Kidney stones can remain inside the kidney without causing noticeable symptoms. Problems often begin when a stone moves into the ureter and interferes with the normal flow of urine.

The signs of having kidney stones can vary depending on the stone's size, location and whether it is causing obstruction or irritation.

Common symptoms may include sudden pain in the side or back, pain that travels toward the lower abdomen or groin, blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, burning during urination and an increased urge to urinate.

However, these symptoms can also occur with urinary infections and other conditions. Symptoms alone cannot confirm that a person has a kidney stone.

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides evaluation of kidney stones and associated kidney-function concerns.

The Most Common Signs of Having Kidney Stones

1. Sudden Pain in the Side or Back

One of the characteristic symptoms of a symptomatic kidney stone is pain in the flank, which is the area between the lower ribs and hip on either side of the back.

Stone-related pain may:

• Begin suddenly

• Become severe

• Come in waves

• Change in intensity

• Spread toward the abdomen or groin

This type of pain is commonly called renal colic.

2. Pain That Moves Toward the Groin

The location of stone pain can change as the stone travels through the ureter.

A person may initially feel discomfort around the flank and later experience pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis or groin.

This changing location can occur because the ureter passes from the kidney toward the bladder.

3. Blood in the Urine

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

The urine may look:

• Pink

• Red

• Brown

Sometimes blood is microscopic and is detected only through a urine test.

Blood in the urine should not automatically be attributed to a stone because infections, kidney diseases and other urinary conditions can also cause hematuria.

4. Nausea or Vomiting

Severe renal colic can stimulate nausea and vomiting.

Some people experience vomiting during particularly intense episodes of stone pain.

Repeated vomiting can cause dehydration, which may further complicate kidney function.

5. Burning During Urination

A stone, particularly one located closer to the bladder, may cause discomfort or burning while urinating.

However, burning urination is also common with urinary tract infections.

If burning is accompanied by fever, chills or flank pain, prompt medical assessment is important.

6. Frequent Urge to Urinate

A stone near the lower ureter or bladder may cause:

• Frequent urination

• Urgency

• Feeling that the bladder needs to be emptied repeatedly

• Passing only small amounts of urine

These symptoms are not specific to stones and can also occur with urinary infections or other bladder conditions.

7. Difficulty Passing Urine

A larger stone can obstruct urine flow.

A person may notice a reduced urine stream, difficulty urinating or significantly less urine than usual.

Complete or near-complete obstruction requires prompt medical assessment.

Can Kidney Stones Exist Without Symptoms?

Yes.

Some stones are found incidentally during an ultrasound or CT scan performed for another reason.

A stone may remain within the kidney without causing pain for a period of time.

However, an asymptomatic stone can still require follow-up depending on its size, location, growth, obstruction, infection risk and effect on kidney function.

What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?

Stone pain is often described as intense or cramping pain in the flank.

Unlike typical muscular back pain, renal colic may:

• Start suddenly

• Come in waves

• Move from the side toward the abdomen or groin

• Be accompanied by nausea or vomiting

• Make it difficult to remain comfortable

The intensity of pain does not reliably tell you how large the stone is. Even a relatively small stone can cause severe pain if it obstructs the ureter.

Early Signs of Kidney Stones

Not every person experiences a clear early warning phase.

Possible early or less specific symptoms include:

• Mild flank discomfort

• Intermittent abdominal discomfort

• Blood detected in urine

• Increased urinary urgency

• Burning during urination

• Recurrent urinary symptoms

Some people have no symptoms until the stone moves.

Therefore, a person cannot reliably rule out kidney stones simply because pain is absent.

Signs That a Kidney Stone May Be Causing an Infection

A stone becomes particularly concerning when urinary obstruction occurs together with infection.

Warning symptoms can include:

• Fever

• Chills

• Flank pain

• Burning urination

• Nausea or vomiting

• Feeling unusually weak or unwell

• Reduced urine output

An infected obstructed urinary tract can deteriorate rapidly and requires urgent medical assessment.

In such situations, treating the infection and restoring urine drainage may take priority over definitive stone removal.

Can Kidney Stones Cause Changes in Urine?

Yes.

Depending on the situation, a person may notice:

• Blood in urine

• Cloudy urine

• Darker urine

• Strong-smelling urine

• Reduced urine volume

Cloudy or foul-smelling urine may suggest infection, particularly when accompanied by fever or urinary discomfort.

Urine appearance alone cannot establish the diagnosis.

How Are Kidney Stones Confirmed?

Symptoms can suggest a stone, but imaging and laboratory testing may be needed for confirmation.

Urine Examination

A urine test can look for:

• Blood

• White blood cells

• Infection

• Crystals

• Other abnormalities

A urine culture may be recommended when infection is suspected.

Blood Tests

Depending on the situation, doctors may check:

• Creatinine

• eGFR

• Electrolytes

• Blood count

• Other relevant tests

These investigations help determine whether the stone is affecting kidney function or whether another problem is present.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound can detect many kidney stones and can also identify swelling of the kidney caused by urinary obstruction.

CT Scan

A non-contrast CT scan can provide detailed information about:

• Stone size

• Stone location

• Number of stones

• Urinary obstruction

• Relevant urinary tract anatomy

The most appropriate imaging test depends on the patient's symptoms and clinical circumstances.

Does Stone Size Affect the Symptoms?

Yes, but not in a simple way.

The symptoms depend on more than size.

Important factors include:

• Stone location

• Whether the stone is moving

• Degree of obstruction

• Urinary tract anatomy

• Presence of infection

A small ureteral stone can cause severe renal colic, while a larger stone sitting quietly inside the kidney may produce few symptoms.

What Should You Do If You Think You Have a Kidney Stone?

