Name: Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments | Healthwords
Creator: Dr Roger Henderson
Published: 2022-03-18T10:45:11.915Z

Kidney stones can cause severe pain and discomfort. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for kidney stones from Healthwords. Get relief today!

Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments | Healthwords

You are likely to be unable to concentrate on anything else with this type of pain, so call your doctor or get to the emergency department for an assessment and they may arrange a scan and do blood tests.

They will also consider other causes of pain like this, such as a urine or kidney infection, [appendicitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/appendicitis-246), [pelvic pain ](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/pelvic-pain-231)in women or prostatitis in men, or simple severe [lower back pain](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/lower-back-pain-283).

While you wait for an assessment, you can take [paracetamol](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/paracetamol) or [ibuprofen](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/ibuprofen-316) (if just for short term relief). Any stronger pain relief can be prescribed by your doctor.

How seriously should I take this?

Panadol Extra Soluble (24 Tablets)

Nurofen Express Caplets (16)

O.R.S Hydration Tablets - LEMON (24 Soluble Tablets)

Panadol Advance (16 Tablets)

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that lies between the penis and the bladder and produces a fluid that nourishes sperm to create semen. Prostatitis usually occurs in 30 and 50 year olds. 

It can be very painful but, rest assured, it does get better with time, and treatment if needed. 

Blood in the urine is also known as haematuria. Blood that can be seen by the naked eye is called macroscopic haematuria, whereas blood that can’t be seen but is only found through a urine test is called microscopic haematuria. Although there are many harmless causes for it, both of these can indicate a cause for concern and require discussion with a doctor and possibly more investigations. 

Blood in the urine can occur alone with no other symptoms, but it can also occur with pain on peeing or the passage of clots. You may get other urine symptoms such as passing urine very frequently, needing to rush to the loo or the urine having a bad smell. The colour can vary from rose-coloured to Coca-Cola coloured. 

Kidney stones are crystals formed from the naturally occurring salts in urine that bulk together to form a solid lump. About 2% of adults have a kidney stone at any one time and usually affects people aged 30–60 years of age. Renal colic affects about 10–20% of men and 3–5% of women. There is often no obvious reason why they should occur. Kidney stones are stone-like lumps that can develop in one or both of the kidneys. The medical name for stones in the kidneys is nephrolithiasis, and if the stones cause severe pain, this is known as renal colic.

Waste products in the blood can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidneys. Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump which the body then tries to pass out of the body in urine. This means it will often travel through the urinary system (the kidneys, kidney tubes and bladder). Kidney stones (also known as renal calculi or nephrolithiasis) can cause pain when they are stationary in the kidney itself, but the real problems occur if they move out from the kidney and into the pipe connecting the kidney and bladder (the ureter). If this happens, along with causing severe pain, they can block the pipe, leading to potential infection and difficulty passing urine. They carry the risk of preventing the kidneys working effectively, with immediate or long term consequences.

Symptoms vary widely and people often have kidney stones without realising it, suffering no symptoms. It only tends to be when kidney stones leave the kidney itself and begin to travel out of the body through the ureter (the tube that leads from each kidney to the bladder) that symptoms appear. This can be intense pain, felt in the side of the abdomen and down into the groin area, severe enough to cause vomiting, sweating and profound agitation. There may be [blood in the urine](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/blood-in-urine) and a need to pass water frequently, and symptoms can last from minutes to days. The size of the stone passed need not match the symptoms felt since a tiny stone the size of a grain of sand can be enough to trigger severe pain.

If you have classical-sounding pain, along with blood in your urine, your doctor may arrange a scan to see whether there is any evidence of kidney stones.

Pelvic pain occurs in the lower abdomen and pelvis. The pain can originate from organs close by, such as any of the reproductive organs, the digestive or urinary systems, or from the surrounding muscles and ligaments.

It predominantly affects women, and may be acute, lasting a short time such as in period cramps or a [urinary tract infection](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/urinary-tract-infection-uti-487), or persisting as a chronic condition. Chronic pelvic pain is defined as intermittent or continuous pelvic pain that lasts for longer than 6 months and affects around 1 in 6 women.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is characterised by burning on passing urine, the urge to pass urine frequently and pain. Such infections occur when the normally sterile urine becomes infected with bacteria or other microorganisms. The most common bacteria causing a UTI is called *E.coli*, though other conditions such as Staphylococcus and [Chlamydia](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/chlamydia-296) can also cause infection.

