Kidney Stones Diagnosis and Treatment

Overview

Your kidneys filter chemicals for your body by removing wastes and excess fluids from the blood. Healthy kidneys maintain your body’s proper chemical balance, but when too much calcium, oxalate, or uric acid builds up, stones can form.

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. An estimated 10 percent of Americans will experience them in their lifetime. These hard deposits form in the kidneys but may move through the urinary system, often causing severe pain. Kidney stone risk increases with age, diet, dehydration, and other health factors.

A kidney stone is a hard mass that develops when crystals separate from urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. While small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract unnoticed, larger ones can cause intense discomfort and complications. In most cases, kidney stones pass naturally over time, but monitoring their progress is important to prevent further issues.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The first symptom of a kidney stone is generally sharp, cramping pain in the back and side near the kidney or in the lower abdomen. The pain begins when a stone moves into the urinary tract, causing blockage and irritation. Nausea and vomiting may occur, and the pain may spread to the groin and genital areas. As a stone grows larger or continues to move through the urinary tract, blood may appear in the urine and you may feel the need to urinate more often or experience a burning sensation while urinating. Other symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, profuse sweating, and diarrhea or constipation.

In addition to causing severe pain, a lodged stone can block the flow of urine, causing wastes to back up into the kidneys. Such a condition must be corrected swiftly, either by surgically removing the stone or by nonsurgical medical procedures that break it up and allow it to pass naturally out of the body. Such a condition may require prompt treatment to remove stones and restore normal urine flow as serious kidney damage and related medical problems can result if left untreated.

Types of Kidney Stones

There are several different types of kidney stones, and each type contains various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of kidney stone contains calcium oxalate, followed by calcium phosphate stones. Others include:

  • Struvite stones – often caused by urinary tract infections
  • Uric acid stones – linked to high protein diets or dehydration
  • Cystine stones – a rare type due to genetic disorders
  • Calcium oxalate stones – the most common type formed from high oxalate or calcium in urine

Identifying the type of stone helps determine how to prevent future stones and guide treatment.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can form when urine becomes too concentrated, containing too little liquid and too much waste. This imbalance leads to stone formation as minerals crystallize and accumulate. Some of the most common causes include inadequate fluid intake, high consumption of sodium and animal protein, and the use of calcium supplements.

People with certain medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease or disorders involving the parathyroid glands, are at greater risk. Repeated urinary tract infections, as well as excessive intake of certain vitamins like D and C, may also contribute. Lastly, individuals with a family history of kidney stones are more likely to experience them, due to genetic factors that increase kidney stone risk.

Diagnosing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are diagnosed through a simple medical evaluation to help your doctor find out what is causing your symptoms. A health history and physical exam may reveal signs of a stone. Then diagnostic tests will confirm the presence of a stone and help locate it in the body. Detailed metabolic tests of your blood, urine and the stone may also be performed to determine the best course of treatment.

Diagnostic tests detect infection or reveal the image of the stone. These tests include:

  • Urinalysis, or urine test
  • Urine culture
  • Blood test
  • Kidney, ureter and bladder X-ray
  • Intravenous pyelogram X-ray, which uses dye to locate the stone
  • Ultrasound
  • CT scan

Metabolic tests will help the doctor determine why the stone developed and what kind of stone may form in the future. These tests include:

  • Blood screen to test for chemicals, such as calcium
  • 24-hour urine sample
  • Stone analysis
  • Provocative tests to see how your kidneys handle chemicals, such as calcium

Treatment for Kidney Stones

Most kidney stones will pass through the urinary tract with plenty of water to help move them along. In fact, about 80 percent of stones pass within two days. However, in some cases, medication or other treatment may be necessary to treat kidney stones and prevent development of future stones. However, very large stones, extreme pain, or infections may require medical intervention. If a small stone is unable to pass, treatment may be needed to help move it through the urinary tract.

Common kidney stone treatment options include:

  • Medications such as potassium citrate to prevent calcium or uric acid stone formation
  • Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to break up stones using sound waves
  • Ureteroscopy, where a scope is used to find and remove the stone (Watch how ureteroscopy works)
  • Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for stones too large to be treated with less invasive methods

ESWL uses sound waves that travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the stones and break them down into particles that can easily pass through the urinary tract. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be used if a stone is very large or in a location that is not conducive to using ESWL. In this procedure, a needle is passed through the skin into the kidney to break up or remove the kidney stone. Ureteroscopy uses a tube called a ureteroscope that is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter, where the stone is then broken up and removed.

Surgery is a rare option for removing kidney stones and is generally used only when all other options have failed. During surgery, the abdomen and kidney are cut open, the stone is removed and the incisions are closed. Surgery usually requires a six- to nine-day hospital stay.

Preventing Kidney Stones

About half of all people who develop kidney stones will have more stones in the future, so prevention is critical. Your doctor will discuss prevention options with you after the chemical makeup of your stone is determined.

Staying well-hydrated is essential, as too little liquid in the body allows minerals to crystallize and form stones. Aiming for at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily can help dilute substances in urine that lead to stones. Dietary changes also play a critical role. Limiting sodium, reducing animal protein, and avoiding eating foods high in oxalates like spinach, beets, and nuts can lower your risk. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables supports urinary health and helps maintain a normal weight, another important factor.

Patients with underlying conditions such as kidney disease should manage those conditions closely with their healthcare provider. For additional tips tailored to your needs, you can download our prevention guide here.

Your Arkansas Urology provider can guide you on how to prevent calcium stones, manage your risk for future stones, and make dietary adjustments to support healthy kidneys.

Kidney Stones Diagnosis and Treatment Provider

Looking for a trusted kidney stone doctor Arkansas patients can rely on? At Arkansas Urology, our experienced providers are committed to helping patients find relief from kidney stones with effective, personalized care. If you're suffering from symptoms or have had recurring stones, our team is here to guide you every step of the way—from diagnosis through treatment and prevention.

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