8 Warning Signs of Kidney Stones

5. Urgency, which is when you feel like you have to go to the bathroom right away, is another warning sign that you may have a kidney stone, though it is also associated with other ailments such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). As much as you may think you have to urinate, you may not actually release a lot of liquid, Winoker says.

6. Burning can occur when you’re urinating if you’re passing a stone, too, Winoker notes.

7. Cloudy or smelly urine can also indicate that you have a stone passing through your body.

8. Recurrent UTIs are less common but can be linked with passing a kidney stone, Winoker points out.

Winoker warns that having a kidney stone and some other type of infection at the same time can be more serious.

What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stones form when excess minerals and acids in urine combine, especially when fluid levels are too low.

Other factors can contribute to their development, including:

• Dehydration
• Consumption of meat and high-protein foods, as well as foods high in sodium and sugar
• Too much vitamin C
• Family history
• Existing blockages in your urinary tract
• Previous stomach or intestine surgery
• Taking certain medications, including calcium-based antacids, diuretics or antiseizure medications
• Existing medical conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism or regular UTIs

Diagnosing kidney stones

Your doctor may use blood or urine tests, imaging, analysis of passed stones or genetic testing to diagnose you with kidney stones.

It’s not uncommon to come in for another medical procedure and discover kidney stones, Winoker says. Sometimes a stone is in the process of passing while there are more forming in the kidney, he adds.

Treating kidney stones

Sometimes it’s feasible to let the stone or stones pass naturally; in other situations, doctors need to intervene.

When determining treatment, physicians weigh several factors — stone size being a key one, Winoker explains. “The larger the stone is, the less likely it will pass without a procedure,” he adds.

The decision to manage a kidney stone or stones also includes where the stone is located, other medical issues you may have and what symptoms you’re experiencing, adds Steinberg.

About 70 percent of stones pass on their own in time or with the assistance of medication, he says.

Some patients want the stone destroyed as soon as possible because they don’t want to go through weeks of symptoms. These are the main options for treating kidney stones that are passing:

• Ureteral stent insertion. For urgent situations when the stone blocks the flow of urine, doctors can insert a small tube in the ureter to relieve the backup of urine behind the stone. The stent goes next to the stone, Winoker explains.
• Ureteroscopy. You’ll be put under anesthesia while the doctor inserts a scope through your urethra and bladder, running up to your ureter. Instruments inserted through the scope can break up the stone so smaller pieces move out of your body more easily. It’s done on an outpatient basis with no incisions, and the recovery is usually quick, Steinberg says.
• Shockwave lithotripsy. This procedure involves using sound waves applied outside your body to break up the stone on the inside of your body. You may be sedated during this procedure, says Winoker. “A lot of people favor it because nothing is physically going inside of them,” he adds.
• Laparoscopic surgery. After making a small incision, your doctor can remove the stone.

While kidney stones aren’t fatal, they can put you at risk for several complications, including kidney infection, urine blockages, acute kidney injury (reversible kidney failure), frequent UTIs and chronic kidney disease.

What’s next in kidney stone care

Winoker is excited about suction-based technologies that allow doctors to not only break stones but also extract them during endoscopic operations. It’s challenging to get everything out after a stone breaks up, Winoker explains. “It’s an emerging field with a lot of promise,” he says.

Preventing kidney stones

It’s not easy to predict who will develop a stone, but experts say diet can play a significant role. More plant-based foods are “generally protective” because they contain citrate, which inhibits stones from forming, and eating plant-based foods is “definitely something that can shift your risk level,” Winoker says.

Kidney stones can be preventable, says Dr. Anna L. Zisman, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and director of the Kidney Stone Prevention Program. In addition to eating more plants, avoiding high-sodium and sugary foods can help prevent stones from forming. Staying hydrated is also important.

What’s more, your doctor can run a 24-hour urine test to see if you are at risk for developing kidney stones, Zisman says.