Kidney Stones: Signs and Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

If you have ever had a kidney stone, you know that the pain can be debilitating. It may come on suddenly as sharp, acute pain in your side and back and spread to the lower stomach and groin area. The intensity of pain may come in waves and shift to different areas of the body. Many people who have experienced a kidney stone say that it is the worst pain they have ever felt in their lives.

Not a pleasant experience.

So what exactly are kidney stones, and why do they occur? Here we will break down everything you need to know about kidney stones, from risks, symptoms, and causes, to effective treatments and tips for prevention.

What is a Kidney Stone?

Simply put, the kidney’s function is to filter liquid waste from the bloodstream - that waste is called urine. When something is too high or too low in the urine, crystals can precipitate out of the urine and solid clumps can form in the urine - these are kidney stones.

Kidney stones are solid masses of crystals that form from different substances like minerals, acids and salts, in your kidneys. Certain medications may also cause stones to form. Kidney stones vary in size and can be as small as a grain of sand or in some cases, as large as a tennis ball. Larger stones are more likely to get stuck in the ureter (the tube that carries urine from your kidneys to your bladder) and cause severe pain by blocking the flow of urine out of the kidney.

Symptoms – How Do You Know if You Have a Kidney Stone?

Depending on the size of the kidney stone, you may not even realize that you have one. Smaller stones often pass through the urinary tract, causing no symptoms at all. Larger kidney stones can get trapped in the ureter, causing uncomfortable symptoms such as pain, urinary frequency, and blood in the urine. They can also lead to infections from stagnant urine.

The only sure way to know if you have a kidney stone is through a diagnostic imaging test. However, if the stone gets stuck in the ureter and blocks the flow of urine, it can cause the following symptoms:

Intense, sharp pain in the side and back
Pain in the stomach and groin area
Pain that comes in waves and varies in severity
Pain or burning while urinating
Blood in the urine or dark colored urine
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Frequent urination and/or only urinating in small amounts
Nausea and vomiting
Fever and chills (often caused by infection)

The pain and symptoms of a kidney stone may change as the stone moves through the urinary tract.

Causes and Risk Factors for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are fairly common. About 1 in 10 people in the US will get a kidney stone during their lifetime. Kidney stones also often recur. There is often no definite, single cause for developing a kidney stone, but many factors may raise your risk. These may include:

Family or personal history of kidney stones
Dehydration
Eating a high (animal-based) protein diet
Eating foods high in sodium and sugar
Obesity
Having a blocked urinary tract or a history of urinary infections
Gastric bypass surgery
Certain medical conditions, including diabetes, gout, and inflammatory bowel diseases
Certain medications and supplements, including diuretics, calcium-based antacids, high doses of vitamin C and medicines for migraines or depression

How is a Kidney Stone Diagnosed?

People experiencing severe pain will often go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic if they are unable to see their physician or urologist immediately. After a physical examination and review of symptoms, diagnostic testing to confirm a kidney stone will often include:

Urine test to check for blood, stone-forming crystals and signs of infection
Blood tests to check kidney function and calcium levels and detect infection
Imaging tests including X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound to see the size, shape and location of the stone/s

“Prompt treatment of kidney stones is vital to preventing severe pain, infection and long-term health issues. While smaller stones may pass naturally, those that do not can lead to serious complications, including but not limited to infections and irreversible kidney damage if they are not surgically treated or removed.”

Johnathan Khusid, MD, Urologist and the Director of Endourology and Stone Disease at Catholic Health

Treatment for Kidney Stones

Small Stones

If the kidney stone is small, it may pass on its own or with the help of medication that may be prescribed to relax the muscles in the ureter to help the stone pass through your urinary tract, as well as pain medicine to keep you comfortable while the stone passes. You will also be advised to drink enough fluids (at least 3 liters of water per day) to produce a large amount of urine to help the stone pass and strain your urine to try and catch the stone.

Larger Stones

If the kidney stone is too large to pass on its own or it is blocking the urinary tract for an extended period of time or producing significant symptoms, a procedure may be performed to break up and/or remove the stone. Surgical procedures to remove kidney stones include:

Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) - Uses high frequency soundwaves that create strong vibrations to break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in urine. This is the most minimally invasive procedure for a stone as nothing enters the body

Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy - A scope is inserted through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter. A laser is then used to break up the stone. A small tube called a stent may be temporarily placed in the ureter to relieve swelling and ensure that that the urine flows properly after the stone is removed. This is a form of natural orifice surgery in which no incisions are made in the skin

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) - A small incision (less than half of an inch in size) is made in the back and a thin telescopic instrument called a nephroscope is inserted directly into the kidney. An ultrasound probe breaks apart and removes the stones. This generally utilized for larger and more complex stones.

In rare cases, open surgery (nephrolithotomy) may be performed to remove the stone if other methods do not work or are not possible, though this is exceedingly uncommon.

Your physician will determine which method of treatment is best for you based on the size and location of the stone, your symptoms, and your health history.

Advanced Approaches to Kidney Stone Removal

Catholic Health offers minimally invasive techniques including stentless procedures to safely and effectively remove kidney stones, almost always as an outpatient. Our team of experienced urologists uses the latest tools and technology to remove all stone fragments safely and efficiently, reducing the need for a stent to help them pass later.

Stentless procedures help patients avoid the discomfort of a stent and allow for faster recovery and reduced pain, and allow patients to avoid the need for a follow up stent removal procedure. This helps minimize the suffering commonly associated with this notoriously painful disease.

To find out of you are a candidate for a stentless approach, learn more about the expert Urology Services at Catholic Health.

How Can You Prevent Kidney Stones?

If you have had kidney stones, you are likely to get more in the future. About 50% of the people with kidney stones will develop another stone within 5 to 10 years if they do not make lifestyle changes.

While not all kidney stones can be prevented, there are things you can do to help reduce the risk of kidney stone occurrence or reoccurrence. These include:

Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water (2.5 to 3 liters of water per day)
Add a citrus boost - Adding fresh lemon or lime juice to water can provide natural citrate, which may inhibit stone formation
Limit consumption of animal proteins
Limit foods high in sugar and sodium
Maintain a healthy weight
Use caution with calcium supplements

If you are unsure about what foods to eat, reviewing your diet with a physician or a dietitian with expertise in kidney stones can be helpful. Additionally, our experts at Catholic Health can perform specialized urine testing to help develop a personally tailored stone prevention plan.

Find Care for Kidney Stones at Catholic Health

Kidney stones can be troublesome and immensely painful. If you are experiencing kidney pain, or suspect you might be suffering from kidney stones, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid the situation from getting worse.

Contact your primary care physician or make an appointment with a Catholic Health urologist for timely, specialty care.

Find Care at Catholic Health

Find a Catholic Health doctor near you. Or call 866-MY-LI-DOC (866-695-4362).

For convenient urgent care, visit a Catholic Health Urgent Care location.

March 25, 2026

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