A POLST - for Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment - is a hot-pink, one-page form signed by a doctor or nurse-practitioner that turns a patient's wishes into written medical orders.
Pain Medications to Treat Kidney Stones. Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., aspirin, Tylenol, Advil) usually are not effective by themselves for the more severe pain caused by kidney stones. However, you can try a combination of Aleve, Advil, or Motrin plus Tylenol for milder pain. Talk to your physician about what dosages of these medications is safe for you to take.
Lithotripsy to Treat Kidney Stones. This procedure is most effective for stones in the kidney or upper ureter. Lithrotripsy uses an instrument, machine, or probe to break the stone into tiny particles that can pass naturally. This procedure is not appropriate for patients with very large stones or certain other medical conditions. Ultrasonic lithotripsy uses high frequency sound waves delivered through an electronic probe inserted into the ureter to break up the kidney stone. The fragments are passed by the patient or removed surgically.