You probably know the twinge of a stiff back after a long drive or a rough night's sleep. Most of us reach for a heating pad and wait it out. For some people, though, the pain is not coming from a muscle at all.
About 1 in 11 Americans will have a kidney stone at some point, according to the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The agency puts the figure at 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women over a lifetime.
Smaller stones often pass through the urinary tract without causing any symptoms at all. Larger ones can lodge in a narrow part of the ureter and trigger a sharp, moving pain that doctors describe as some of the worst the body can produce.
The eight warning signs to watch for
1. A sharp pain in your back, side or lower belly is the classic kidney stone sign. It can start as a dull ache and build into an intense, stabbing pain under the ribs.
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2. Pain that moves down toward the groin happens as the stone shifts along the ureter. The ache radiates from the flank around to the lower belly and groin.
3. Pain that comes and goes in waves is another hallmark. The Cleveland Clinic notes the ache tends to rise and fall and can range from dull to sharp and severe.
4. Pink, red or brown urine is a warning sign the NIDDK lists among the most common. Stones can scrape the lining of the urinary tract and leave visible blood.
5. Nausea and vomiting often strike at the same time as the pain. The kidneys share nerve connections with the stomach, so a kidney in distress can turn the stomach almost at once.
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6. A constant urge to urinate can set in when a stone reaches the lower urinary tract, leaving a feeling that the bladder is never quite empty.
7. Painful or burning urination is another clue. Passing urine around a stone often stings, and sometimes only small amounts come out at a time.
8. Fever and chills alongside the pain is the sign that changes everything. It can mean the urinary tract is both blocked and infected, which is a medical emergency.
When to head to the emergency room
Pain alone is a reason to call a doctor. Pain with fever and chills is a reason to go straight to the emergency room. The same applies to pain so severe you cannot sit still, or being unable to urinate at all.
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The Cleveland Clinic advises heading to the emergency department when the pain is unbearable, and seeing a provider for any symptoms that could point to a blockage or other complications.
What usually happens next
Most small stones pass on their own. The standard advice is to drink plenty of water to help flush the stone through and to use any pain medication a doctor recommends.
Stones that do not pass within four to six weeks need follow-up. Larger ones may need a procedure to break them up or remove them.
Anyone with symptoms matching this list should call a doctor rather than wait it out. For fever, inability to urinate or pain you cannot sit through, both the NIDDK and the Cleveland Clinic say to head to an emergency room.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.