Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are crystal deposits that form in the kidneys. Five percent of women and 10 percent of men have a kidney stone by age 70, and many will have more than one episode, according to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Endocrine Surgery in 2005. Kidney stones often cause no pain until they move out of the kidney and get stuck in the ureters--the narrow tubes on either side of the kidney that lead to the bladder--or in the bladder or urethra.
Pain
Pain in the back around the kidney is the classic sign of a kidney stone passing from the kidney. As the stone moves down through the bladder and the urethra (the tube that leads from the bladder), pain may be felt in the groin. The pain is sharp and often severe enough to require narcotics. Spasms may occur, and pain may come in waves. Pain may be felt on one or both sides of the back or in the abdomen. Severity of the pain depends somewhat on the size of the stone, which can vary from minuscule to golf-ball size, although 80 percent of kidney stones are less than 2 cm, or a little less than 1 inch in diameter, the University of Virginia Health System states. Removal of a stone through surgical or medical procedures, such as lithotripsy (which aims shock waves at the stone to break it up), if it's too big to pass on its own, is the only cure for the pain.
Urinary Symptoms
Urinary symptoms are common when passing a kidney stone. If the stone is blocking the urethra, urine output may be decreased to a trickle, or you may have an urge to urinate more during the night. Urination may be painful or burn. You may have urinary urgency or frequency, and blood may appear in the urine. Urine may be cloudy or have a foul smell. Infection can occur if urine can't pass the stone. This requires antibiotic treatment in addition to treatment to break up or remove the stone.
Other Symptoms
Nausea and vomiting may occur when passing a kidney stone. Fever and chills can also occur. Fever and chills may indicate an infection in the kidney or urine. A urine test can be done to check for white blood cells and bacteria in the urine.