If symptoms suggest a kidney stone, medical evaluation can help determine the stone's size and location and whether there is obstruction or infection.

Depending on the findings, treatment may include:

• Observation for selected small stones

• Pain management

• Medical expulsive therapy in appropriate cases

• Shock wave lithotripsy

• Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy

• RIRS

• PCNL for selected larger or complex renal stones

The appropriate treatment should be selected based on the patient's imaging and clinical condition.

Can Kidney Stones Pass Naturally?

Some smaller stones can pass through the urinary tract without a procedure.

The likelihood of passage depends strongly on stone size and location.

A stone that is unlikely to pass, causes persistent obstruction or pain, contributes to infection, or threatens kidney function may require active treatment.

Do not attempt to force a stone out by drinking excessive amounts of water.

When Are Kidney Stones an Emergency?

Seek urgent medical care if possible stone symptoms occur with:

• Fever or chills

• Very little or no urine

• Severe or rapidly worsening pain

• Persistent vomiting

• Severe weakness

• Confusion

• Known urinary obstruction

• Worsening kidney-function results

The combination of infection and urinary obstruction is particularly dangerous and requires prompt treatment.

How Are Kidney Stones Treated?

Treatment is individualized.

Small Uncomplicated Stones

Some smaller stones can be managed with observation, appropriate pain relief and follow-up.

Ureteroscopy and Laser Treatment

A thin endoscope can be passed through the urinary tract to reach the stone. Laser energy can fragment the stone, and fragments may be removed using specialized instruments.

Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Shock waves generated outside the body can break selected stones into smaller fragments.

PCNL

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be recommended for larger or complex kidney stones.

The final choice depends on stone characteristics and the patient's health.

How Can Future Kidney Stones Be Prevented?

After a stone has been diagnosed or removed, prevention becomes important.

Depending on the stone type and individual risk factors, preventive measures may include:

• Maintaining appropriate fluid intake

• Limiting excessive dietary sodium

• Following an individualized dietary plan

• Avoiding unnecessary supplements

• Treating recurrent urinary infections

• Taking prescribed preventive medicines

• Stone analysis when available

• Metabolic evaluation for people with recurrent or high-risk stones

People with kidney disease should receive individualized dietary and fluid advice rather than following generic internet recommendations.

When Should You See a Kidney Specialist?

A nephrologist may be involved when kidney stones are associated with:

• Abnormal creatinine

• Reduced eGFR

• Recurrent stones

• Kidney-function decline

• Significant proteinuria

• Metabolic abnormalities

• Complex medical conditions

For procedures such as ureteroscopy, laser stone removal or PCNL, coordination with an appropriately trained urologist may also be required.

Kidney Stone Evaluation at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic

At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides individualized assessment for patients with kidney stones and related kidney-function concerns.

Depending on the case, evaluation may include:

• Review of stone-related symptoms

• Kidney-function assessment

• Urine testing

• Review of ultrasound or CT reports

• Assessment for urinary obstruction

• Evaluation for recurrent infections

• Stone-related metabolic assessment

• Prevention planning

• Coordination with appropriate urological specialists when stone removal is required

The aim is to understand not only the presence of a stone but also its potential effect on kidney health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main signs of having kidney stones?

Common signs include sudden flank pain, pain radiating toward the abdomen or groin, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, urinary urgency and burning during urination.

Can you have kidney stones without pain?

Yes. Some stones remain in the kidney without producing symptoms and may be discovered incidentally on imaging.

Where does kidney stone pain usually start?

It commonly begins in the flank or side below the ribs and may move toward the lower abdomen or groin as the stone travels through the ureter.

Does blood in urine always mean kidney stones?

No. Blood in urine can have several causes, including urinary infection, kidney disease and other urinary tract conditions.

Can kidney stones cause fever?

A simple stone does not usually cause fever. Fever or chills in someone with suspected obstruction may indicate infection and requires prompt medical evaluation.

How do I know whether my back pain is from a kidney stone?

Kidney stone pain often occurs in the flank and may move toward the abdomen or groin. Back pain alone cannot confirm a kidney stone, and examination or imaging may be needed.

Can kidney stones go away without treatment?

Some smaller stones may pass naturally. Larger, obstructing, infected or persistent stones may require active treatment.

What is the best treatment for kidney stones?

There is no single treatment for every stone. Observation, medicines, shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy with laser treatment, RIRS or PCNL may be considered depending on the stone and the patient's condition.

Conclusion

Recognizing the signs of having kidney stones can help patients seek appropriate evaluation rather than ignoring urinary or flank symptoms.

Sudden flank pain, pain moving toward the groin, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, urinary urgency and burning can occur with kidney stones. However, these symptoms overlap with other urinary conditions, so proper diagnosis is important.

Imaging can determine the stone's size and location, while urine and blood tests can identify infection, obstruction or effects on kidney function.

Small uncomplicated stones may sometimes pass naturally, while stones that are large, obstructing, infected or unlikely to pass may require procedures such as ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, shock wave lithotripsy or PCNL.

For individualized kidney-stone evaluation and kidney-function care, consult Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke at Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment or personalized medical advice. Kidney stone symptoms can resemble urinary infections, kidney disease, gastrointestinal conditions and other causes of abdominal or back pain. Do not self-medicate with antibiotics, painkillers, stone medicines or herbal remedies without appropriate medical guidance. Do not attempt to force a suspected obstructing stone to pass by drinking excessive amounts of water. Fever, chills, severe pain, persistent vomiting, very little or no urine, confusion or rapidly worsening symptoms may indicate a serious complication and require urgent medical attention. Consult Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke or another qualified healthcare professional for an individualized diagnosis and treatment plan.