Kidney stones are hard deposits that develop when certain minerals and salts become concentrated in urine and form crystals. They can remain inside the kidney without causing symptoms or travel into the urinary tract and cause significant pain or obstruction.

The symptoms depend on the size of the stone, its location and whether it blocks urine flow.

Some stones are discovered incidentally during an ultrasound or other imaging test, while others produce sudden and severe symptoms.

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides evaluation and kidney-focused care for patients with kidney stones and related urinary problems.

What Are the Most Common Kidney Stone Symptoms?

Kidney stones can produce a variety of symptoms. The most frequently recognized include:

• Sharp pain in the side or back

• Pain that moves toward the lower abdomen or groin

• Blood in the urine

• Pain or burning during urination

• Frequent urge to urinate

• Nausea or vomiting

• Cloudy or unpleasant-smelling urine

• Difficulty passing urine

• Restlessness during severe pain

Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms.

1. Severe Side or Flank Pain

One of the classic kidney stone symptoms is sudden, intense pain in the flank.

The pain may:

• Begin suddenly

• Come in waves

• Become extremely intense

• Move toward the abdomen

• Radiate toward the groin

This pattern can occur when a stone moves through the ureter.

2. Kidney Stone Pain That Moves to the Groin

As a stone travels down the urinary tract, the location of pain may change.

A person may initially feel pain around the side or back and later experience discomfort in the lower abdomen or groin.

This changing pain pattern can occur because the stone is moving through the ureter.

3. Blood in Urine

A kidney stone can irritate the urinary tract and cause blood to appear in urine.

Urine may look:

• Pink

• Red

• Brown

Sometimes blood is present only in microscopic amounts and is detected through laboratory testing.

Blood in urine should not automatically be assumed to be caused by a kidney stone. Other urinary conditions can also produce hematuria.

4. Burning or Pain During Urination

A stone that has moved closer to the bladder may cause:

• Burning while urinating

• Pain during urination

• Increased urinary urgency

These symptoms can also occur with urinary tract infections, so appropriate testing may be necessary.

5. Frequent Urge to Urinate

A stone near the lower urinary tract can create a frequent urge to urinate.

Some patients may feel that they need to urinate repeatedly even when only a small amount of urine is produced.

6. Nausea and Vomiting

Severe pain from a kidney stone can trigger nausea and vomiting.

Vomiting can also make dehydration worse, particularly if the person is unable to keep fluids down.

7. Cloudy or Bad-Smelling Urine

Cloudy or foul-smelling urine may occur with urinary infection.

If these symptoms occur together with kidney stone symptoms, medical evaluation is important because an obstructed infected urinary system can become serious.

8. Difficulty Passing Urine

A stone that blocks part of the urinary tract can interfere with normal urine flow.

Difficulty urinating or a significant reduction in urine output requires prompt medical evaluation.

Do Kidney Stones Always Cause Symptoms?

No.

Small kidney stones may remain in the kidney without producing any noticeable symptoms.

A person may discover a stone during an ultrasound, CT scan or other examination performed for another reason.

Symptoms are more likely when a stone:

• Moves into the ureter

• Causes obstruction

• Irritates the urinary tract

• Produces bleeding

• Is associated with infection

What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?

Kidney stone pain is often described as:

• Sharp

• Severe

• Cramping

• Intermittent or wave-like

Some people find it difficult to remain still because of the intensity of the discomfort.

The severity of pain does not always indicate the exact size of the stone. Even a relatively small stone can cause significant pain if it obstructs the ureter.

Where Do Kidney Stones Hurt?

Kidney stone pain may be felt in several areas, including:

• Side of the back below the ribs

• Flank

• Lower abdomen

• Groin

The location can change as the stone moves through the urinary tract.

Kidney Stone Symptoms in Men and Women

The basic symptoms of kidney stones are similar in men and women.

Both may experience:

• Flank pain

• Blood in urine

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Painful urination

• Urinary urgency

However, urinary symptoms can overlap with other conditions, particularly urinary tract infections. Proper diagnosis is therefore important.

Can Kidney Stones Cause Fever?

A kidney stone itself does not necessarily cause fever.

Fever or chills in a person with suspected kidney stones can indicate an infection.

An infected and obstructed urinary tract can become a medical emergency.

Seek urgent medical care if kidney stone symptoms occur together with:

• Fever

• Chills

• Severe weakness

• Vomiting

• Reduced urine output

Can Kidney Stones Cause Back Pain?

Yes. Kidney stones can cause pain in the flank or upper/lower back region.

However, ordinary back pain is much more commonly related to muscles, joints or the spine.

Kidney stone pain is more likely to be associated with urinary symptoms or a characteristic pattern of severe, wave-like flank pain.

What Causes Kidney Stones?

Several factors can increase the risk of developing kidney stones.

