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Small stones under 5mm have approximately an 80-90% chance of passing on their own with adequate hydration (2.5-3 liters daily) and medical expulsion therapy using alpha-blockers to relax the ureter. Stones between 5-10mm have a lower spontaneous passage rate and may require intervention if they do not pass within 4-6 weeks or cause ongoing symptoms. Stones larger than 10mm rarely pass naturally and typically require procedures such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Your nephrologist will recommend the best approach based on stone size, location, and your symptoms.

Renal colic (the pain from a moving kidney stone) is often described as one of the most intense pains a person can experience, sometimes compared to childbirth. The pain occurs when a stone moves from the kidney into the ureter, causing spasm and obstruction. Pain typically comes in waves, radiating from the back or flank to the groin, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. We provide effective pain management including NSAIDs (which reduce ureteral spasm), opioid analgesics for severe pain, anti-nausea medication, and alpha-blockers to facilitate stone passage. Emergency department referral is arranged if pain is uncontrollable or complications develop.

Prevention is customized based on your stone type and metabolic evaluation. Universal recommendations include drinking 2.5-3.5 liters of water daily (enough to produce over 2 liters of urine), reducing sodium intake to under 2g daily, maintaining adequate calcium intake from food (paradoxically, dietary calcium reduces stone risk), and limiting animal protein. For calcium oxalate stones, reducing high-oxalate foods (spinach, rhubarb, nuts, chocolate) helps. For uric acid stones, limiting purine-rich foods and alkalinizing urine with citrate supplements is effective. For recurrent stone formers, medications such as thiazide diuretics, potassium citrate, or allopurinol may be prescribed based on metabolic testing results.

Different dietary factors contribute to different stone types. For calcium oxalate stones (the most common type), high-oxalate foods such as spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, and tea increase risk. Excessive sodium causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium, promoting stone formation. High animal protein intake increases uric acid and calcium excretion while reducing protective urinary citrate. Surprisingly, adequate dietary calcium (from food, not supplements) actually reduces stone risk by binding oxalate in the gut. Sugary drinks, especially those with fructose, also increase stone risk. We provide individualized dietary counseling based on your specific stone composition and metabolic profile.

Surgical intervention is recommended for stones that are too large to pass naturally (typically over 10mm), stones causing persistent obstruction or pain despite medical management, stones associated with urinary tract infection (which can be life-threatening), and stones causing significant kidney damage. Options include ESWL (shock wave lithotripsy) which uses sound waves to break stones into passable fragments, ureteroscopy where a thin scope is inserted through the urinary tract to remove or laser-fragment the stone, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy for very large stones requiring a small incision in the back. We coordinate with experienced urologists to determine the best approach for your specific situation.

Kidney stones are classified by their mineral composition, which determines prevention strategy. Calcium oxalate stones are the most common (about 70-80%), formed when calcium combines with oxalate in concentrated urine. Calcium phosphate stones are less common and may indicate underlying metabolic conditions. Uric acid stones (5-10%) form in acidic urine and are often associated with gout or high-protein diets. they are unique in being dissolvable with urine alkalinization. Struvite stones form from urinary tract infections and can grow rapidly. Cystine stones are rare and genetic. Stone analysis, when a stone is recovered, guides targeted prevention strategies.

Diagnosis begins with clinical assessment of your symptoms and physical examination. A non-contrast CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is the gold standard for detecting kidney stones, providing precise information about stone size, number, location, and any obstruction of the urinary tract. Low-dose CT protocols minimize radiation exposure. Ultrasound is a radiation-free alternative that can detect most kidney stones and hydronephrosis (kidney swelling from obstruction), making it preferred for pregnant women and follow-up monitoring. Urine tests check for blood, infection, and pH. Blood tests assess kidney function and electrolytes. Once a stone is identified, these investigations guide treatment decisions.

Yes, kidney stones can cause permanent damage if left untreated, particularly when they cause prolonged obstruction of urine flow. A blocked ureter leads to pressure buildup in the kidney (hydronephrosis), which over time can damage kidney tissue and reduce function. Infected stones with obstruction (pyonephrosis) represent a urological emergency requiring urgent drainage. Recurrent stone formation can also gradually impair kidney function through repeated inflammation and scarring. This is why prompt treatment of symptomatic stones and effective prevention of recurrence are both critically important for long-term kidney health.