Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Usually the first sign of a kidney stone is intense pain in your mid-back or side. This happens when the stone irritates or blocks a section of your urinary tract. The pain may spread to your groin area and inner side of your thigh (depending on the location of the stone), and the sudden onset of pain may cause nausea and vomiting. The pain may come and go in waves. Patients who are passing kidney stones often find it very difficult to find a comfortable position. There may also be some blood in your urine if the stone has irritated the surrounding tissue.

Kidney, Ureter, Bladder, and Kidney Stone

Call your doctor if you are experiencing:

Extreme pain in your mid-back or side
Blood in your urine
Fever and chills (an indication of infection)
Vomiting
Frequent urination
Nausea
Burning and pain as you urinate

References

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov.

National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org.

Parmar MS. Kidney stones. Brit Med J. 2004;328:1120-1124.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Adrienne Carmack, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.