Leading urologist Dr. Cletus Georges revisits the successful diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones.
Dr. Cletus Georges
A painful condition wherein which patients develop small, hard deposits in the urine and kidneys, more than 200,000 individuals are affected by kidney stones in the United States annually. Often difficult to pass naturally without medical help or intervention, urology specialist Dr. Cletus Georges offers a closer look at the diagnosis and treatment of this common but frequently excruciating condition.
“A formal medical diagnosis should be the first port of call whenever an incidence of kidney stones is suspected,” suggests Dr. Georges, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a leading urologist based in Florida.
Solid deposits of acid salts and minerals which form and stick together in an individual’s urine, kidney stones most commonly become apparent when a patient begins to experience often excruciating pain. “This pain,” says Dr. Georges, “will typically be felt toward the side of the abdomen.”
Pain resulting from kidney stones can, according to the urologist, become so severe that affected individuals become physically nauseous and begin to vomit.
Thankfully, Dr. Georges also goes on to reveal that kidney stones are, typically, unlikely to cause any lasting or permanent damage. “That said, confirming potential cases of kidney stones as early as possible is important,” he adds. According to the expert, this usually involves one or more laboratory tests and, in some cases, additional exploratory medical imaging.
Once a case of kidney stones is confirmed, treatment will often commence with pain relievers. “Further to receiving pain medication, patients will be advised to begin consuming a good volume of freshwater daily with a view to hopefully passing any stones which are present without further intervention, aided by the pain relief provided,” reveals Dr. Georges.
This short-term method of treatment, he says, will usually see kidney stone complaints resolved within a week or two, and sometimes within just a matter of days. “In more severe cases, however,” he goes on, “a surgical procedure may be required to remove or break up stubborn, larger stones which an individual is unable to pass without intervention.”
Further to abdominal pain, other kidney stone indicators include back pain, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and excessive sweating. “Where such pain or symptoms are present, any patient must seek professional medical advice, either to confirm or rule out kidney stones, or to identify one or more other underlying causes, especially in the case of blood in the urine which can be a symptom of other, much more serious conditions,” adds Dr. Georges, wrapping up.
Dr. Cletus Georges attended Weill Cornell University Medical College in New York City, graduating in 1991 and completing his residency in urology at Chicago’s Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center in 1997. Shortly after, urology specialist Dr. Georges began his practice in Sebring, Florida, before relocating to the Orlando area where he remains settled today. Dr. Georges’ licensure and certifications include a Florida State Medical License and American Board of Urology certification in urology.
