Kidney stones can be very painful, but Dr. Movassaghi is endourology fellowship trained and can help patients deal with the pain and pass the stone. Dr. Movassaghi treats patients throughout Santa Monica, California.
Kidney stones are deposits of minerals and salts that form when the urine is heavily concentrated allowing for these substances to form hard shells inside the kidney. Stones can also form secondary to an infection or can become a source of urinary tract infections in other patients. A kidney stone itself does not usually cause pain; it is the passage of kidney stones that can be painful. Smaller stones, usually up to 5 mm can pass on their own with adequate hydration. Larger stones, however, require surgery.
While several factors can lead to the development of a kidney stone, the formation of kidney stones is most often the result of dehydration from not drinking enough water. When an individual is not drinking enough, it makes acidity levels in the kidneys very high. The acidic environment is extremely conducive to the formation of these mineral deposits. This is caused when excessive levels of uric acid build up in an individual’s urine because there is not enough water available to dilute it. Some medical conditions including UTIs or urinary tract infections, hyperparathyroidism, medullary sponge kidney, and Crohn’s disease can also increase the risk.
Dr. Movassaghi offers all surgical approaches to stone disease including combination procedures:
Dr. Movassaghi is endourology fellowship trained and offers services for stone prevention that include:
Here is a list of insurance we accept. Please call our office if you have any questions.