Previous
The pain starts suddenly and feels impossible to ignore. It may begin in your side or back and then move toward your lower abdomen or groin.
You may feel nauseous, keep needing to urinate, or notice blood in your urine. If you have ever experienced a kidney stone, you know how quickly an ordinary day can become extremely uncomfortable.
The important question is: “Can I wait for the stone to pass, or do I need specialist treatment?”
The answer depends on the stone's size, location, symptoms, whether it is blocking urine flow and whether there is an infection.
Kidney stones form when certain minerals and salts in urine become concentrated and form hard crystals.
Small stones can sometimes pass naturally. Larger or obstructing stones may require a urologist's assessment and, in some cases, a procedure.
A kidney stone specialist may evaluate:
Kidney stones
Ureter stones
Recurrent stone formation
Obstructing stones
Blood in the urine associated with stones
Urinary infections related to stones
Large or difficult-to-pass stones
Stone removal procedures
Prevention of recurrent kidney stones
For patients considering consultation with Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal, the goal is not simply to remove the stone. It is to determine the safest way to deal with the current stone and reduce the chance of future stones.
Kidney stone pain can be severe and may come in waves.
It often starts in the back or side and can move toward the lower abdomen or groin as the stone travels through the urinary tract.
You may also experience:
Blood in the urine
Burning while urinating
Frequent urge to urinate
Nausea or vomiting
Restlessness because you cannot find a comfortable position
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Fever or chills when an infection is present
Not every episode of back or abdominal pain is a kidney stone.
A proper evaluation can help distinguish stones from other urinary or abdominal conditions.
No.
Some small stones may pass without a procedure, while larger stones are less likely to pass on their own.
The stone's location and the condition of the urinary tract also matter.
A patient with a small stone may still require urgent treatment if the stone is blocking urine flow and there is an infection.
Another patient with a larger stone may have few symptoms and be managed differently after specialist assessment.
That is why simply asking, “How many millimetres is my stone?” is not enough.
A procedure may be considered when the stone is too large to pass, causes persistent pain, blocks urine flow, causes repeated infections, affects kidney function or is unlikely to pass naturally.
The exact treatment depends on the stone's size, location and composition.
Depending on the situation, doctors may consider:
Observation and medication for selected small stones
Shock wave lithotripsy
Ureteroscopy
Laser stone treatment
Percutaneous procedures for larger kidney stones
Your specialist can explain which approach fits your particular stone.
Imagine a patient who experiences severe side pain and blood in the urine.
A scan shows a stone lodged in the ureter. The patient initially hopes it will pass naturally, but the pain keeps returning.
Further evaluation shows that the stone is unlikely to pass easily. Instead of continuing to wait through repeated painful episodes, the patient discusses a suitable stone-removal procedure with the specialist.
The lesson is simple: waiting can be reasonable for some stones, but it should be informed waiting — not ignoring the problem.
Kidney stones are common.
A 2024 review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine noted that kidney stone disease affects roughly 1 in 10 people during their lifetime, with recurrence also being common.
This is one reason stone treatment should not end with simply getting rid of the current stone.
Prevention matters too.
You may hear: “Drink lots of water and the stone will pass.”
Hydration is important, but that advice is not enough for every patient.
Drinking water does not guarantee that a large or obstructing stone will pass.
More importantly, someone with fever, chills and urinary blockage should not simply keep drinking water and wait at home.
The right question is not only how to pass the stone. It is whether waiting is actually safe in your situation.
Severe pain deserves medical assessment, but some symptoms are especially urgent.
Seek prompt medical attention if kidney-stone symptoms occur with:
Fever or chills
Difficulty passing urine
Persistent vomiting
Severe or worsening pain
Significant weakness
Signs of infection
Known blockage of the urinary tract
An infected, obstructed urinary system can become a serious medical emergency.
Do not delay treatment in that situation.
Your doctor may review your symptoms, urine tests, blood tests and imaging.
A CT scan or ultrasound may help identify the stone's size and location and whether there is obstruction.
If you have them, take:
Ultrasound reports
CT scan reports
Urine-test results
Blood-test results
Previous stone analysis
Records of previous stone procedures
Your current medication list
This helps the specialist understand both the current episode and your history.
Removing a kidney stone solves the immediate problem, but it does not necessarily prevent another one.
Depending on your history, your doctor may discuss hydration, dietary habits, urine testing or stone analysis.
Recurrent stones can sometimes be associated with dietary factors, low fluid intake, metabolic conditions or other causes.
Understanding the type of stone can help guide prevention.
Before deciding on treatment, ask:
How large is my stone?
Where exactly is it located?
Can it pass naturally?
Is my kidney blocked?
Is there an infection?
Do I need a procedure?
What happens if I wait?
How can I prevent another stone?
These questions can help you make a decision based on your actual condition rather than general advice found online.
See a specialist when you have confirmed kidney stones with persistent pain, repeated episodes, obstruction, recurrent infections, difficulty passing urine or a stone that is unlikely to pass naturally.
Yes. Some smaller stones can pass naturally. However, larger, obstructing or complicated stones may require a procedure.
There is no single treatment for every stone. Depending on its size and location, treatment may involve observation, medication, shock wave treatment, ureteroscopy, laser treatment or another procedure.
Don't judge a kidney stone only by how much it hurts.
A small stone can sometimes cause major symptoms, while a larger stone may need treatment even when symptoms are limited. The safest approach is to understand the stone's size, location and effect on your urinary system.
If you have been diagnosed with a kidney stone or are experiencing recurring stone-related symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal to review your reports and discuss the most appropriate treatment option.
