A Visual Guide to Kidney Stones

What Are Kidney Stones?

As the kidneys filter waste from the blood, they create urine. Sometimes, salts and other minerals in urine stick together to form small kidney stones. These range from the size of a sugar crystal to a ping pong ball, but they are rarely noticed unless they cause a blockage. They may cause intense pain if they break loose and push into the ureters, the narrow ducts leading to the bladder.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

When kidney stones move through the urinary tract, they may cause:

• Severe pain in the back, belly, or groin
• Frequent or painful urination
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea and vomiting

Small stones may pass without causing symptoms.

Kidney Stone or Something Else?

If you have sudden, severe pain in the back or belly, it's best to seek medical care right away. Abdominal pain is associated with many other conditions, including emergencies like appendicitis and ectopic pregnancy. Painful urination is a common symptom of a urinary tract infection or an STD.

Diagnosing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are rarely diagnosed before they begin causing pain. This pain is often severe enough to send patients to the ER, where a variety of tests can uncover the stones. These may include a CT scan, X-rays, ultrasound, and urinalysis. Blood tests can help look for high levels of minerals involved in forming kidney stones.

The CT scan here shows a stone blocking the ureter, the duct that empties into the bladder.

Home Care for Kidney Stones

If your kidney