These include:

• Low fluid intake

• Dehydration

• High urinary concentration of stone-forming substances

• High salt intake

• Certain dietary patterns

• Family history

• Previous kidney stones

• Certain metabolic conditions

• Some medications

• Recurrent urinary infections for certain stone types

The composition of a stone matters because different types have different risk factors and prevention strategies.

Common Types of Kidney Stones

Calcium Stones

Calcium stones are the most common type and may contain calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.

Uric Acid Stones

These can develop when urine is persistently acidic and may be associated with certain metabolic and dietary factors.

Struvite Stones

These are associated with particular urinary infections and can sometimes grow rapidly.

Cystine Stones

Cystine stones are uncommon and occur in people with an inherited disorder affecting cystine handling by the kidneys.

Knowing the stone type can help guide prevention.

How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?

A doctor may use several tests to determine whether a kidney stone is present.

Urine Testing

Urine tests can look for:

• Blood

• Infection

• Crystals

• Other abnormalities

Blood Tests

Blood testing may evaluate:

• Kidney function

• Calcium

• Uric acid

• Electrolytes

• Other relevant parameters

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is commonly used to identify stones and urinary obstruction without radiation exposure.

CT Scan

A non-contrast CT scan may provide detailed information about stone size and location when clinically appropriate.

Kidney Stone Treatment

Treatment depends on:

• Stone size

• Stone location

• Symptoms

• Degree of obstruction

• Presence of infection

• Kidney function

• Overall health

Possible approaches include:

Observation

Some small stones may pass naturally with appropriate medical management and follow-up.

Medicines

Depending on the stone's location and the patient's condition, a doctor may prescribe medicines to control pain, nausea or facilitate passage in selected cases.

Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses focused shock waves to break selected stones into smaller fragments.

Ureteroscopy

A specialist can pass a small instrument through the urinary tract to locate and treat a stone.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

For selected larger or complex kidney stones, PCNL may be considered to remove stones through a small access tract into the kidney.

How Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented?

Prevention depends partly on the type of stone.

General measures may include:

• Drinking adequate fluids

• Reducing excessive salt intake

• Following individualized dietary advice

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Treating relevant metabolic conditions

• Taking preventive medicines when prescribed

• Evaluating recurrent stones to identify their cause

People who repeatedly develop stones may benefit from metabolic evaluation and, when appropriate, analysis of a passed or removed stone.

When Should You See a Kidney Specialist?

Consider medical evaluation if you have:

• Repeated episodes of kidney stone pain

• Blood in urine

• Recurrent urinary infections

• Multiple kidney stones

• Stones in both kidneys

• Reduced kidney function

• A history of difficult-to-pass stones

• A family history of recurrent stones

Depending on the problem, nephrologists and urologists may both have important roles in kidney stone care.

Kidney Stone Care at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides individualized evaluation of kidney and urinary health.

Assessment may include:

• Review of previous imaging

• Kidney-function testing

• Urine analysis

• Evaluation of recurrent stone risk

• Metabolic assessment when appropriate

• Guidance regarding hydration and diet

• Prevention strategies

• Coordination with appropriate procedural specialists when stone removal is required

The treatment plan depends on the stone's characteristics and the patient's overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs of kidney stones?

Early kidney stones may cause no symptoms. When a stone starts moving, sudden flank pain, blood in urine, nausea, urinary urgency or painful urination may occur.

What does kidney stone pain feel like?

It is often severe, sharp or cramping and may come in waves. The pain can move from the flank toward the lower abdomen or groin.

Can kidney stones go away on their own?

Some small stones can pass naturally, while larger or obstructing stones may require medical or procedural treatment.

Can kidney stones cause blood in urine?

Yes. Stones can irritate the urinary tract and cause visible or microscopic blood in urine.

Are fever and kidney stone symptoms dangerous?

Fever with suspected kidney stones can indicate a urinary infection. If a stone is also blocking urine flow, this can be an emergency and requires prompt medical care.

Can kidney stones damage the kidneys?

A small, uncomplicated stone may not cause permanent damage. However, prolonged obstruction, recurrent infections or other complications can impair kidney function.

Conclusion

Recognizing kidney stone symptoms can help patients seek appropriate care sooner. Sudden flank pain that moves toward the abdomen or groin, blood in urine, nausea, urinary urgency and painful urination are common warning signs.

However, symptoms alone cannot confirm a kidney stone. Imaging and urine or blood tests may be needed to establish the diagnosis and determine whether the stone is causing obstruction or infection.

Early evaluation is especially important when pain is severe, urine output decreases or fever and chills develop.

For specialist kidney evaluation and individualized care, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic provides super specialist nephrology and transplant-related services.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kidney stone symptoms can overlap with kidney infection, urinary obstruction, appendicitis, gynecological conditions, musculoskeletal pain and other medical problems. Do not self-diagnose or take prescription medicines based solely on this information. Severe flank pain, fever or chills, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine, significant blood in urine, fainting or rapidly worsening symptoms require prompt medical evaluation.