Kidney stones, or nephrolithiasis, are hard mineral crystals that develop within your kidneys when your urine concentration becomes too high. These hard crystals can range in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball. No matter how large they are, even the tiniest stone can cause havoc when it attempts to pass through your urinary tract.
Think of your kidneys as efficient filtering systems. They filter out waste products and excess substances from the blood and pass them out through urine. But when urine contains too much crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate, or uric acid and not enough fluid to dissolve them, these substances may clump together. Eventually, they crystallize and harden into stones.
Some kidney stones stay in the kidney and don't cause any problems, but others pass down the ureters (tubes from the kidneys to the bladder), where they may cause severe pain, particularly if they obstruct the flow of urine. The pain of a kidney stone is not easily forgotten—it tends to come in waves and is sharp enough to double you over.
Kidney stones are relatively widespread. Roughly 1 in 10 individuals will get a kidney stone at some time in their life. Men have a higher rate of developing kidney stones than women, but more recently, an increase in women has been attributed to changes in diet and lifestyle. Kidney stones are fortunately very treatable and, for many, avoidable.
Knowing what kidney stones are is the key to addressing them. If you're experiencing an initial event or recurrent stones, knowledge really is power.
Identifying the precise type of kidney stone you have is the key to discovering the best treatment and prevention regimen. Each type of stone develops differently, with varying causes and body responses.
Calcium Oxalate Stones
These are the most frequent form, accounting for approximately 70–80% of all kidney stones. Calcium oxalate stones develop as calcium combines with oxalate—a substance which is present in a lot of foods such as spinach, nuts, chocolate, and tea. Low fluid consumption, excessive consumption of salt, and some disorders of metabolism might enhance the likelihood
Calcium Phosphate Stones
Less prevalent than calcium oxalate, these occur in more alkaline urine and may be related to conditions such as renal tubular acidosis. They're also associated with high urinary calcium and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Uric Acid Stones
These form in individuals with chronically acidic urine. They are frequently found in individuals on high-protein diets or who have gout or some blood diseases. In contrast to calcium stones, uric acid stones can be dissolved with medications that make the urine alkaline.
Struvite Stones
Also referred to as infection stones, struvite stones develop secondary to urinary tract infections due to bacteria that produce ammonia. Such stones grow rapidly and develop large, branching structures filling large parts of the kidney (so-called staghorn calculi). Surgery is usually required.
Cystine Stones
These are uncommon and are caused by a genetic disorder called cystinuria. With this condition, the kidneys filter out too much cystine (one of the amino acids), a condition that causes recurrent formation of stones. Cystine stones tend to be bulky and difficult to treat and need long-term care.
Each type of stone has its own causes, dietary triggers, and treatment approaches. Understanding the stone's composition—typically through stone analysis—helps tailor your kidney stones treatment and guides how to prevent future occurrences.
The reason for kidney stones is most often a combination of lifestyle, diet, genetic predisposition, and underlying medical conditions. Although there is no single cause, knowing the several contributing factors aids in prevention and treatment.
1. Dehydration and Low Fluid Intake
One of the most common and preventable causes of kidney stones is not drinking enough water. When your urine is too concentrated, minerals and salts in the urine can easily clump together, forming crystals. If you’re living in a hot climate, sweating a lot, or simply not consuming enough fluids daily, your risk increases significantly.
2. Dietary Factors
Some foods contain a high level of oxalates (such as spinach, beets, rhubarb, and nuts) and can enhance stone risk when taken in excess. A diet high in protein, low in carbohydrates—particularly those containing high animal protein—can cause uric acid stones. Increased sodium intake, typically from processed foods, promotes the excretion of calcium in the urine, a risk factor for stones.
3. Medical Conditions
There are some medical conditions that will boost your risk of developing nephrolithiasis kidney stones :
4. Genetic Factors
If a member of your immediate family has had kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them as well. Diseases such as cystinuria and renal tubular acidosis are inherited and directly cause specific types of stones.
5. Lifestyle Factors
Obesity, inactivity, and certain medications (such as diuretics or calcium antacids) are among factors that may contribute to stone formation. Even vitamins such as vitamin C and calcium, if taken in excess, can be implicated.
Identification of the underlying cause forms the basis for long-term control and prevention of future recurrences. Healing Hands Clinic’s diagnostic approach doesn’t stop at treating the stone — our team of specialists investigates underlying causes for long-term prevention.
