Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.

1. Calcium Stones (Most Common)

• Subtypes:
  • Calcium oxalate – the most common type.
  • Calcium phosphate – less common, sometimes linked to metabolic conditions.
• Causes: High calcium or oxalate in urine, dehydration, certain diets.
• Prevention:
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Limit high-oxalate foods (e.g., spinach, nuts, chocolate).
  • Maintain a balanced calcium intake (not too low, not too high).

2. Struvite Stones

• Composition: Magnesium ammonium phosphate.
• Causes: Usually form in response to urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Characteristics: Can grow quickly and become large, sometimes called “staghorn calculi.”
• Prevention: Promptly treat urinary tract infections.

3. Uric Acid Stones

• Causes: High uric acid levels, acidic urine, gout, or high-purine diet (red meat, organ meat, shellfish).
• Characteristics: Can sometimes be dissolved with medications or urine alkalization.
• Prevention:
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Reduce intake of purine-rich foods.
  • Maintain normal urine pH.

4. Cystine Stones

• Cause: Genetic disorder called cystinuria (kidneys excrete too much cystine).
• Characteristics: Rare, tend to recur.
• Prevention/Treatment:
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Medications to reduce cystine levels in urine.

The Symptoms of Kidney stone

1. Pain (Most Common Symptom)

• Often sudden and severe, known as renal colic.
• Location:
  • Side or back, below the ribs (flank pain)
  • Pain can radiate to the lower abdomen, groin, or genitals
• Nature:
  • Comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
  • Can be extremely intense, sometimes described as one of the worst pains experienced

2. Urinary Symptoms

• Pain or burning during urination (dysuria)
• Frequent urination or urgency
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Feeling like you can’t completely empty your bladder

3. Blood in Urine (Hematuria)

• Urine may appear pink, red, or brown
• Blood may be visible to the naked eye or only detected on a urine test

4. Gastrointestinal Symptoms

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort or bloating

5. Other Signs

• Fever and chills (may indicate a urinary tract infection along with a stone; this is a medical emergency)
• Small stones may cause no symptoms and are often discovered incidentally during imaging for another reason

Red Flag Symptoms (Seek Immediate Medical Attention)

• Severe, unbearable pain
• Fever with chills
• Persistent vomiting
• Blood in urine that doesn’t clear
• Difficulty urinating or no urine output

The treatment for kidney stones

1. Small Stones (Usually <5 mm)

• Most pass on their own with supportive care.
• Treatment includes:
  • Drinking plenty of water (2–3 liters/day) to help flush the stone
  • Pain management: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) or acetaminophen
  • Medications to relax the ureter and help the stone pass, such as alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin)
• Time to pass: Usually a few days to a few weeks

2. Large Stones or Stones Causing Blockage

When stones are too large to pass naturally or cause complications (like infection or kidney damage), procedures may be required:

A. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

• Uses sound waves to break stones into smaller pieces that can pass in urine
• Non-invasive, usually outpatient
• Best for stones in the kidney or upper ureter

B. Ureteroscopy

• A small scope is inserted through the urethra and bladder into the ureter to locate and remove or break up the stone
• Can be done for stones in the ureter or kidney
• May involve a temporary stent to aid urine flow

C. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

• Minimally invasive surgery through a small incision in the back
• Used for very large stones or complex “staghorn” stones
• Usually requires hospitalization

D. Open Surgery

• Rare today, only used for extremely large or complicated stones that cannot be treated otherwise

3. Medications

• Pain relief: NSAIDs or opioids in severe cases
• Medications to prevent stone formation:
  • Allopurinol – for uric acid stones
  • Thiazide diuretics – for calcium stones
  • Potassium citrate – to alkalize urine and prevent uric acid or cystine stones

4. Lifestyle and Home Care

• Stay well-hydrated to prevent new stones
• Limit salt and animal protein
• Follow diet recommendations based on stone type (e.g., low oxalate for calcium oxalate stones)
• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly

5. Emergency Situations

Immediate medical attention is needed if:

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with painkillers
• Fever and chills (possible infection)
• Blood in urine with vomiting
• Inability to urinate