Kidney Stones: Symptoms and Signs, Where It Hurts

A kidney stone is a hard mass of substances that are normally dissolved in urine. While the stone is small, a person does not know it is there. When the stone is large or becomes stuck in the ureter, pain appears — often very severe.

Nephrolithiasis: what it is and when stones cause symptoms

Nephrolithiasis refers to concretions specifically in the kidneys. Urolithiasis is broader: stones can occur in the ureter and bladder. But most often they form in the kidneys and from there pass into the ureter.

Small stones the size of a grain of sand pass out with urine unnoticed, and the person does not feel them. Large stones can cause severe pain; sometimes a stone becomes stuck in the ureter and obstructs the outflow of urine.

Urolithiasis occurs at any age, more often from 20 to 50 years. The lifetime risk of developing it reaches 10%. Among the reasons for hospitalization in urology departments, urolithiasis accounts for 30–40%.

The cause is the accumulation of chemical substances present in urine. The risk is higher if a person drinks little water, has metabolic syndrome, takes certain medications (aspirin, antacids, diuretics, antibiotics), follows a high-protein diet low in fiber, is physically inactive, has frequent kidney and urinary tract infections, or has a family history of stones.

If the pain is severe, or there is a high temperature or chills, urgent medical help is needed.

Where it hurts with kidney stones

The pain starts in the side of the abdomen or in the lower back. It then radiates to the groin, to the upper part of the inner thigh, in men — to the testicles, in women — to the area around the vaginal opening.

The nature of the pain is wavelike: periods of very severe pain alternate with periods of mild pain or complete relief. This picture is called renal colic — acute spasmodic pain in the lumbar region.

Signs of kidney stones: beyond pain

Pain is not the only sign. Stones also cause other symptoms:

• high temperature, a feeling of heat, cold, or chills;
• nausea and vomiting;
• blood in the urine;
• frequent urination, urine that is cloudy or has a bad odor;
• burning during urination.

Blood in the urine and burning during urination are symptoms that are awkward to talk about, but they must be reported to a doctor.

Symptoms of a kidney stone in men

There are no separate "male" symptoms of stones. The set is the same: pain in the side or lower back, temperature, nausea, changes in urine.

The difference is where the pain radiates. In men it goes to the groin and testicles.

How the diagnosis is confirmed and when urgent help is needed

The doctor usually makes the diagnosis based on symptoms. They will ask about illnesses, medications, diet, and family history of stones. Sometimes urine and blood tests are needed.

For severe pain, the patient is referred to a hospital for additional examinations: adults — computed tomography, pregnant women and children under 16 — ultrasound. Ultrasound is the most common method: it shows dilation of the calyceal-pelvic system and ureter and the stones themselves.

Kidney stones by themselves are not a reason to call an ambulance. 103 or 112 — if severe pain is combined with high temperature and chills

This material is for reference: it helps you recognize your symptoms, but does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer