Approximately 10% of the adult U.S. population will develop a kidney stone at some point in their lives, with men being at a higher risk compared to women. Kidney stones can range in size from a grain of sand to a small pebble. While larger kidney stones usually require medical intervention, it is possible to pass small kidney stones at home.

Please keep reading to find out how to pass kidney stones naturally. We’ll also give you some tips on preventing kidney stones in the future.

Why Is There an Urgency to Pass Kidney Stones Quickly?

Kidney stone pain is a severe, sharp pain on the sides and lower back that can also radiate to the abdomen and groin. The pain typically comes in waves of fluctuating intensity and causes extreme discomfort in addition to a painful, burning sensation with urination.

Therefore, quickly passing a kidney stone can alleviate the pain, but more importantly, promptly recognizing and addressing kidney stones is also crucial to prevent permanent kidney and urinary tract damage.

Check out our blog Kidney Pain vs. Back Pain: How to Tell the Difference?

Overview of Kidney Stones: Types and Causes

Kidney stones (medical terms: nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, renal calculi) are small deposits of salts and minerals that develop in the urinary system. They can form in any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters (the narrow tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), or the urinary bladder. When small kidney stones block a ureter, it can cause urine to back up and the ureter to spasm, which can be very painful.

Check out Bladder Stones vs. Kidney Stones: What’s the Difference?

Understanding Kidney Stones: Formation, Types, and Symptoms

What Causes Kidney Stones to Form?

Urine contains various chemicals and waste materials. People usually form kidney stones when their urine becomes concentrated. This means there is too little liquid and too many salts like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in the urine. Concentrated urine allows the salts and minerals to crystallize (clump together) and form kidney stones.

Some risk factors for kidney stones include diet, dehydration, and obesity. Certain medical conditions, medications, and supplements can contribute to the formation of kidney stones by making urine more concentrated.

Types of Kidney Stones: Calcium, Uric Acid, Struvite, and Cystine

There are different types of kidney stones depending on the salts and minerals they contain.

Calcium oxalate (most common overall)
Calcium phosphate (usually occurs with calcium oxalate stones)
Struvite stones (most common in women)
Uric acid stones (most common in men)
Cystine stones (common in people with a genetic condition called cystinuria)

Recognizing the Symptoms: When Is It More Than Just Back Pain?

According to the National Kidney Foundation, common symptoms of kidney stones include:

Severe, sharp pain in the lower back and sides
Pain radiating to the lower abdomen and groin
Fluctuating intensity of pain (comes and goes in waves)
Burning sensation with urination
Blood in urine (pink, red, or brown colored urine)
Cloudy-appearing urine
Foul-smelling urine
Frequent urination
Passing small amounts of urine
Nausea and vomiting
Signs of infection, such as fever and chills

When to Seek Medical Intervention: Signs and Symptoms Not to Ignore

Severe Pain and When It Becomes Unbearable

You should seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing severe pain that does not respond to over-the-counter pain medication. Call your doctor if you experience the following:

You are in so much pain that you cannot sit still or find a comfortable position for relief
Nausea, vomiting
Fever, chill
Problems passing urine
Bloody urine

Other Alarming Symptoms: Blood in Urine, Difficulty Urinating, and Severe Nausea

It’s also important to seek medical care if you have blood in your urine or difficulty passing urine. Additionally, call your doctor or go to the emergency room if your pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills, which can be signs of infection.

Consulting a Healthcare Provider: What to Expect

If your healthcare provider suspects a kidney stone based on your medical history and physical examination, they may order the following tests and procedures:

Blood tests to check calcium, uric acid levels, kidney function, and urinary health.
Urine tests, such as a 24-hour urine collection to check the levels of both stone-forming minerals and stone-preventing substances in your urine.
Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scan to visualize any kidney stones in your urinary tract.
Analysis of passed kidney stones caught in a strainer. This can reveal the minerals present in your kidney stones and can give your doctor clues about the potential causes. It can also help prevent kidney stones in the future.

Proven Methods to Expedite Kidney Stone Passage

Hydration: The Cornerstone of Passing Kidney Stones

One of the best natural remedies for kidney stones is hydration. This is true, especially for smaller stones. Doctors say the easiest way to have a small kidney stone pass naturally is to drink plenty of water.

