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Initial treatment and pain relief
Treatment for kidney stones depends on their size, location, and how much pain they are causing. Small stones often pass on their own with plenty of fluids and time. Your GP or hospital team may advise you to manage symptoms while the stone moves through the urinary tract.
Pain relief is usually an important first step. In the UK, doctors often recommend anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, if they are safe for you to take. If pain is severe, you may be given stronger pain relief and medicines to reduce nausea.
Helping the stone pass naturally
Many small kidney stones can be treated without surgery. Drinking enough fluid is important, although forcing large amounts of water does not always help and may worsen discomfort. You may also be advised to strain your urine so the stone can be collected and analysed.
Some patients are prescribed medicines to help the stone pass more easily. These are sometimes used when the stone is in the ureter, the tube between the kidney and bladder. Your clinician will decide whether this is suitable based on the stone’s size and position.
Breaking up or removing the stone
If a stone is too large to pass, causes ongoing pain, or blocks the kidney, a procedure may be needed. One common treatment is shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound waves to break the stone into smaller pieces. These pieces can then pass out in the urine more easily.
Another option is ureteroscopy. A thin telescope is passed through the bladder and into the ureter to remove the stone or break it up with a laser. This is often done as a day case in hospital, although some people need a short stay.
More intensive treatment
Very large stones or stones causing serious blockage may need a different approach. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy involves a small cut in the back so the surgeon can remove the stone directly from the kidney. This is usually reserved for stones that are unlikely to respond to other treatments.
In emergencies, such as when a stone is causing infection and blockage, urgent treatment is needed. Doctors may place a stent or a nephrostomy tube to drain urine from the kidney. Antibiotics are also given if there is an infection.
Preventing stones from coming back
After treatment, it is important to reduce the chance of another stone forming. This may include drinking more fluids, cutting down on salt, and making changes to your diet depending on the type of stone. Some people are advised to reduce foods high in oxalate or animal protein.
If stones keep coming back, you may be offered tests to find the cause. Blood tests, urine tests, and analysis of the stone itself can help guide prevention. In some cases, medication is prescribed to lower the risk of future stones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment depends on the stone’s size, location, symptoms, and type. Small stones often pass on their own with fluids and pain control, while larger stones may need medicine, procedures, or surgery.
Yes, many small kidney stones pass naturally through the urinary tract. Drinking fluids, managing pain, and sometimes taking medication can help the stone pass.
Doctors may prescribe pain relievers, anti-nausea medicine, and sometimes alpha blockers such as tamsulosin to relax the ureter and help the stone pass more easily.
Surgery or procedures are usually needed if the stone is too large to pass, causes severe pain, blocks urine flow, leads to infection, or does not move after a period of observation.
Shock wave lithotripsy uses focused sound waves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces that can pass in the urine more easily.
Ureteroscopy uses a thin scope passed through the bladder and urethra to reach the stone, where it may be removed or broken up with a laser.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a minimally invasive procedure used for large or complex kidney stones. A small incision is made in the back so instruments can remove the stone directly.
Staying well hydrated is very important, especially for small stones that may pass on their own. Fluids help increase urine flow and can reduce the chance of new stones forming.
No, many kidney stones are treated at home or as an outpatient. Hospital care may be needed for uncontrolled pain, vomiting, dehydration, infection, or complete blockage.
Pain is often treated with anti-inflammatory medicines or other prescription pain relievers. Heat, hydration, and rest may also help, but severe pain should be evaluated by a doctor.
An infected, blocked kidney stone is a medical emergency. Treatment usually includes antibiotics and a procedure to relieve the blockage, such as a stent or drainage tube.
A ureteral stent is a small tube placed in the ureter to keep urine flowing around a stone or after a procedure. It helps relieve blockage and reduce swelling.
Sometimes yes. If the stone is small enough, doctors may recommend watchful waiting, fluids, pain relief, and medication to help it pass without a procedure.
It varies widely. Small stones may pass in days or weeks, while larger stones may require a scheduled procedure and a recovery period afterward.
Yes, doctors may recommend reducing salt, adjusting animal protein intake, and changing calcium or oxalate intake depending on the stone type. Hydration is usually emphasized.
The stone type is often determined by analyzing a passed or removed stone and sometimes by urine and blood tests. Knowing the type helps guide treatment and prevention.
Yes, kidney stones can recur, especially if the underlying cause is not addressed. Prevention may include fluids, diet changes, and sometimes medication.
Follow-up may include imaging, urine tests, and sometimes blood tests to make sure the stone is gone and to check for causes of recurrence or complications.
Yes, treatment can differ. Calcium stones may be managed with diet and certain medications, while uric acid stones may be treated with urine alkalinization and medicines that lower uric acid.
Urgent care is needed for fever, chills, severe or worsening pain, inability to keep fluids down, trouble urinating, or signs of infection. These can indicate complications that need immediate treatment.
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