Kidney Stones
Overview
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.
Passing kidney stones can be quite painful. Depending on the situation, passing a stone may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass it. If the stones are recognized in a timely fashion, they usually cause no permanent damage. However, if stones are large, become lodged in the urinary tract, or are infected, they can result in compilations. In these instances, different treatments may be needed.
Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, genetics, certain supplements, and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. See a more complete list here.
Symptoms
A kidney stone usually will not cause any symptoms until it moves around within a kidney, or passes into the tubes connecting the kidneys and the bladder. If it becomes lodged there, it may block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell and the tubes to spasm. At that point, these signs and symptoms may appear:
Severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs.
Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin.
Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity.
Pain or burning sensation while urinating.
Other signs and symptoms may include:
Pink, red or brown urine.
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
A persistent need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts.
Nausea and vomiting.
Fever and chills if an infection is present.
Pain caused by a kidney stone may change as the stone moves through the urinary tract. They may shift to a different location or increase in intensity.
When to see a doctor
Call us if you have any signs and symptoms that worry you.
(815) 937-2122
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
Pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position.
Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Pain accompanied by fever and chills.
Blood in your urine.
Difficulty passing urine.