Symptoms of kidney stones may be almost imperceptible or painfully severe. To be honest, a lot of folks don't even know they have a stone until it passes into the ureter, where it impairs the flow of urine and produces stabbing pain.
Mild Symptoms
Tiny stones might pass through the urinary system without much trouble. Some individuals may experience :
Severe Symptoms
After a stone has started to pass or obstructs part of the urinary tract, pain and other symptoms become worse and more impossible to ignore. They may include:
Most women comment that kidney stone pain is worse than labor, which is quite a testament to the severity of the experience.
Small vs. Large Stone Symptoms
Smaller stones (under 5mm) tend to pass on their own with adequate hydration and little discomfort. Larger stones (over 5mm), though, have a greater tendency to become stuck within the ureter, leading to not only intense pain but also possible kidney injury if left alone. The bigger the stone, the greater the risk of requiring medical care.
If you have any of these symptoms, particularly bad pain or fever, it's imperative to get to the doctor right away.
If you experience these symptoms, don’t delay. Healing Hands Clinic provides emergency consultations and advanced imaging, ensuring prompt relief. Further, you can have a look at the diagnosis to understand the detection and treatment procedures.
Proper diagnosis is the first step to successful kidney stone treatment. Since symptoms may mimic other conditions, such as urinary tract infection, appendicitis, or gastrointestinal disease, a proper test is needed to determine if there are kidney stones, what type they are, and how large they are.
Initial Consultation and Physical Exam
Your physician will start with a discussion of your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor may ask the following questions:
Physical exam can include palpation of tenderness over the lower abdomen and back, both of which are typical findings of stones.
Imaging Tests
Diagnostic imaging assists in finding the stone, ascertaining the size, and evaluating whether the stone is producing blockage or complications.
Lab Tests
Blood tests to assess kidney function and test for excessive levels of calcium or uric acid. A urinalysis can find:
Stone Analysis
If you pass a stone, your doctor may ask you to save it for lab analysis. This helps identify the type — calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, or cystine — which is crucial for prevention planning.
Treatment varies with the size, type, location, and whether it is obstructing or infected. The central objectives are to ease pain, allow the stone to pass through (if it is small), and avoid more stone development.
1. Small Stones with Minimal Symptoms.
The majority of small stones (less than 5mm) pass naturally. Treatment involves :
Your doctors will probably track your progress with follow-up imaging and instruct you to strain your urine to catch the stone.
2. Larger Stones or Stones with Symptoms
For stones that won't pass or are too big, and for those with noticeable symptoms, treatment includes:
3. Treatment of Underlying Conditions
In case kidney stones are due to a metabolic disorder, gout, or chronic infections, treatment of the underlying cause is important. This can include :
Preventing Future Stones
Prevention is key, especially for those who’ve had kidney stones before. Strategies include:
Laser lithotripsy is a procedure that is minimally invasive and performed under anesthesia. A scope is passed up the urethra to the stone, and the stone is shattered with a laser into pieces for extraction or passage.
Most patients can go home the following day. Recovery requires rest, drinking fluids, and avoiding heavy lifting for 1–2 weeks. Mild discomfort in the flank and hematuria may present initially.
Depending upon the type of stone, oxalates need to be limited (spinach, beets), salt can be reduced, soft drinks are to be avoided, and the minimum of 2.5–3 litres of water are to be taken daily.
If the stone is passed spontaneously, most individuals return to work within 1–2 days. Nevertheless, you can have fatigue or mild urinary pain for a brief interval.
Yes. Your physician will test your blood and urine and examine the composition of the stone to avoid recurrence. A repeat imaging could be done a few weeks later.
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Healing Hands Clinic is India’s most trusted center of excellence for proctology, specializing in advanced, minimally invasive laser treatments for anorectal conditions. Founded by Dr. Ashwin Porwal, a pioneer who introduced laser proctology to India, the clinic provides world-class, focused care for ailments like piles, fistulas, fissures, pilonidal sinus, and chronic constipation. Utilizing state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern techniques like DLPL, they prioritize treatments that provide minimal pain, negligible recurrence rates, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery.
Disclaimer : The information on this site should not be considered as medical advice. Please consult a doctor for determining the best procedure as well as the most appropriate for your proctological needs.
