Kidney Stones Specialist
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S. Adam Ramin, MD
Urologist & Urological Oncologist located in Century City, Los Angeles, CA
Are you having problems with pain in your back and side below the ribs? It could be a kidney stone, and that requires a specialist’s care. S. Adam Ramin, MD, is a board-certified urologist with expertise in urologic surgery and laparoscopic urologic surgery. This highly skilled specialist has a busy practice in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles where he provides expert, state-of-the-art treatment for kidney stones. He also takes a personalized approach to patient care, which means you’re much more than just an appointment to Dr. Ramin. Schedule a visit today. Call the office or book your appointment online.
Kidney Stones Q & A
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones start as a collection of minerals and salts that exist within your urine. When your urine lacks fluid or other substances that prevent them from crystalizing and sticking together, these minerals and salts can form into “stones” within your kidney.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
You may not have any symptoms related to kidney stones until they begin to move around within the affected kidney or slip out of the kidney into the ureter. The ureters, one for each kidney, are small tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder. Even then, a tiny stone can travel throughout your urinary tract system and exit the body without you being aware.
Larger or lodged kidney stones can cause pain in the side and back below the ribs, ranging from mild to severe. The pain may radiate into the lower abdomen and groin. Other symptoms of kidney stones may include:
- Painful urination
- The persistent need to urinate, often producing very small amounts
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Blood-tinged urine that may be pink, red, or brown
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills when an infection is present
How do you treat kidney stones?
Dr. Ramin designs a treatment strategy according to the symptoms you’re having, the perceived size of the stone, and its location.
For smaller stones, Dr. Ramin may prescribe drinking large quantities of water to flush the stone. He may prescribe medication to relieve your pain and a drug to relax the muscles surrounding your ureter to make it easier for the stone to pass.
Kidney stones can sometimes be lasered to dust or broken into tiny, passable pieces. This is accomplished using a thin tube equipped with a camera (ureteroscope) and specialized instruments, that’s passed through your urethra and bladder to your ureter. Alternatively, some stones can be broken up by the use of sound waves, called Shock Wave Lithotripsy, without the need to introduce any instrumentation into the body.
For even larger stones, Dr. Ramin will perform a procedure called Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy or PCNL. This procedure involves the introduction of an instrument directly from the back of the body into the kidney through a very small one-third inch opening and using ultrasound technology to break the stone.
Very large or oddly shaped (staghorn) stones are often best treated with surgery. Dr. Ramin is a renowned expert in providing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery using the highly acclaimed, technologically advanced da Vinci® Surgical System. This surgical method reduces operative risks, decreases expected blood loss, and leads to quicker healing after the procedure.
For expert care regarding the diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones, schedule a visit with Dr. Ramin today. Call the office or use the online tool to book your appointment.
