When You Have Pain So Severe That You Can’t Get Comfortable, it’s Time To See a Urologist

by Harrison Bryan | Jan 9, 2023 | Kidney stones, Urinary Tract Infections, urology news

Pain can be a very debilitating symptom and can make it impossible to be comfortable. Pain that persists and is severe enough to interfere with daily activities often warrants seeing a doctor. However, when the pain is related to the urinary system, it can be difficult to identify which doctor to see. In most cases, you should see a urologist.

Urologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing, managing, and treating disorders of the urinary system. If you are experiencing severe pain and discomfort in your urinary system, it may be time to see a urologist. Urologists have expertise in diagnosing and treating a variety of conditions related to the urinary system, such as kidney stones, bladder infections, and prostate cancer.

It is important to find a highly trained urologist with a facility that is up to date with the latest treatments and technologies and can help you manage your pain and find the best solution for your particular situation.

What Is a Urologist?

Urologists are medical doctors who have completed additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urinary system. This includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, as well as the prostate gland in men. Urologists are experts in interpreting abdominal imaging, such as CT scans and MRIs. They also specialize in the surgical treatment of diseases of the urinary system, such as hydronephrosis in infants.

Symptoms that Warrant Seeing a Urologist

Frequent Urinary Tract Infections, UTIs: If you have frequent UTIs, it is best to see a urologist to determine the cause, as it may indicate an underlying condition. A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract and includes the bladder, urethra, or kidneys. One in five women will have a UTI at some point in their lifetime.

UTIs are most common in young women in their childbearing years. Men can also get UTIs, particularly those with a urethra that is very narrow or completely blocked by a prostate gland that has grown abnormally large. There are many causes of UTI, but some of the more common ones are bacterial infections, sexually transmitted infections, and bladder problems, such as having a narrowed urethra.

Other symptoms that should prompt a visit to a urologist include:

Bladder Problems: Problems with the bladder may be caused by an infection, an enlarged prostate, or an obstruction in the urinary tract.
Urinary Incontinence: This can be caused by an enlarged prostate, bladder issues, or a neurological disorder.
Kidney Stones: These are painful and problematic conditions that can be treated by a urologist.
Pain in the Abdomen: The pain may signal an obstruction in the urinary system, such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction, UPJ obstruction, kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate.
Pain in the Testicles: This may signal a UTI or an enlarged prostate gland.
Scrotal Mass: This may signal testicular cancer.

Urologist Diagnoses and Treatments

Urologists are specialty physicians who diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, such as treating urinary incontinence by surgically placing a sling in the urethra to help with bladder control.

Depending on the situation of the patient, urologists may treat benign prostate enlargement, BPH, by prescribing medications or using a transurethral needle ablation, which uses heat to destroy the enlarged prostate gland. Urologists also treat bladder kidney stones with lithotripsy, which uses sound waves to break the stones into smaller pieces that can be passed in the urine.

Another area of urologist’s expertise is treating kidney stones that cannot be broken down by lithotripsy by placing a stent in the ureters to divert the stones. They can also treat testicular cancer by removing the affected testicle and lymph nodes. The list goes on for all of the ailments that urologists take care of.

Urologist Services and Technologies

Your health is key, and the importance of going with a facility that offers state-of-the-art equipment and an expert staff is in your best interest. They can provide CT scans and MRIs: to diagnose and treat diseases in the urinary system. Ultrasounds are another tool used to diagnose kidney stones and abnormalities in the urinary tract.

Urologists can perform many procedures that they can use to treat or eliminate a wide variety of urological problems, including prostate cancer.

When Is it Time to See a Urologist?

If you have frequent urinary issues, pain, UTIs, or blood in your urine, it is best to see a urologist to determine the cause, as it may indicate an underlying condition.

Likewise, if you have medical issues that have not responded to conservative treatment, such as urinary stones, a urologist may be able to provide a more thorough evaluation and treatment. A urologist is also a good choice if you require surgery related to your urinary system.

Finding the Right Urologist in South Florida

Finding the right urologist in South Florida can be challenging since there are so many urologists out there, and each has a different specialty.

There are three main things you should keep in mind when choosing a urologist:

Specialty: Find a urologist who specializes in the types of conditions you need to be treated.
Location: You can find urologists all over the state, so you can pick the one that is closest to you.
Reviews: You can also read reviews to get an idea of how others feel about a particular urologist.

Need to See a Urologist in South Florida? Call Z Urology!

Many patients throughout South Florida choose Z Urology for their urology needs because of our outstanding doctors, staff, and state-of-the-art equipment. Our experienced doctors are committed to providing the highest quality of care, while our caring staff is dedicated to ensuring a comfortable and welcoming experience.

We understand that your health is important to you, which is why we strive to provide the most up-to-date and innovative equipment. From digital imaging and laparoscopy to robotic systems, our state-of-the-art equipment allows us to diagnose and treat our patients with the highest level of accuracy and precision.

