No incision. No scope inside the urinary tract.
Focused shockwaves reach the stone from outside your body. Fragments then pass in the urine.
Home / Day of Treatment
What to expect on the day of your treatment
If you've never had a procedure like this, the unknown is the hardest part. Here's exactly how a shockwave lithotripsy day unfolds, start to finish.
Our Manhattan office
800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Call before coming in; our team confirms your appointment.
Call the officeBefore you arrive
- We'll give you instructions about eating and drinking beforehand — usually nothing to eat or drink for a set window before sedation.
- Follow your individual fasting and medication instructions. If sedation is planned, confirm your trip home with the team before treatment. We can help arrange a rideshare after anesthesia clearance; required escort, home supervision and help reaching your building must be agreed in advance. Do not drive afterward. Bring identification, your insurance card and a medication list.
- Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of your medications.
At the office
- Check-in & prep. We confirm your details, place an IV, and review the plan with you.
- Sedation. Your anesthesia plan is individualized to help manage discomfort. Tell the team if you feel pain or distress; no procedure can promise that every patient will feel no pain.
- The treatment. About 45–60 minutes. We target the stone with imaging and deliver the shock waves; many people describe only a tapping sensation.
- Recovery. 30–60 minutes in our recovery area as the sedation wears off, then home.
The next few days
It's normal to experience some of the following as fragments pass — they usually settle within a week:
- Blood in the urine for a day or two.
- Mild soreness or bruising over the flank where the waves entered.
- Brief episodes of mild colicky discomfort as fragments move and pass.
- Drink plenty of fluids unless told otherwise — it helps flush fragments through.
When to call us
Reach out promptly — and if it's an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER — if you develop a fever or chills, can't urinate, have uncontrolled pain, or can't keep fluids down. These can signal a problem that needs prompt attention.
Have questions before your treatment?
We're happy to walk you through every step. Call us or request an evaluation and we'll make sure you know exactly what to expect.
A simpler treatment day, when ESWL is right for you.
Stay in your own clothes.
For our office ESWL protocol, you can remain in your own clothes; the team adjusts clothing at the treatment area as needed for skin contact and imaging. Preparation depends on your care plan.
A stent is rarely needed in our selected ESWL patients.
Dr. Shusterman describes stents as uncommon in his selected office ESWL patients. This is practice experience, not a measured percentage or a promise. A stent may still be needed for blockage, infection or difficulty passing fragments.
Fast visit. Individual preparation.
Your appointment includes imaging review, treatment and recovery. If your plan uses sedation, follow fasting instructions, arrange an escort and do not drive afterward. The team confirms timing before your visit.