Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (The Basics)

What are kidney stones? — 

They are small stones that form inside the kidneys. They are made of salts and minerals that are normally in urine. Sometimes, these salts and minerals clump together and form small stones.

Kidney stones usually get carried out of the body during urination. But sometimes, they can get stuck on the way out (figure 1). This can cause symptoms.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones? — 

Symptoms can include:

●Pain in the side or in the lower part of the belly or back

●Blood in the urine (which can make urine pink or red)

●Nausea or vomiting

●Pain when urinating

●Needing to urinate in a hurry

Some people do not have any symptoms. Sometimes, doctors find kidney stones while doing imaging tests, such as a CT scan or ultrasound, for another reason. (Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.)

Is there a test for kidney stones? — 

Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask you about your symptoms and do an exam. If they think you might have kidney stones, they will order an imaging test, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. These can show:

●If a kidney stone is causing your symptoms

●The size and location of a stone

They might also order blood or urine tests. These can help the doctor:

●Figure out the cause of your kidney stones

●Check for other problems that can be caused by kidney stones

How are kidney stones treated? — 

Treatment depends on:

●The size, type, and location of the stone

●Your symptoms

If the stone is small and causes only mild symptoms, you might be able to stay home and wait for it to pass in your urine. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to do this. These usually include:

●Drinking lots of fluids

●Taking certain medicines for pain or to make it easier to pass the stone

●Urinating through a strainer so you can catch the stone when it comes out

If your stone is big or causes severe symptoms, you might need treatment in the hospital. In the hospital, you might get:

●Medicine and fluids through an "IV" – This is a thin tube that goes into a vein. Some people also need medicine to treat an infection.

●Treatment to remove or break up kidney stones that do not pass on their own. This might include:

•Lithotripsy – This is a procedure to break up stones into smaller pieces using shock waves or lasers. It does not involve surgery, but it can be painful.

•Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – This is a special kind of surgery in which a doctor makes a very small cut ("incision") in your skin. They pass tiny tools through the incision and into your kidney. Then, they remove the stone.

•Ureteroscopy – A doctor puts a thin tube into your body the same way urine comes out. They use tools at the end of the tube to break up or remove stones.

How can I prevent getting kidney stones again? — 

To reduce the chances of getting kidney stones again:

●Try to make certain changes to your diet, including:

•Drinking plenty of water

•Eating less salt – This means eating less processed foods (those sold in cans, boxes, jars, and bags) and eating at restaurants less often. It can help a little to avoid adding salt at the table or when cooking.

•Eating plenty of vegetables and fruit

●Depending on what your kidney stones were made of:

•You might need to make other changes to your diet. Your doctor or nurse can tell you which foods to avoid.

•Your doctor or nurse might prescribe certain medicines.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

●You have any symptoms of a kidney stone, such as:

•Pain in your side or in the lower part of your belly or back

•Blood in your urine (which can make urine pink or red)

•Nausea or vomiting

•Pain when urinating

•Needing to urinate in a hurry

●Your doctor recommends trying to pass a kidney stone at home, and:

•You do not urinate for more than 8 hours.

•You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

•Your urine is cloudy, smells bad, or has more blood in it than before.

•You still have very bad pain even after taking pain medicine.

•You are vomiting and cannot keep liquids down.

•Your pain does not go away after 1 to 2 weeks.

More on this topic

Patient education: Kidney stones in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stone diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Low-purine diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Flank pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinary retention (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinalysis (The Basics)
Patient education: Uric acid blood test (The Basics)
Patient education: Lithotripsy for kidney stones (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteroscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteral stent placement (The Basics)
Patient education: Intravenous pyelogram (The Basics)
Patient education: Retrograde pyelogram (The Basics)
Patient education: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (The Basics)

Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (Beyond the Basics)