Such bacteria or organisms enter the urethra – the tiny tube that links from the vulva to the bladder – and cause irritation (urethritis). The infection can then spread back to the bladder causing [cystitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/cystitis-853) (inflammation of the bladder).

If a UTI is left untreated the infection can track even further back to the kidneys, via two small tubes called the ureters (one connects between each kidney and the bladder). This kidney infection is called pyelonephritis and can be a serious health problem.

With correct treatment, a urinary tract infection can be cleared quickly – in just one or two days. Even if symptoms are quickly alleviated, always finish any antibiotic course ordered by the doctor to ensure bacteria do not recur in a stronger or different form.

UTIs are much more common in women, than men because their urethra is very close to the vagina and anus so bacteria can spread easily. Women also have a shorter urethra than men which means bacteria can travel to the bladder quicker. Sexual intercourse can also irritate the urethra in a woman and increase the incidence of a UTI, and after the menopause UTIs can also become more common in women because of changes in the urethra, bladder and vagina due to hormonal fluctuations.

In men, UTIs can be indicative of prostrate problems, [kidney stones ](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/kidney-stones)or a sexually transmitted disease ([STD](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/sti-am-i-at-risk)), and in the elderly UTIs can cause confusion and falls.

Stomach ache is very common and there are many causes of it, however, the majority are not caused by anything worrying and improve on their own or with simple over-the-counter treatment. 

The most common causes are:

- trapped wind - [bloating](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/bloating)
- [indigestion](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/indigestion-dyspepsia-symptoms-and-treatments-430)
- stomach irritation
- [constipation](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/constipation-causes-symptoms-and-treatments)
- [diarrhoea](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/diarrhoea)
- food poisoning - [Rotavirus](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/rotavirus)
- irritable bowel syndrome ([IBS](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/ibs-triggers-and-treatments-to-ease-your-symptoms)
- can also be a normal part of many women’s [menstruation symptoms](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/period-pain-how-to-manage)

There are more serious causes of stomach aches however these are less common. Some examples of these include [appendicitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/appendicitis-246), kidney infection or [stones](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/kidney-stones), and gallstones.

Dr Kandi - Abdominal Pain

Renal calculi – often more commonly called [kidney stones](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/kidney-stones) - are crystals formed from the naturally occurring salts in urine that can sometimes clump together to form a solid lump or ‘stone’. They are common, and every year about 2 people in every 1,000 will have kidney stone symptoms. They are more common in men, almost double than women, and in their lifetime, 1 in 8 men and 1 in 16 women will have pain caused by a kidney stone.

Kidney stones often do not tend to cause many symptoms if they are stationary in the kidney itself, but the real problems usually occur if they move out from the kidney and travel into the ureter – the tube connecting a kidney to the bladder. If this happens, along with causing severe pain, they can block the ureter, leading to potential infection and difficulty passing urine. They can also carry the risk of preventing the kidneys from working effectively, either in the short term or with more long-term consequences.

[What do kidney stones feel like](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/kidney-stones-what-do-they-feel-like)? The typical pain associated with kidney stones is felt from the loin to the groin. This is from the side of the back, radiating around to the front lower part of the abdomen. People sometimes feel the pain travelling into the vagina, testicle or tip of the penis, and they may also see blood in their urine.

Most people report the pain of kidney stones to be excruciating, coming in waves and spasms to double them over until it passes after a few seconds or minutes before returning again and is often so severe it makes them [vomit](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/nausea-and-vomiting). The waves of pain happen when your ureter is blocked, but this muscular tube tries to force the stone along it by squeezing.

If you have classical-sounding pain, along with blood in your urine, your doctor may arrange a scan to see whether there is any evidence of kidney stones.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disease that causes multiple small cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, to develop in the kidneys. Most cases cause no problems until the age of 30 to 50 years old, when they have grown large enough to affect the functioning of the kidneys, causing symptoms or changes to[ blood tests](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/esr-blood-test-577). This is so-called adult PKD, as although children are born with it, symptoms don't appear until adulthood. 

It’s also known as autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD – the most common type) according to how it is inherited. Each parent has a 1 in 2 chance of passing it on to their child. ADPKD affects around 1 in 800 people in the UK, with men and women being equally affected.

More rarely, symptoms may be seen in babies or children, and this is called infantile PKD or autosomal recessive PKD. It’s more serious as the kidneys are under strain from an early age and cysts can also appear on the liver. It’s inherited only if both parents carry the faulty gene.

Around a quarter of PKD cases have no known family history, it either occurs spontaneously or was never diagnosed in relatives. They can pass the condition on to their children.

