorate fast and threaten both the kidney and life. Fever with stone pain means come to the emergency now, not tomorrow.

Medically reviewed by Prof. (Dr.) Ashvind Bawa, MS FACS — Director, Surgical Services · Last reviewed July 2026

Stone pain is a message — answer it

Precise diagnosis, honest advice on whether you even need surgery, and modern laser treatment when you do.