The #1 Sign of Kidney Stones Most People Miss, According to Nephrologists and Urologists
Woman grabbing lower back, experiencing kidney stone pain
Urologists and nephrologists agree: If you have a kidney stone, chances are you won't miss the signs, because they hurt. Many women who've both given birth and passed kidney stones say that the latter was actually more painful for them, so know that kidney stones are no joke.
That said, kidney stone symptoms can often mimic those of other issues, so it's really important to know what the signs are so you can get treatment promptly and ease your suffering as soon as you can.
Related: 11 Things You Didn't Know About Your Kidneys
The #1 Sign of Kidney Stones Most People Miss
Aside from excruciating pain, one of the biggest kidney stone signs is a combination of nausea and vomiting. As a result, some people think they have a severe stomach bug, food poisoning or a digestive issue as opposed to kidney stones.
"When a stone forms, it may be as small as a grain of salt or in rare cases, become as large as a golf ball. The size of the stone surprisingly does not have as much to do with the symptoms as does the movement of the stone," Dr. S. Adam Ramin, MD, board-certified urologist, urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, tells Parade. "If it stays put in the kidney, sometimes a patient will not even realize it is there, and these stones often go undiagnosed. The pain arises when the stone moves from the kidney into the ureter, the small tube that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder. If the stone blocks the passing of urine in one (or both) of these tubes, the urine will begin to back up into the bladder, causing swelling and pain, which can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting."
That's generally accompanied by sharp cramps, typically in the abdomen and especially in the lower back, which Dr. Ramin says "usually comes in waves as the body tries to rid itself of the stone."
Related: The Common Habit That Could Damage Your Kidneys, According to a Nephrologist
Other Kidney Stone Symptoms
Changes in urination are also kidney stone hallmarks, according to Dr. Ivan Porter, MD, Vice Chair, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine; Assistant Dean, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education and Mayo Clinic; Associate Dean, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM), Florida Campus and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
"Feeling like you can't go, feeling like you have to go even though you just went, or feeling like you can only go a little even though you know you have to go a lot are other common descriptions," Dr. Porter explains. "Seeing blood in the urine is another thing often reported."
Some kidney stone patients may experience fever and chills as well.
Related: The Best Habit for Healthy Kidneys, According to Nephrologists
How To Treat Kidney Stones
You're going to need a physician's help here, whether it's with actually removing the kidney stones or helping to relieve your pain while they pass. Treatments depend on the patient, the type of kidney stone and several other factors. These include:
Surgical intervention
Some patients may need surgery to remove kidney stones or to help them pass.
One method is lithotripsy, which breaks up kidney stones, can be done two ways: shock wave lithotripsy uses sound waves to crack and break the stone up, while laser lithotripsy does the same with light waves through a scope.
Other surgical methods are ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Your care team can determine which avenues will work best for you.
Chemical dissolution
"In rare circumstances, kidney stones may be chemically dissolved," Dr. Ramin says. "Pure uric acid stones, for example, may be dissolved by decreasing the acidity or alkalinizing the urine."
Medical expulsive therapy
Dr. Porter says that certain medications when combined with increased fluid intake, can help stones pass. You'll likely be asked to have a strainer when you urinate to collect and stones and fragments you may pass.
Related: Does Mineral Water Cause Kidney Stones?
How To Prevent Kidney Stones
Drink more water
Nephrologists and urologists agree that the biggest way you can prevent kidney stones is to stay hydrated.
"One of the most straightforward ways to lower kidney stone risk is to drink plenty of fluids—water in particular. Extra fluids dilute urine, making stones less likely," Dr. Porter advises.
This is especially true in the summer months and in warmer climates.
Dr. Porter and Dr. Ramin recommend eight to ten glasses of water daily (or about three liters), which should let you pass about 2½ liters of urine per day.
"One way to gauge whether you have adequate fluid intake is to check the appearance of your urine," Dr. Porter notes. "If it is light or clear, you’re likely drinking enough fluids."
Drink fewer sugary beverages
Dr. Porter says sugary drinks, like colas, can increase your likelihood of getting kidney stones. If you're really craving a Pepsi, chase it with some Poland Spring.
Eat less salt in your diet
"As the body excretes sodium, it also excretes calcium, so limiting your intake will in turn reduce the amount of calcium in the urine," Dr. Ramin advises.
Try a low-oxalate diet
Dr. Ramin says eating foods low in oxalates can help curb your kidney stone risk. These can include:
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Butter
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cheese
Cherries
Cinnamon
Coffee
Cumin
Dill
Fish
Milk
Mushrooms
Oat bran
Onions
Peas
White rice
Yogurt
Zucchini
Foods high in oxalates that you may want to avoid if you are prone to kidney stones can include:
Almonds
Beets
Baked potatoes with skin
Bran
Cashews
Figs
French fries
Grits
Kiwis
Leeks
Miso soup
Okra
Purple grapes
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
Tea
Limit your vitamin C intake
You can have too much of a good thing, and that includes vitamin C. If you eat or consume more than 500 mg. daily, you may up your chances of getting kidney stones because vitamin C may release oxalates.
Eat less meat
Dr. Ramin says limiting your meat and animal protein intake can prevent kidney stones.
Get more calcium in your diet
Instead of popping a calcium supplement, eat your calcium through food, Dr. Porter advises.
"Normal calcium intake in the diet, rather than from supplements, is associated with a reduction in stone formation compared to those with a calcium-restricted diet," he explains. "In contrast to dietary calcium, the use of calcium supplements and supplements of vitamin D are associated with increased stone formation."
Next, The Worst Food for Kidneys, According to Nephrologists
