Many kidney stones don't move and are too small to cause any symptoms. However, if a kidney stone causes a blockage, or moves into your ureter, you may:
- have severe pain or ache on one or both sides of your back
- get sudden spasms of excruciating pain - this usually starts in the back below your ribs, before radiating around your abdomen, and sometimes to your groin and genitals
- have bloody or cloudy urine
- feel sick or vomit
- feel a frequent urge to urinate, or a burning sensation during urination
- get fever and chills
You can also have these symptoms if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or cystitis. If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should ask your GP for advice.
The pain of kidney stones - referred to as 'renal colic' - can be very severe. It begins as soon as the stone becomes stuck in the ureter and tends to come in waves. It's not usually associated with the size of the kidney stone - sometimes small stones can cause more pain than very large ones.
Small kidney stones are usually passed out of the body within a day or so and mostly within four weeks of the onset of symptoms. The bigger the stone the less likely it is to pass out of the body spontaneously. Stones greater than 5mm (a quarter of an inch) in diameter are the least likely to pass without medical help.
If you're pregnant and have any symptoms of kidney stones, see your GP straight away.
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