Kidney stones
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Very small stones can pass out of your body without you noticing. But if you do get symptoms, the most likely one is pain.
The pain might begin as a dull ache in your side while the stone is in your
kidney. It won't become severe unless the stone leaves the kidney.
1
kidney
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.
Source:
Portis JA, Sundaram CP.
Diagnosis and initial management of kidney stones.
American Family Physician. 2001; 63: 1329-1338.
Portis JA, Sundaram CP.
Diagnosis and initial management of kidney stones.
American Family Physician. 2001; 63: 1329-1338.
When a stone starts to move down one of the tubes (
ureters) from the kidney toward your
bladder, you can get a bad pain in your back or side. This will probably come on suddenly.
2
ureters
The ureters are tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder.
The ureters are tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder.
bladder
Your bladder is the hollow organ at the top of your pelvis that stores urine. It is similar to a balloon, only with stronger walls. It fills up with urine until you go to the bathroom.
Your bladder is the hollow organ at the top of your pelvis that stores urine. It is similar to a balloon, only with stronger walls. It fills up with urine until you go to the bathroom.
Source:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit.
Kidney stones.
July 2006. Available at http://renux.dmed.ed.ac.uk/edren/EdRenINFOhome.html (accessed on 5 May 2009).
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit.
Kidney stones.
July 2006. Available at http://renux.dmed.ed.ac.uk/edren/EdRenINFOhome.html (accessed on 5 May 2009).
This pain can be so intense that it feels like the worst you've ever had. It is called renal colic.
The pain comes from your muscles trying to squeeze the stone through the ureter and into the bladder.
3
Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Kidney stones in adults.
October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Kidney stones in adults.
October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
The pain is sharp and cramping. It tends to come and go as the stone moves. It will probably start in your back or side, and
might spread down to your belly or groin. It is the kind of pain that makes you move around a lot, rather than lying still,
as you try to find a more comfortable position.
You might get other symptoms with the pain. You might:
- Feel sweaty or sick to your stomach
- Vomit
- Find blood in your urine. This is caused by the stone rubbing against the walls of the ureter
- Need to urinate more often or feel a burning sensation when you urinate. This is more likely as the stone gets closer to the
bladder.
Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Kidney stones in adults.
October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
3
Your doctor should send you to a radiology center or hospital for one or more tests. These tests can:
- Confirm that you actually have a kidney stone
- Rule out other possible causes of the pain
- Show where the stone is stuck and how big it is.
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
ultrasound
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Source:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit.
Kidney stones.
July 2006. Available at http://renux.dmed.ed.ac.uk/edren/EdRenINFOhome.html (accessed on 5 May 2009).
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit.
Kidney stones.
July 2006. Available at http://renux.dmed.ed.ac.uk/edren/EdRenINFOhome.html (accessed on 5 May 2009).
Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Kidney stones in adults.
October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Kidney stones in adults.
October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
- A CT scan (computed tomography scan). This is a type of X-ray. It takes several detailed pictures of the inside of your body from different angles
- An IVP (intravenous pyelogram). For this test, the doctor injects a dye into your bloodstream. The dye collects in your kidneys and helps any kidney stones to show up on the X-ray.
Many people with kidney stones have no symptoms at all. They may find out about them only if they have an X-ray for some other
reason. But often, these stones go on to cause problems. About half of small stones found in the kidneys start to produce
symptoms within five years.
4
Source:
Glowacki LS, Beecroft ML, Cook RJ, et al.
The natural history of asymptomatic urolithiasis.
Journal of Urology. 1992; 147: 319-321.
Glowacki LS, Beecroft ML, Cook RJ, et al.
The natural history of asymptomatic urolithiasis.
Journal of Urology. 1992; 147: 319-321.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Portis JA, Sundaram CP.Diagnosis and initial management of kidney stones.American Family Physician. 2001; 63: 1329-1338.
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit.Kidney stones.July 2006. Available at http://renux.dmed.ed.ac.uk/edren/EdRenINFOhome.html (accessed on 5 May 2009).
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Kidney stones in adults.October 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults (accessed on 5 May 2009).
- Glowacki LS, Beecroft ML, Cook RJ, et al.The natural history of asymptomatic urolithiasis.Journal of Urology. 1992; 147: 319-321.
This information was last updated on May 08, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
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