We are a multi-doctor facility with a commitment to excellence and to our patients that have earned Z Urology a place at the top of the list when it comes to urology care. We are proud to be the provider of choice for patients seeking the best in urology care. When you have pain so severe that you can’t get comfortable, it’s hard to know what to do. It’s even harder if you don’t know what’s causing the pain.

Come see us at Z Urology, we will take care of you.

How Laser Lithotripsy Can Treat Patients With Kidney Stones

by Harrison Bryan | Sep 26, 2022 | Kidney stones

What are kidney stones and how do they develop? Kidney stones are small pieces of hardened material that form in the kidney. The main cause of kidney stones is a high level of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is a byproduct of metabolism and protein breakdown, which can build up in the body when it’s not being properly eliminated.

When uric acid levels get too high, crystals can form in the urinary tract and get carried along with urine. Kidney stones may also result from other factors, such as dehydration or infection. They are more common in people who have diabetes or a family history of them. When there’s an existing problem like this, your risk of developing kidney stones increases.

Dehydration can be a cause of kidney stones. It occurs when your body lacks enough fluids to maintain optimal health. It may result from dieting or illness that causes vomiting or excessive urination. Dieting protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and cheese can trigger increased urination if you don’t drink enough water with them.

Kidney stones are more common in men than women, and their prevalence increases as people age. In most cases, kidney stones are not dangerous and do not require treatment.

However, some people experience intense pain resulting from kidney stones. When you are experiencing pain from kidney stones, they will require treatment to avoid further complications. Laser Lithotripsy is a surgical procedure that uses laser light to break up the stones so they can be easily passed through urine. Here’s an overview of what you should know about this procedure and how it can help.

What is Laser Lithotripsy?

It’s one of the most effective treatments for kidney stones and significantly reduces their recurrence rate. Let us take a closer look at how laser lithotripsy works and what it can do for you if you suffer from kidney stones.

Laser lithotripsy is a procedure that uses a laser to break up kidney stones. The stones are located and then the laser is passed through the ureter, bladder, and urethra to break them up into smaller fragments that can be passed in urine without discomfort.

It is often used in cases where other stone-breaking procedures such as shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) are not effective. Laser lithotripsy can be used to treat stones in any area of the urinary tract and remove them completely.

It is often used as a secondary treatment after shock wave lithotripsy fails to fully break up a patient’s stones. Laser lithotripsy works by focusing a series of laser beams on a stone’s surface so that it shatters into smaller pieces that can be easily passed through urine.

How Does Laser Lithotripsy Work and Who Can Benefit From This Procedure?

The procedure is carried out under general or local anesthesia and involves a urologist inserting a thin tube into the ureter that passes close to the stone. The tube then approaches the kidney stones and uses a laser to break them up. At this point, the laser is applied to the stone’s surface. The stone shatters into smaller pieces that can then be easily passed through urine, effectively solving the problem.

Laser lithotripsy is most effective for patients who have recently formed kidney stones, but it can also be used for patients with struvite or cystine stones.

The procedure is generally performed in an operating room and under general anesthesia. If you are suffering from kidney stones, you may be a suitable candidate for laser lithotripsy. Laser lithotripsy can be used to treat stones in any area of the urinary tract.

Anyone who has been suffering from kidney stones can benefit from a procedure like laser lithotripsy. Even though it is a minimally invasive procedure, it still requires surgical expertise which is something that often makes people nervous.

While it’s natural to be nervous about practically any kind of surgery, it is much better to have a laser lithotripsy done than to persist with untreated kidney stones. When left untreated, kidney stones will continue to cause pain and discomfort. The sooner you see a urologist and have the procedure done, the sooner you can get back to enjoying life without kidney stones and the pain they cause.

Side Effects of Laser Lithotripsy, What to Expect

Like all surgical procedures, laser lithotripsy can produce some side effects. However, these are typically mild and include pain, bleeding, urine retention, and infection.

A common complication associated with laser lithotripsy is stone recurrence. In some cases, the procedure does not fully break up the stones, leaving fragments that can later cause more complications. The main risks of laser lithotripsy include injury to nearby tissues, bleeding, infection, and damage to nearby organs.

The key to minimizing potential side effects is to have the procedure done by a highly experienced urologist. Experienced urologists are less likely to make mistakes when performing surgical procedures like a laser lithotripsy.

Need a Laser Lithotripsy? Call Z Urology and Make an Appointment!

As a somewhat minimally invasive procedure laser lithotripsy is a popular method for removing kidney stones. While many people have faith in the procedure itself, the hard part is finding the right urologist to have it done.

While minimally invasive, any procedure is a serious one which is why it is important that you trust the urologist that will perform the surgery.

If you live in South Florida and you need your kidney stones removed via laser lithotripsy, you’ll want to have the procedure done at Z Urology. The people of South Florida trust the team at Z Urology with everything from fertility treatment to laser lithotripsies and more.

When you schedule an appointment with Z Urology, we’ll assess your case and see if laser lithotripsy would be the best treatment option for you. It’s important that you feel comfortable and understand why certain treatment options are being recommended over others.

Have questions? Give us a call and make Z Urology ask about a consultation for a laser lithotripsy today!

We can’t wait to hear from you!