Urinary stones can develop in the kidneys, ureters or bladder and may cause severe pain, blood in the urine, difficulty passing urine, recurrent urinary infections or blockage of urine flow. Treatment depends on the size, location and type of stone, as well as symptoms, infection and kidney function.
Small stones may sometimes pass naturally, while larger stones or stones causing obstruction, persistent pain or infection may require procedures such as ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, shock-wave treatment or percutaneous stone removal.
What Are Urinary Stones?
Urinary stones are hard deposits formed from minerals and salts present in urine. Stones may develop inside the kidney and remain there, or move into the ureter—the tube carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder. Stones can also form inside the bladder, particularly when the bladder does not empty completely.
Types of Urinary Stones
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones form inside one or both kidneys. Very small stones may cause no symptoms and may pass naturally, while larger stones can cause severe pain or obstruction.
Ureteric Stones
A ureteric stone is a kidney stone that has moved into the ureter. It can obstruct urine flow and cause severe, wave-like pain from the back or side toward the lower abdomen or groin.
Bladder Stones
Bladder stones form inside the bladder, often when urine is not emptied completely. In adults, bladder outlet obstruction is an important underlying cause, though other urinary tract problems may also contribute.
Symptoms of Kidney & Ureteric Stones
Common symptoms may include:
- Severe pain in the back or side
- Pain radiating toward the lower abdomen or groin
- Pain that comes and goes in waves
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Difficulty passing urine
Fever and chills with urinary obstruction may indicate an associated infection and require urgent medical assessment.
Symptoms of Bladder Stones
Bladder stones may cause:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Burning or pain while urinating
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting or maintaining urine flow
- Blood in the urine
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Inability to completely empty the bladder
Small bladder stones may occasionally pass naturally, while larger stones commonly require removal.
How Are Urinary Stones Diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with medical history, symptoms and physical examination.
Depending on the suspected stone, investigations may include:
Urine Tests
Urinalysis can detect blood, signs of infection and substances associated with stone formation.
Blood Tests
Blood tests may assess kidney function and levels of minerals that can contribute to stones.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound may be used to identify stones and urinary obstruction and is recommended as first-line imaging for suspected bladder stones.
CT Scan
Non-contrast CT can accurately identify the location, size and density of urinary stones and can help guide treatment planning.
Cystoscopy
For suspected bladder stones, cystoscopy may be used to examine the bladder directly when required.
Treatment of Kidney & Ureteric Stones
Treatment depends primarily on the stone size, location, symptoms and degree of obstruction.
Conservative Treatment
Small stones may pass without a procedure. Treatment may include:
- Appropriate fluid intake
- Pain-relief medicines
- Anti-nausea medicines where required
- Selected medicines that may help ureteric stones pass
- Follow-up imaging
Not every stone is suitable for conservative treatment, particularly when there is severe obstruction, persistent pain, infection or impaired kidney function.
Ureteroscopy & Laser Lithotripsy
Ureteroscopy is performed by passing a thin endoscopic instrument through the urinary passage into the ureter or kidney.
The stone can then be removed directly or fragmented into smaller pieces, often using laser energy. Ureteroscopy is an established treatment for selected ureteric and kidney stones.
Shock Wave Lithotripsy
Shock wave lithotripsy uses externally generated shock waves to break suitable stones into smaller fragments that can subsequently pass through the urinary tract.
Suitability depends on factors such as stone size, location, composition and patient anatomy.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
PCNL is generally used for larger or more complex kidney stones.
A small tract is created through the back into the kidney, allowing the surgeon to access and remove the stone using a nephroscope.
Treatment of Bladder Stones
Small migratory bladder stones may occasionally pass naturally, but primary or secondary bladder stones are often symptomatic and commonly require active treatment.
Treatment may include:
- Endoscopic bladder stone fragmentation and removal
- Laser or other stone-fragmentation techniques
- Treatment of the underlying reason for poor bladder emptying
It is important to evaluate why the bladder stone formed, because conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction or recurrent infection may contribute to recurrence.
When Is Urinary Stone Treatment Urgent?
Seek prompt medical attention if you have:
- Severe pain that does not improve
- Fever or chills with flank pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Difficulty or inability to pass urine
- Blood in the urine with severe symptoms
- Known stone with suspected urinary infection
- Reduced urine output
A stone blocking the urinary tract together with infection can become a serious condition and may require urgent drainage and treatment.