Dr Kandi - Acute Kidney Injury

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the UK. Known medically as renal cancer, it is more common in men than women and it’s rare in people under the age of 50. Each year in the UK around 12,000 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer. 

There are several different types of kidney cancer but the commonest type is known as renal cell cancer. Others include transitional cell cancer, and Wilm’s tumours and clear cell sarcomas that only occur in children.  

You have two kidneys, one on either side of your tummy (your flanks) and slightly to the back. Their job is absolutely critical in keeping us alive - they balance up the salts (sodium, potassium and chloride) in our blood and excrete out any excess in urine. They filter out toxins into the urine and balance out fluids by making the urine more concentrated or more watery, depending on what we need. 

Signs that might alert you to a problem in the kidneys are blood in the urine or a lump in one of your flanks. It’s confirmed with blood tests, urine tests and scans. 

We’ve all experienced physical pain in our lives – a cut finger, a stubbed toe, an ankle sprain, headache, sore throat, or even perhaps after an operation. We can understand that it varies from mild to severe, and can last briefly or a few days. 

*Pain serves a purpose* – if you break a bone in your leg, you avoid standing on it and rest up until the fracture heals. We also have a psychological response to pain, and it can really help to reassure us (and therefore reduce its impact or intensity) if we can understand the cause of the pain. Let’s consider the broad causes of pain and then hopefully we can tailor solutions to get ourselves better.

Dr Kim - Pain Relief

Abdominal pain (also known as [stomach ache](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/stomach-ache) is very common and has many causes. The majority are not caused by anything worrying and improve on their own or with simple over-the-counter treatment. The most common causes are trapped wind, [indigestion](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/indigestion-dyspepsia-symptoms-and-treatments-430) or stomach irritation, and then [constipation](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/constipation-causes-symptoms-and-treatments) or conditions that cause [diarrhoea](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/diarrhoea) such as food poisoning or even [irritable bowel syndrome](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/ibs-triggers-and-treatments-to-ease-your-symptoms). Abdominal pain can also be a normal part of many women’s menstruation symptoms.

There are a number of ways you can feel abdominal pain. It may be generalized, where you feel it in more than half of your tummy, and this is the sort of abdominal pain often felt with a stomach virus, indigestion or wind. It may also be localized to one part of your abdomen such as your appendix or stomach, or may feel like cramps. Crampy pain isn’t usually serious but is often due to wind and [bloating](https://www.healthwords.ai/symptom/bloating). You can also get pain that feels like [colic](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/colic) – waves of sharp pain that can stop and start suddenly and common causes of this abdominal pain are [kidney stones](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/kidney-stones) and gallstones.

Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder and is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Cystitis is often used interchangeably with the term urinary tract infection (UTI), although technically cystitis is a subtype of the umbrella term [UTI](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/urinary-tract-infection-uti-487), which also includes infections in other parts of the kidney-bladder-urethra system to pass urine.

Common complaints are pain or burning on passing urine, needing to go more often and yet little may be passed, and racing to the loo with great urgency to pass urine.

Less common symptoms include stomach pain, blood in the urine or smelly urine. Cystitis is usually caused by certain bacteria, many of which occur naturally on your skin and in your gut. Owing to the close proximity of your waterworks to the bowel system, bacteria that are usually harmless in the poo or on your skin can contaminate the urinary system and cause a bladder infection.

Dr Kandi - Cystitis

Dr Roger Henderson

Chief Content Officer

If you have a [kidney stone](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/kidney-stones) stuck, you are likely to know about it. The stones are solid lumps, often with a high calcium content (think limescale clumps). They cause no problems when small or sitting in the kidney. But they cause excruciating pain if they get stuck moving from one of your kidneys, down a tube called the ureter, to your bladder.

Most people describe the pain as coming in sharp or cramping waves, causing them to double over until the spasm passes after a few seconds or minutes. This is when your ureter is blocked but this muscular tube is trying to force the stone down by squeezing.

You'll feel this from one side of your lower back, round to the front lower part of the abdomen. It sometimes radiates to the vagina, testicle or tip of the penis. This is called loin-to-groin pain.

Stones then have to move from the bladder via another tube, the urethra, and out in your urine. This may correspond to more painful spasms as the urethra contracts.

Kidney Stones: What do they feel like?

How seriously should I take this?

Pharmacist recommended products

Related topics

Prostatitis

Blood in urine

Kidney stones

Pelvic Pain

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Stomach Ache

Renal Calculi

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Kidney cancer

Pain

Abdominal Pain

Cystitis