If you've ever passed a kidney stone, you know that kidney stone pain can be intense.
Kidney stones are solid objects formed from crystals your body makes that can move through your urinary tract. They can be very small to quite large and cause a severe amount of pain. There are many ways to treat and prevent kidney stones. Unfortunately, once you develop kidney stones, you're more likely to get them again.
On this page:
What Are Kidney Stones?
Doctors define kidney stones as hard, pebble-like objects that form in one or both of the kidneys. The kidneys are part of your urinary tract. They're under your rib cage on either side of your spine. The kidneys filter waste from your blood and produce urine.
For most of us, our kidneys are able to effectively flush out chemicals, such as calcium and oxalate, from our bodies. But if those chemicals build up in our kidneys, they can make tiny crystals that bind together and form kidney stones.
The resulting stones can be as small as a grain of sand and pass out of the body without notice. Others may be as large as a pea or even a golf ball. If these larger stones have trouble leaving your body, they can block urine, causing sharp pain in your lower back, side, or stomach.
Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options to remove kidney stones and relieve pain. Like most conditions, the sooner you have them treated the better, as kidney stones can be incredibly uncomfortable.
What are the types of kidney stones?
There are different types of kidney stones. Your doctor may base your treatment on what type of stone you have. The types of kidney stones are:
- Calcium oxalate: This is the most common type of kidney stone. They form when calcium in the kidneys combines with the compound oxalate.
- Cystine: This rare type of kidney stone happens if you have a genetic issue called cystinuria.
- Struvite: This less common type of kidney stone forms out of struvite, a substance that occurs after a urinary tract infection.
- Uric acid: This common type of kidney stone forms when compounds in red meat and shellfish make your urine too acidic.
How common are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are common and even more so among men. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that one in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives.
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when your urine is too concentrated — often from not drinking enough water. The chemicals in the urine make crystals that stick together and form a stone.
Most people who get kidney stones don't drink enough water. Staying hydrated will help stop kidney stones from forming and will also help flush out small stones.
Kidney stones risk factors
Dehydration (not drinking enough fluids) is the main risk factor for getting kidney stones.
Other risk factors include:
- Being between the ages of 20 to 40.
- Drinking a lot of dark-colored sodas and teas.
- Eating a diet heavy in animal protein, salt, or sugar.
- Having a blockage in your urinary tract.
- Having Caucasian skin.
- Having had kidney stones before.
- Taking certain medicines — Calcium-based antacids can raise your risk of getting kidney stones. So can diuretics, which are drugs that help rid your body of water.
You may also be at higher risk for kidney stones if you have:
- Chronic UTIs.
- Cystic kidney disease.
- Diabetes.
- Gallstones.
- Gout.
- High blood pressure.
- Hyperparathyroidism.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Metabolic syndrome.
- Obesity.
Complications of kidney stones
Kidney stones increase your risk of getting serious health issues, including:
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Kidney infections and other UTIs.
- Loss of kidney function.
How can I prevent kidney stones?
You may not be able to prevent all kidney stones. But you can reduce your risk of getting kidney stones by making certain lifestyle choices.
To help prevent kidney stones, you should:
- Drink lots of water — At least 8 glasses of water (8 ounces per glass) each day to stay hydrated.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Get the right amount of calcium in your diet — your doctor can tell you what that is.
- Limit caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola to one to two cups a day.
- Limit the amount of sodium and animal protein in your diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Some foods you eat may lead to the development of kidney stones. Your doctor may suggest talking to a dietitian. He or she can help you plan meals.
You may be told to limit certain foods, depending on which type of stones you’ve had:
- For calcium oxalate stones: Limit animal protein, such as meat, eggs, and fish. Limit grapefruit juice and alcohol. Limit high-oxalate foods (such as cola, tea, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, wheat bran, and peanuts).
- For uric acid stones: Limit high-purine foods, such as mushrooms, peas, beans, anchovies, meat, poultry, shellfish, and organ meats. These foods increase uric acid production.
- For cystine stones: Limit high-methionine foods (fish is the most common, but eggs and meats, also). These foods increase the production of cystine.
You should also limit the amount of salt you consume to about 2 grams a day. Also, make sure you get an adequate amount of calcium in your diet.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Kidney stone symptoms may vary, depending on how big the stone is.
The most telling sign of a kidney stone is moderate to severe pain. The pain from kidney stones can move into your upper abdomen, sides, lower back, and bladder. The pain may be persistent or may come and go.
Other signs of kidney stones include:
- Blood in your urine.
- Burning sensation when urinating.
- Fever and chills.
- Feeling a frequent need to go to the bathroom.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Sand or gravel in the urine, making it look cloudy.
The symptoms of kidney stones may look like other health conditions or medical problems. Always talk with your doctor about your symptoms.
When should I see a doctor about my kidney stone symptoms?
If you have any of the above symptoms, talk with your doctor right away. The earlier stones are diagnosed and treated the fewer problems and the less pain you’ll experience.
How Do You Diagnose Kidney Stones?
First, your doctor will ask you about your health history, especially if you've had kidney stones before. They'll also perform a physical exam to look for symptoms.
Tests to diagnose kidney stones
Then your doctor may order:
- Blood work — To find out levels of calcium and uric acid in your blood, which may promote stone formation.
- Imaging tests — To see the size and shape of the kidney stones and where they are. These tests include:
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) — This is a series of x-rays of the kidney, ureters, and bladder with the injection of a contrast dye into the vein. It helps find tumors, abnormalities, kidney stones, or any obstructions, and to check blood flow to the kidney.
- Computerized tomography (CT scan) — This is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a computer to make detailed images of the body. A CT scan shows details of the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.
- Renal ultrasound — A noninvasive test in which a transducer passed over the kidney produces sound waves that bounce off the kidney. The transducer sends a picture of the organ to a video screen. The test is used to determine the size and shape of the kidney and to detect a mass, kidney stone, cyst, or other obstruction in the kidney.
- Urine tests — Finds out what chemicals are in your urine.
- Urinalysis — A lab exam of urine for various cells and chemicals, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, infection, or excessive protein.
How Do You Treat Kidney Stones?
Your kidney stone treatment will depend on the size of the stone.
The stone may be small enough to pass on its own. If so, your doctor may advise you to go home and drink lots of water to flush it out.
If you pass the stone at home, your doctor may ask you to catch it with a special strainer. They can run tests to find out what kind of kidney stone it is. Then they can suggest lifestyle and dietary changes to prevent future kidney stones.
Treatment methods for kidney stones
For larger kidney stones, your doctor may prescribe:
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy — A non-invasive treatment, also called lithotripsy, that sends shock waves through your skin to the kidney stone to break it up. During this procedure, the patient is under anesthesia but can go home after surgery.
- Medicine — Certain drugs reduce the chemicals in your blood and urine that form stones.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy — During this surgery, doctors make an incision in your back and use a tube-like instrument to remove larger stones. This surgery is performed while under anesthesia and a short hospital stay is expected.
- Ureteroscopy — Using a ureteroscope, a long wire with a camera attached to it, doctors enter the bladder and urethra to remove the stone. This surgery also requires anesthesia but is treated as an outpatient procedure.
Why Choose UPMC for Kidney Stones Care?
Kidney stones are a common problem. If you have any symptoms of kidney stones, contact UPMC for advanced, compassionate urology care.
The doctors at UPMC are experts at diagnosing and getting rid of kidney stones.