Healthy people should drink 2 to 3.5 liters of water throughout the day. This keeps urine dilute and lowers the risk of developing kidney stones. People who live in hot, dry climates or exercise frequently should drink even more water. A good way to tell if you are drinking enough water is the color of your urine—it should be light and clear.

If you have a history of kidney stones, talk to your healthcare professional about how much fluid (mainly water) you should drink every day. The goal is to keep your urine dilute and help any stones pass. Your doctor may ask you to drink enough water to make about 2 liters of urine a day. You may have to measure your urine output in a can to ensure proper hydration.

Remember that the goal for daily water intake may differ among people. For example, those with heart disease or kidney problems are more than likely to have fluid restrictions. Talk to your doctor to learn how much fluid you should consume daily.

Pain Management Strategies: From Over-the-Counter to Prescription Solutions

Passing even a small kidney stone can cause a lot of discomfort. If you have mild pain, you may get relief from over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen sodium (Aleve). For more severe pain, your doctor may recommend prescription painkillers.

In addition to pain relievers, a heating pad may provide relief if you are experiencing pain caused by kidney stones.

The Role of Alpha Blockers in Kidney Stone Passage

Your healthcare professional may prescribe an alpha blocker medication to relax your ureter muscles. These drugs can help you pass a kidney stone faster and with less discomfort. The most commonly prescribed alpha-blocker is tamsulosin (Flomax). Other examples of alpha-blockers include alfuzosin and doxazosin.

Procedures Available: Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Ureteroscopy, and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Larger stones can cause bleeding and urinary tract infections. They can also damage your kidneys and increase your risk of kidney disease. Larger kidney stones are unlikely to pass on their own or with medical treatment alone. They typically require more invasive procedures such as:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

ESWL is a non-invasive procedure that uses strong vibrations from high-energy sound waves to break up large kidney stones into smaller pieces. These smaller stones can then pass more easily through urine. ESWL takes 45-60 minutes to perform. It can be a moderately painful process and is therefore done under sedation or light anesthesia to keep you comfortable.

Ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy involves using a scope (a thin tube with a camera at its tip) to remove small stones from the kidney or ureters. The ureteroscope is inserted through your urethra and urinary bladder. Special tools are used to either retrieve the stone or break it up into smaller pieces that can be passed through urine. The surgeon may leave a stent (small tube) in the ureter to support healing. Ureteroscopy can be done under local or general anesthesia.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a surgical procedure done to remove very large stones that are located in the kidney. The surgeon inserts small instruments through a small incision in your back. This procedure is done under general anesthesia and requires 1-2 days of hospital stay. It may be recommended if ESWL has been unsuccessful.

Parathyroid Gland Surgery

Some people develop calcium phosphate stones due to overactive parathyroid glands. These are four glands located in the neck. They produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH) that controls blood calcium levels.

When the parathyroid glands are overactive (this condition is called hyperparathyroidism), it results in high blood calcium levels. This can cause kidney stones to form. Hyperparathyroidism can also occur due to a benign tumor that secretes more parathyroid hormone.

If this is the case, doctors may recommend medical or surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism, including surgical removal of the parathyroid glands.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Modifications

Dietary Changes: Reducing Animal Protein and Sodium Intake

Based on the results of your urinalysis and kidney stone analysis, your doctor may make dietary recommendations. This can help to reduce the chances of kidney stones forming or returning.

Low-Oxalate Diet

If you have too much oxalate in your urine or calcium oxalate stones, it may help to restrict oxalate-rich foods. Examples of foods with high oxalate content include beets, spinach, okra, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, chocolate, black pepper, nuts, black tea, and soy products.

Low-Salt Diet

People with calcium kidney stones may benefit from eating a low-salt diet. This is because when more sodium is eliminated in urine, it results in increased urinary calcium elimination as well. Your doctor may recommend using a salt substitute.

Animal Proteins in Diet

Eating excess amounts of animal proteins can lead to high levels of uric acid in the urine. This can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. Your doctor may recommend replacing animal proteins with plant proteins to meet your nutritional needs whilst lowering your kidney stone risk.

Calcium in Diet

Most people with kidney stones can continue to eat calcium-rich foods. In fact, diets low in calcium can increase kidney stone risk in some people. However, check with your doctor before taking calcium supplements, as they can increase the risk of kidney stones. If you do take supplements, take them with meals.

