Kidney Stones – Causes, Symptoms, and Myths People Still Believe

Simply put – stones form when the body’s internal balance is disturbed and salts that should be excreted with urine begin to crystallize. Imagine a kettle that’s been boiling water for a long time – scale builds up on the walls. The same thing happens in the kidneys, except the “scale” consists of calcium, uric acid, and phosphate salts.

Main causes include:

• lack of fluid – the body conserves water, and urine becomes overly concentrated;
• excessive consumption of meat, salty, or spicy foods;
• chronic urinary tract infections;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• metabolic disorders and hereditary factors.

Stones differ in composition: oxalate – the densest, form due to excess oxalic acid (found, for example, in spinach, rhubarb, chocolate); urate – linked to high uric acid levels, more common among meat and coffee lovers; phosphate – typically develop during infections.

Sometimes patients are surprised: “Is it true that stones form because of water or dairy products?” In fact, it’s not a single product that matters, but a combination of factors: inactivity, dehydration, irregular eating habits, and chronic stress. Even beneficial mineral water, if consumed daily, can oversaturate the body with salts – it all depends on its composition and amount.

You can read more about the formation mechanisms in the article Urolithiasis – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.

While the stone stays still, there are no symptoms. But as soon as it starts moving, the body reacts instantly. The first and most common sign is pain. It’s usually felt in the lower back and may “move” down toward the groin or lower abdomen. Some patients describe it as “a cramp that won’t let go for a second.” This condition is known as renal colic – at this moment, the stone blocks the urine flow, and the kidney feels as if it’s “boiling” from the inside.

Other possible signs include:

• blood in the urine – caused by the stone scraping the ureter walls;
• frequent urges to urinate or a feeling of incomplete emptying;
• bloating, nausea, weakness;
• fever if an infection has developed.

How to Distinguish Kidney Stone Pain from Back Pain

Patients often confuse kidney pain with sciatica or osteochondrosis. The main difference is in the nature of the pain. With spine problems, discomfort changes with movement or posture. With kidney stones, the pain does not depend on body position – it’s constant, wave-like, and often accompanied by nausea and urinary difficulties.

Read more about this condition in the article Renal Colic: Causes, Symptoms, and First Aid.

Many people try to endure the pain or hope that the stone will “come out on its own.” Sometimes it really does, but not always safely. If a calculus (as doctors call it) gets stuck in the ureter, urine stops flowing freely and pressure inside the kidney rises sharply. This can lead to hydronephrosis – stretching of the renal pelvis and gradual tissue atrophy.

In addition, due to stagnation, an infection can easily develop – resulting in pyelonephritis. If the process becomes chronic, the kidney gradually loses its function. That’s why tolerating pain and postponing a visit to the doctor is dangerous.

Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to accurately determine whether stones are present, where they are located, and what size they are. Usually, we start with a kidney and bladder ultrasound – it’s quick and painless. If more detail is needed, we order a CT scan. Urine and blood tests are also important – they reveal the composition of salts and signs of inflammation.

Sometimes patients ask: “Doctor, why so many tests if it’s already obvious that it hurts?” My answer is simple: stones differ. Their composition and size determine not only the treatment but also the likelihood of recurrence.

Can Kidney Stones Be Dissolved?

This is one of the most common questions. Yes, they can be dissolved, but not all stones. For example, urate stones can often be dissolved with medication. But oxalate and phosphate stones, unfortunately, cannot – they’re too dense. That’s why “folk remedies” with lemon juice, watermelons, or herbs rarely work. Sometimes they even cause harm by forcing the stone to move and triggering renal colic.

At the New Life Clinic, precise diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis are performed using advanced medical equipment.

Learn more about stone fragmentation methods →

The main thing – don’t panic. The mere presence of a stone is not a sentence. Treatment tactics depend on the stone’s size and location.
Small stones (up to 5 mm) often pass on their own with proper hydration and medical supervision.
Medium and large stones require intervention: medication-based dissolution, endoscopic removal, or fragmentation.

Modern medicine has moved away from old traumatic surgeries. Today, lithotripsy methods are used – the stone is broken by laser or ultrasound into tiny fragments that are then naturally excreted.

The procedure is performed without incisions, without pain, and usually without hospitalization.

Learn more about the lithotripsy procedure →

Prevention is where we should start, even when everything seems fine. It’s always easier to prevent stone formation than to deal with it later.

Hydration and Nutrition

The main rule – water. For normal kidney filtration, you need at least 1.5–2 liters of clean water per day. In hot weather or with physical activity – more. But it’s important to remember: coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks are not substitutes for water. In fact, they can promote dehydration.

In your diet, it’s best to avoid excess salt, fatty meats, fast food, and smoked products. Vegetables, fruits, grains, fish, and magnesium-rich foods (buckwheat, nuts, beans) are beneficial. If you’ve had stones before, your diet should be adjusted individually – depending on their composition.

Main recommendations:

• drink enough water (1.5–2 liters per day, if there are no contraindications);
• limit salt and smoked foods;
• eat more vegetables and fruits;
• maintain physical activity and a healthy weight;
• have a kidney ultrasound and a general urine test once a year.

1. “You can flush out stones with watermelon” – watermelon is indeed a diuretic, but a strong flow of urine can move a large stone and trigger colic.
2. “If the pain is gone – the stone has passed” – not always. It may simply get stuck in the ureter, while the kidney continues to suffer silently.
3. “Once removed – they won’t appear again” – unfortunately, the tendency to form stones remains, so prevention is crucial.
4. “Pain from stones is always severe” – not necessarily; sometimes the stone “sits” quietly, and a person finds out about it only during an ultrasound.
5. “Stones can be dissolved with home remedies” – sadly, this is a dangerous misconception. Herbs, lemons, or baking soda do not break stones, and sometimes make them move. True dissolution is possible only for certain stone types and under medical supervision.

Don’t wait for the pain to “go away on its own.” You should see a urologist if:

• you feel pain in your lower back or side;
• your urine becomes dark or contains blood;
• your temperature rises without a clear reason;
• you’ve had episodes of renal colic in the past.

Even if symptoms seem minor, it’s better to have a check-up. The earlier the problem is detected, the easier and safer it is to treat.

At New Life Clinic, we help patients deal with kidney stones without pain, fear, or hospitalization – with full respect for their health and comfort.

Book an appointment with a urologist →