Can Urinary Stones Come Back?
Yes. Kidney and urinary stones can recur.
After treatment, selected patients may benefit from stone analysis, blood testing or a 24-hour urine evaluation to identify factors contributing to stone formation. Prevention may include changes in fluid intake, diet and medications depending on the stone type and individual metabolic findings.
Preventing Kidney Stones
General prevention may include:
- Maintaining adequate fluid intake
- Avoiding excessive salt
- Following stone-specific dietary advice
- Maintaining an appropriate calcium intake rather than unnecessarily eliminating calcium
- Managing weight and metabolic conditions
- Taking preventive medicines when prescribed
Prevention should ideally be based on the type of stone and individual risk factors rather than using the same diet for everyone.
Why Consult Dr. Sushant Wadhera for Kidney, Ureteric & Bladder Stone Treatment in Delhi?
Dr. Sushant Wadhera provides clinical evaluation and treatment planning for patients with urinary stone-related symptoms, including kidney, ureteric and bladder stones.
Treatment recommendations are based on the stone’s size, location, symptoms, degree of urinary obstruction, investigation findings and the patient’s overall health.
Dr. Sushant Wadhera
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), FNB (Minimal Access Surgery)
Bariatric, Laparoscopic & General Surgeon
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are kidney, ureteric and bladder stones?
Urinary stones are hard deposits formed from minerals and salts in urine. They may develop in the kidneys, move into the ureter, or form inside the bladder.
2. What are the common symptoms of kidney stones?
Common symptoms include severe pain in the back or side, pain radiating to the lower abdomen or groin, nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine and burning during urination.
3. Can small kidney stones pass naturally?
Yes. Some small stones may pass on their own with appropriate hydration, pain management and medical supervision. Whether a stone can pass depends mainly on its size, location and the degree of urinary obstruction.
4. When does a kidney stone require surgery?
A procedure may be required when the stone is large, causes persistent pain, blocks urine flow, leads to infection, affects kidney function or does not pass with conservative treatment.
5. How are urinary stones diagnosed?
Diagnosis may involve urine tests, blood tests, ultrasound and CT scan. The exact investigations depend on the patient’s symptoms, stone location and suspected complications.
6. What is ureteroscopy for kidney or ureteric stones?
Ureteroscopy is an endoscopic procedure in which a thin instrument is passed through the urinary passage into the ureter or kidney. Stones can then be removed or broken into smaller fragments, often using laser energy.
7. What is laser lithotripsy?
Laser lithotripsy is a technique used during endoscopic stone treatment to break urinary stones into smaller pieces so they can be removed or pass more easily.
8. What is PCNL?
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or PCNL, is a procedure commonly used for larger or more complex kidney stones. The surgeon accesses the kidney through a small tract created through the back and removes the stone.
9. What is shock wave lithotripsy?
Shock wave lithotripsy uses externally generated shock waves to break suitable urinary stones into smaller fragments. It is not appropriate for every stone and depends on stone size, location and composition.
10. What causes bladder stones?
Bladder stones often develop when the bladder does not empty completely. Possible causes include bladder outlet obstruction, prostate enlargement, bladder dysfunction, urinary infection or foreign material in the bladder.
11. How are bladder stones treated?
Treatment depends on the size and cause of the stone. Many symptomatic bladder stones are removed endoscopically by breaking them into smaller fragments and extracting them from the bladder.
12. Can urinary stones come back after treatment?
Yes. Kidney and urinary stones can recur. Prevention may require adequate fluid intake, dietary changes, stone analysis, blood tests and, in selected patients, a 24-hour urine evaluation.
13. Can kidney stones cause infection?
Yes. A stone can obstruct urine flow and increase the risk of urinary infection. Fever or chills with a known or suspected urinary stone requires prompt medical assessment.
14. When is a urinary stone an emergency?
Seek urgent medical attention if there is severe uncontrolled pain, fever or chills, persistent vomiting, inability to pass urine, reduced urine output or signs of infection with urinary obstruction.
15. How can kidney stones be prevented?
Prevention may include adequate fluid intake, reducing excessive salt, following stone-specific dietary advice and using prescribed medicines when required. The best prevention strategy depends on the type of stone