A prescription drug used for reducing high uric acid in the blood, Allopurinol has proven highly effective.  It has been in use for more than twenty years and has few side effects.  Dosage is usually 100-250 mg per day.

A painful condition and inflammation of the joints, often appearing in the big toe. Gout is caused by the growth of hard crystals of uric acid in the joint, which causes scraping between smooth joint surfaces.  It usually occurs as swollen, painful joints, often hot to the touch. High uric acid levels are the usual cause.  Abnormal uric acid levels may also lead to kidney stones, so persons with gout are often advised  to take measures to normalize levels, including taking the prescription drug Allopurinol and avoiding purine-rich foods and "organ" meats such as brain, kidney and liver. . . no great sacrifice there, eh?

Hyperparathyroidism is excessive production of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands are located at the front and base of the neck around the thyroid gland. They produce parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels within the blood and bone. When calcium levels are too low, the body responds by increasing production of parathyroid hormone. This increase in parathyroid hormone causes more calcium to be taken from the bone and more calcium to be reabsorbed by the intestines and kidney. When the cacium level returns to normal, parathyroid hormone production slows down.

The removal of stone (litho) by any of several means, including percutaneous (through the skin) surgery, or ESWL (extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy) which is the now common practice using focused sonic waves to break up stones inside the kidney to allow the stone material to pass as small pieces or grains.  This process, usually under general anesthesia, is often referred to by the uninformed as "having your stones blasted."  See medical treatment.

An adjective referring to the kidney. Example: Renal Ultrasound = Kidney Ultrasound.

A small plastic tube from 10 to 12 inches in length, inserted surgically into the length of the ureter, connecting the kidney directly to the bladder, used to assist in the painless passage of stone material after sonic lithotripsy.  Small pieces of stone then pass through the plastic tubing rather than through the sensitive inner surface of the ureter. These uretral stents are often inserted during lithotripsy and may remain for two to six weeks, after which they are removed, under local or general anesthesia.  Perhaps fifty percent of patients complain of discomfort from the presence of the stent, ranging from annoyance to misery, but many urologists believe it greatly diminishes both the pain and the potential for blockage as stone material gradually exits the kidney in the weeks following sonic lithotripsy. Once removed, the stent leaves the ureter slightly enlarged (dilated) for a time, which may continue to assist in trouble-free passage of stone fragments. However, there is some disagreement among medical practitioners about the benefits of stents, so your urologist may use them frequently or not at all.
In rare cases, perhaps in one out of 1000 patients, a stent will retract upwards, its lower end leaving the bladder as the tube gradually moves upward toward and into the kidney, which surprisingly enough, may not produce any pain for the patient.  In almost all such cases, an experienced urologist can recover the tube with a special tool designed for this purpose during a uretroscopy under general anesthesia.  Although it is unknown exactly what causes this unusual occurrence, patients with stents should probably avoid any unusual jarring movements or repetitive twisting of the torso until it is removed. We are aware of one patient who clearly felt a stint retract during a chiropractic adjustment of the lower back, which involves the deep twisting of the torso. Radiology confirmed that the stent had indeed moved upward.  (Hint: see the chiropractor later.)

The small tube which leads from each kidney to the bladder.  These 1/8" tubes constantly deliver urine to the bladder.  Stones passing through this tube often create the worst pain of a stone incident. Though most stones can eventually pass safely through the ureter, a blockage can become serious and may require surgery.

A by-product of protein metabolism, uric acid is a normal element of the human body.  Its level can be determined by a blood test.  Normal uric acid levels for an adult male usually fall between 4 and 8 mg/dl in the blood, but some stone-producing kidneys are attached to people whose tests fall within this "normal" range. The drug Allopurinol is often very effective in reducing or controlling high uric acid levels. See gout.