Health Conditions A-Z Urological Conditions Kidney Disease Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones By Rachel Nall Rachel Nall Rachel works as a CRNA where she provides anesthesia care across the lifespan, including pediatric anesthesia, with a primary focus on orthopedic anesthesia. She is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where she is the Simulation Coordinator for the nurse anesthesia program. Rachel loves teaching, whether it's in-person or through her writing. health's editorial guidelines Published on May 4, 2023 Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. learn more In This Article View All In This Article Pain Renal Colic Infection Symptoms Urinary Changes Symptoms in Children When to See a Healthcare Provider FAQs Staras / Getty Images A kidney stone—also known as renal calculi—is a hard deposit typically made from calcium, salts, and other minerals that build up in your urinary tract and form in the kidney. As a stone develops, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like pain in your back and stomach, nausea, blood in the urine, and fever. Some kidney stones can remain in your kidney, never cause symptoms, and pass without any medical treatment. However, some can grow large in size which may require surgery or other treatment options. Until you receive the proper treatment for your kidney stones, you may still experience symptoms until the stones leave your body. That's why knowing the symptoms of a kidney stone is important—so you know when to reach out for the care your body needs. Pain Kidney stones often vary in size. Generally, the larger a kidney stone is, the more discomfort it can cause. One of the hallmark signs of a kidney stone is pain, which typically occurs when a stone begins to pass through your kidney, bladder, or urethra. Pain related to a kidney stone can range from mild to debilitating. The more severe the pain, the more likely the kidney stone is larger in size. Where you experience the pain can also vary: some people have pain in their lower back or sides, while others notice discomfort in their stomach, groin, or pelvic region. Best Medications to Treat Back Pain Renal Colic When the kidney stone passes through your urinary tract, it can block your ability to urinate (pee) and cause severe and sudden pain. This pain is known as renal colic. Aside from extreme pain, you may also experience the following symptoms associated with renal colic, including: Cramping Abdominal pain Flank pain (pain below the ribs and on the back) Sweating Restlessness Nausea or vomiting Infection Symptoms Kidney stones can affect your body's ability to urinate, which can increase your risk of developing an infection. This can happen because urine isn't able to pass through your system and may back up into your body, causing bacteria to multiply and cause infection symptoms. If you develop an infection due to your kidney stones, you may experience the following symptoms alongside the pain associated with the stones: Chills Fever Extreme fatigue It's important to note that your risk of developing an infection is usually low if you have uncomplicated kidney stones—which are small kidney stones that your body is able to pass on its own. Urinary Changes Because kidney stones affect your urinary tract, it's common to experience urinary changes. These changes may include: Blood in your urine that appears slightly pink in color Foul-smelling urine Cloudy urine A sudden urge to pee What Your Urine Color Says About Your Health Symptoms in Children Research suggests that more children are experiencing kidney stones today than in past decades. Children with a family history of kidney stones are also at a greater risk for developing stones. If your child develops a kidney stone, they may experience: Blood in the urine Abdominal pain Sudden urge to pee Difficulty peeing Waking up at night to go to the bathroom Peeing frequently When to See a Healthcare Provider About 11% of men and 9% of women will experience kidney stones in their lifetime. Symptoms of a kidney stone can vary from mild to severe. In some cases, your kidney stones can pass on their own, while others require medical treatments. If you suspect you have kidney stones or may be at risk for developing them, it's important to reach out to your healthcare provider for immediate medical attention. You should seek care if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: Inability to pass urine or passing only a small amount of urine Severe, sharp, or stabbing pain A significant amount of blood in your urine Uncontrolled nausea and vomiting Unexplained fever or chills These symptoms may mean that you have a larger, obstructing stone or an infection that requires medical intervention. So don't wait to get tested—see your healthcare provider as soon as you can to prevent complications from occurring. A Quick Review Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in your urinary tract and kidney. While some stones cause severe pain, others may not cause any pain at all. Generally, the larger the stones you have, the more noticeable the symptoms. You might experience symptoms such as stomach and back pain, nausea or vomiting, fever, or urinary changes such as blood in the urine. Sometimes symptoms of a kidney stone can mimic the symptoms of other conditions such as a urinary tract infection, ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus), or testicular torsion (where the testicle rotates and affects blood flow to the scrotum). Seeing a healthcare provider can help you confirm if your symptoms are caused by a kidney stone and help you get the treatment you need to reduce symptoms. Frequently Asked Questions What flares up kidney stone pain? Kidney stone pain usually worsens as a stone lodges somewhere in the urinary tract, preventing urine from moving forward as effectively. How long does kidney stone pain typically last? Kidney stone pain can last as long as the stone is traveling down the urinary tract. Smaller stones (less than 2 millimeters) may pass in eight days or less while larger stones (between 4 and 6 millimeters) may take 22 days or more to pass. How fast do kidney stones grow? The time for kidney stones to grow can vary based on the kidney stone type or size. Most kidney stones can take weeks or months to form. Can kidney stones go away on their own? Many smaller kidney stones pass through the body and go away on their own. However, some large kidney stones must be broken up or removed through surgery or other medical treatment because they cannot pass through the body by themselves. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 7 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Preminger G, Curhan G. Patient education: kidney stones in adults (beyond the basics). In: O'Leary M, Lam A, eds. UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023. Thongprayoon C, Krambeck A, Rule A. Determining the true burden of kidney stone disease. Nat Rev Nephrol. 16:736-746. doi: 10.1038/s41581-020-0320-7 National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Stones. Fontenelle L, Sarti T. Kidney stones: treatment and prevention. Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(8): 490-496. Urology Care Foundation. What are kidney stones? National Institute of Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of kidney stones. Penido M, Tavares M. Beyond kidney stones: why pediatricians should worry about hypercalciuria. World J Clin Pediatr. 2021;10(6):137-150. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v10.i6.137