- Under 5 mm: Usually passes on its own, with water and tablets.
- Larger stones: Sound waves, laser, or keyhole surgery. Open surgery is rare.
- Bring the CT images, not just the report.
Fever with pain in the back or side can mean the kidney is blocked and infected. It must be drained within hours. Antibiotics alone will not fix it. Go the same day if you cannot pass urine at all, if tablets do not control the pain, or if vomiting stops you keeping water down.
Symptoms
A stone sitting quietly in the kidney can cause nothing for years. Trouble usually starts when it moves and blocks the flow.
- Sudden severe pain in the back or side, spreading to the groin. It comes in waves. Changing position does not help.
- Blood in urine: Visible pink or red, or found only on a test.
- Vomiting along with the pain.
- Burning and frequent urge when the stone nears the bladder. This is often mistaken for an infection.
- A dull ache in the side: Sometimes the only sign of a large stone.
Tests You May Need
- Urine test: Checks for infection and blood.
- Ultrasound KUB: First scan. No radiation. Shows most kidney stones and whether the kidney is swollen.
- CT KUB: The scan that decides treatment. It shows every stone, its exact size, position and hardness. Expect this before any procedure.
- Blood creatinine: Kidney function, needed before any procedure.
- Stone analysis: If you pass or we remove a stone, testing it is the best way to stop the next one.
Treatment Options
Size gives a rough idea. The final choice also depends on position, hardness and your kidney function.
- Under 5 mm: Usually passes on its own.
- 5–15 mm: ESWL, or laser through the urine passage.
- 15–20 mm in the kidney: RIRS (flexible laser) is usually best.
- Over 20 mm: PCNL clears large stones in one go.
- Bladder stones: Broken and removed by telescope.
- Waiting with medication: For stones under 5 mm with bearable pain and no infection. A tablet relaxes the lower tube so the stone passes more easily. Drink well and come back for review. If nothing has passed in four to six weeks, it needs treating.
- ESWL: Shock waves from outside break the stone into small pieces that pass in urine. No cut, usually no anaesthesia. Suits stones up to about 15 mm that are not too hard. May need more than one sitting.
- Laser through the urine passage (URS / RIRS): A fine telescope goes up the natural passage and a laser breaks the stone. No cut on the body. Day care or one night. A temporary stent stays for one to two weeks and comes out in OPD.
- PCNL: For stones over about 20 mm. A 1 cm track through the skin of the back reaches the kidney and the stone is removed through it. Two to three nights in hospital. What PCNL involves →
- Emergency drainage: When a blocked kidney is infected, a tube or stent relieves it within hours. The stone itself is treated a few weeks later.
The CT images matter more than the report. Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is likely needed.
What to Bring
- CT scan images — the CD or films, not only the printed report.
- Older ultrasound or X-ray films, if you have them.
- Recent urine and creatinine reports.
- Any stone you have passed, in a small box.
- A list of your medicines. Blood thinners need planning before a procedure.
Stopping the Next Stone
Stones come back. Four in ten patients form another within five years if nothing changes.
- Water is the single best step. Drink enough that your urine stays pale all day — more in summer and outdoor work.
- Cut down salt. Salt pushes calcium into the urine.
- Do not stop milk and curd. Normal calcium with meals actually lowers stone risk. Cutting it out makes things worse.
- Lemon and citrus help by slowing crystal formation.
Download the kidney stone diet sheet → · More on causes and stone types →
This page provides general information only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified urologist for assessment appropriate to your situation.