4 Tips for Helping Your Kidney Stones Pass 

Nearly one in every 10 people in the U.S. develops kidney stones. Despite the stories of unbearable pain with some kidney stones, many people never even know they have them. 

Does that mean stones can just away, hocus pocus?

Not exactly. Some kidney stones are “silent” and can linger in your kidneys without symptoms for years. And nearly 80% of stones pass on their own, in your urine – possibly with no pain at all or just a little discomfort. 

So stones don’t just disappear. However, if a stone is small enough, you can take steps to make that passing easier. 

What Makes a Kidney Stone?

Kidney stones are hardened deposits made from a high saturation of minerals and salts in your urine. The key cause is dehydration – when you lack fluid, your urine becomes concentrated and these minerals, undiluted, bind while in the kidneys.

Once a stone migrates from the kidney to the ureter (where urine travels) it can become severely painful, based on its size. The ureter is just an eighth of an inch or so wide, so a stone can be pretty small and still hurt.

If this occur, you will experience the following symptoms: 

• Sharp pain from the back, sides, groin, and/or testicles (for men)
• Nausea and vomiting (from the pain)
• Blood in the urine

But, if a stone doesn’t move, you won’t know you have it. Some patients might only learn they have kidney stones while being examined for another condition, through an x-ray.

Tricks for Passing Stones

If you do think you have a kidney stone, see your doctor so you can be evaluated for blockages or infection. Stones of about an eighth of an inch or less should be able to pass in your urine without too much discomfort, but we advise you to follow these guidelines.

• Drink a lot of water to flush them out. Aim for eight to 12 cups a day, while limiting coffee and soft drinks to two cups. Lemon and orange juice also can help because they include high amounts of citric acid, which binds with calcium (a common stone component) and may prevent stones from growing. 
• Take pain meds as needed. Common pain relievers such as Advil, Tylenol, and Aleve can ease the discomfort while the stone is passing through your lower body. If you need more help managing pain, your doctor can prescribe something to relax the ureter muscle, such as an alpha blocker.
• Remain moderately active. Low-intensity exercise such as walking, yoga/stretching, and slow biking might help a stone move through your urinary system faster. Avoid high-impact exercise that can over-exert you and can cause more pain.
• Go on a stone diet. Three food areas to watch: salt, fats, and calcium. Avoid processed foods, canned items, and Asian dishes; limit the proteins you eat and choose lean meats; and eat only two or three daily servings of high-calcium foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and tofu.

Lastly, be patient. It can take one week to several weeks for a stone to pass, depending on its size and location. 

When Stones Won’t Go

Stones that cannot pass on their own or that cause complications will need to be taken out by a doctor. Typically, they can be removed in one of the following minimally invasive procedures.

Ureteroscopy – An outpatient treatment during which a slim scope equipped with a tiny camera is fed through the urethra and to the ureter. Once the stone is located, the doctor can break it down with a laser (if necessary) and extract it.

Shock wave lithotripsy – This method directs high-energy shock waves from outside your body to the stones, breaking them into small enough fragments to pass in urine. Our equipment accurately identifies the location and types of stones using ultrasound. 

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – A surgical option for larger or irregular stones, this procedure involves passing a narrow tube into the kidneys through a small incision in the back. The stones are then removed using a telescopic instrument fed through the tube. 

Kidney stones don’t just disappear like magic. But you can limit the likelihood of them forming by staying hydrated, maintaining a good body weight, and sticking to a healthy, low-salt diet. 

You can learn more by watching our webinar about kidney stones treatment and prevention. Or visit our kidney stones web page. Access The Urology Group Kidney Stone Priority Care hotline here.