Symptoms Of Kidney Stones

Passing kidney stones can be quite painful. But prompt treatment usually helps prevent any lasting damage. Sometimes, the only treatment needed to pass a kidney stone is taking pain medicine and drinking lots of water. Other times, surgery or other treatments may be needed. It depends on size, location and the type of stone you have.

If you've had more than one kidney stone, your healthcare professional can show you ways to prevent more. This may involve making diet changes, a therapeutic intervention such as NoLith or both.

A kidney stone usually doesn't cause symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into one of the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder.

If a kidney stone gets stuck in one of the ureters, it may block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell and the ureter to spasm. That can be very painful. At that point, you may have these symptoms:

• Serious, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs.
• Pain that spreads to the lower stomach area and groin.
• Pain that comes in waves and varies in how intense it feels.
• Pain or a burning feeling while urinating.

Other symptoms may include:

• Pink, red or brown urine.
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
• A constant need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts.
• Upset stomach and vomiting.
• Fever and chills if an infection is present.

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change as the stone moves through your urinary tract. For instance, the pain may shift to a different part of the body or become more intense.