The Power of Citrate: Lemon Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar

People with low citrate levels in their blood (hypocitraturia) can develop kidney stones. Citrate binds to calcium in the urine and prevents it from binding to oxalate and phosphate to form kidney stones.

Your doctor may recommend taking a potassium citrate or sodium citrate supplement.

Natural sources of citric acid (citrate) include citrus juices (orange juice, lemonade) and apple cider vinegar. Drinking citrus fruit juices or diluted apple cider vinegar may prevent kidney stones in people with low citrate levels.

Herbal Remedies and Their Effectiveness: Celery Juice and Other Natural Diuretics

Celery juice, watermelon juice, basil juice, and pomegranate juice contain about 80-90% water. If staying adequately hydrated with water alone becomes difficult, these juices can help you stay hydrated and keep your urine flow in the required range.

Certain dietary and herbal supplements have a diuretic effect (they make you urinate more) as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Examples include ginger, parsley, dandelion, juniper, and hawthorne. However, talk with your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements. There is no scientific proof that they are effective, and they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Importance of Physical Activity and Does Position Matter?

Regular exercise can lower risk factors for kidney stones, such as obesity. In addition, during a kidney stone episode, gentle exercise such as walking or light stretching may ease discomfort. It may cause a kidney stone to move within the urinary system and be passed with urine. Some people find that laying on the painful side helps. This can increase blood flow to the kidney and help a stone pass.

Common Questions

How do you pass kidney stones ASAP?

Drinking plenty of water can help to pass kidney stones as soon as possible. The extra fluid will cause you to urinate more and the stone may pass with urine.

What is the fastest way to dissolve a kidney stone?

Drinking the juice of two lemons (or half a cup of lemon juice concentrate) diluted in water every day may dissolve kidney stones by increasing citrate levels.

What is the best position to pass a kidney stone?

Lying on the side where you are experiencing pain may be the best position to pass a kidney stone. This increases blood flow to the affected kidney. It can help to push a kidney stone out of the ureter where it is stuck and causing pain.

How do you know when a kidney stone is close to passing?

You may have less pain and changes in urine color when a kidney stone is close to passing. However, confirmation can only be obtained through urine tests and/or imaging studies.

Prevention and Long-Term Management

Lifestyle Factors

Exercising too much or too little can raise your risk of kidney stones. Also, using saunas or participating in heavy exercise or hot yoga can lead to kidney stone formation. The excessive sweating during these activities causes loss of water, which leads to decreased urine production. This allows mineral deposits to form in the urinary tract.

Dietary Tips to Prevent Kidney Stones

There is no single diet plan for kidney stone prevention. Your healthcare professional will make dietary recommendations based on your kidney stone type. This may include eating a low-oxalate or low-salt diet or avoiding too much animal protein.

The general recommendations are to eat a balanced, healthy diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Limit the intake of processed foods and sugary snacks and beverages, especially those containing high fructose corn syrup. Also, limit alcohol because it increases blood uric acid levels. Experts also recommend against short-term fad diets.

Importance of Staying Hydrated

One of the best things you can do to avoid kidney stones is to stay well hydrated. When you drink plenty of water every day, it keeps your urine dilute. This prevents build up of calcium or uric acid crystals in your urinary system.

The best way to hydrate is with plain water. Be sure to increase your water intake when you’re exercising or sweating a lot. The general guidelines are to drink 8-12 cups of water per day to make a good amount of urine. Your healthcare professional can tell you how much water daily is best for you. Avoid drinking sodas and sweetened juices (they contain high fructose corn syrup, a risk factor for kidney stones).

Reevaluating Medication and Supplements That May Contribute to Kidney Stone Formation

High doses of vitamin D can increase calcium and oxalate levels in urine. Kidney stones are also associated with taking certain medications, such as topiramate (Topamax, others), which is used to treat seizures and migraines.

Keeping Up With Regular Medical Check-Ups

Keep all your medical and laboratory appointments, especially if you are at an increased risk of kidney stones. For example, if you have a family history of kidney stones or certain other medical conditions that increase your risk. Your doctor may want to order regular blood tests and urine tests to keep an eye on substances such as uric acid and calcium which can affect kidney stone formation.

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