Kidney, Bladder & Ureters
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard, crystal-like lumps that form in the kidneys. They can be incredibly painful as they pass through your system. Most can be treated with modern lasers or sound waves, but drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent them.
Key Takeaways
- Kidney stones are hard, crystal-like lumps that form in the kidneys. They can be incredibly painful as they pass through your system. Most can be treated with modern lasers or sound waves, but drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent them.
- We offer specialist diagnostics and treatments. Book a consultation to discuss your options.
Clinical Overview
Understanding Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard collections of salt and minerals—most commonly calcium—that form inside the "collecting system" of the kidney. They develop when your urine becomes too concentrated. This happens when there is more "crystal-forming" material in your pee than the fluid can dissolve, or when your urine lacks the natural substances that stop crystals from sticking together.
More people in the UK are developing kidney stones than ever before. This is largely due to modern diets high in salt, dehydration, and metabolic conditions like obesity or diabetes. While tiny "gravel-like" stones might pass out of your body without you even noticing, larger stones can get stuck in the tube (the ureter) connecting the kidney to the bladder. This causes a blockage that leads to intense, wave-like pain.
Modern treatment has moved away from traditional "open" surgery. Advanced laser technology now allows urologists to "dust" stones into tiny particles using a small telescope and laser, or use non-invasive shock wave treatment.
What to Look For
Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors
01
Common Symptoms
Severe, sharp pain: Felt in your side and back, just below the ribs.
Radiating pain: Discomfort that moves down into your lower tummy and groin.
Waves of pain: The intensity often goes up and down as the body tries to move the stone.
Burning or stinging: Pain when you are actually peeing.
Pink, red, or brown pee: This is blood in the urine (haematuria) caused by the stone scratching the lining.
Cloudy or smelly pee: A sign that the stagnant urine might be infected.
Feeling sick: Nausea or vomiting because the pain is so intense.
Constant urgency: Feeling like you need to pee all the time.
02
When to Seek Help
You must go to the emergency department when:
Unbearable pain: So severe that you cannot sit still or find a comfortable position.
Pain with a fever: Shivering, chills, or a high temperature combined with pain (this is a sign of a dangerous infection).
Vomiting: Being unable to keep down fluids or pain medication.
Total blockage: Being unable to pass any urine at all.
Pregnancy: Any new, severe back pain during pregnancy needs an urgent check-up.
03
Potential Causes
Dehydration: Not drinking enough water makes your pee too concentrated.
Dietary habits: Eating too much salt, sugar, or animal protein.
Excess Calcium: A condition called hypercalciuria, where too much calcium ends up in the urine. Do not reduce your calcium intake unless this has been done after discussion with a doctor.
Metabolic issues: Problems with the parathyroid glands that control calcium levels.
Anatomical blocks: Narrowing in the urinary tract that slows down the flow of urine.
Supplements: Taking very high doses of certain vitamins or minerals over a long time.
04
Risk Factors
Previous stone: If you’ve had one stone, there is a 50% chance you’ll get another within 5 to 10 years.
Insufficient fluid: Especially if you work in a hot environment or exercise heavily without rehydrating.
Are overweight: A high BMI changes the chemistry of your urine, making stones more likely.
Have digestive issues: Conditions like Crohn’s disease can affect how your body absorbs calcium and water.
Have family history: Stones often run in families.
Importance of Diagnosis
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Confirming you have a stone is vital because the pain can mimic other serious emergencies, such as a ruptured aneurysm or appendicitis. In the UK, the gold standard for diagnosis is a CT scan. This gives a clear picture of the stone’s size and location. Finding the stone earlier may allow us to plan treatment before it becomes an emergency.
If a stone is left untreated, it can cause "silent" damage. If a stone blocks the flow of urine for a long time, the back-pressure causes the kidney to swell (hydronephrosis). If this pressure isn't relieved, the kidney can slowly lose its ability to function, which may eventually lead to permanent kidney damage.
Importance of Diagnosis
Diagnostic Options & Investigations
To accurately identify the cause of your symptoms, our specialists use a range of targeted investigations. Explore the diagnostic tests below to understand how we confirm a diagnosis and plan your recovery.
Living With Condition
Living With Kidney Stones
- Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
- Laser Ureteroscopy
- PCNL
- Metabolic Prevention
- Medical Expulsive Therapy
Living "stone-free" is focused on prevention. If you get stones frequently, your urologist may ask for a "24-hour urine collection." This involves saving your pee for a whole day so it can be analysed in a lab. This tells us exactly why you are forming stones, allowing us to give you a specific diet or medication to change your urine chemistry.
The most important thing you can do is stay hydrated. You should aim to drink enough water so that you produce about 2.5 litres of urine every day (your pee should be very pale, like lemonade). A helpful tip is to add fresh lemon juice to your water; the "citrate" in lemons helps stop crystals from sticking together to form stones.
If you have surgery to remove a stone, you might have a temporary tube called a "stent" placed inside you. This keeps the ureter open while it heals. While stents can be annoying and cause significant urgency or discomfort, they are essential for making sure your kidney drains properly after the procedure and preventing an emergency trip back to the hospital.
Short-Term Complications
04- Renal Colic: The sudden, intense "attack" of pain.
- Urinary Infection: Bacteria trapped behind a stone can lead to a serious infection.
- Urosepsis: A life-threatening reaction to an infection in a blocked kidney (this is a medical emergency).
- Acute Kidney Injury: A sudden drop in kidney function because urine cannot escape.
Long-Term Complications
04- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Permanent loss of kidney function over time.
- Scarring: Repeated stones or infections can scar the kidneys or the tubes (ureters).
- Hydronephrosis: Permanent swelling of the kidney.
- Loss of Function: In severe cases, one kidney may stop working entirely.
Treatment Options
Treatment Options & Care Pathways
Explore the specialist interventions available for Kidney Stones. We offer a range of evidence-based treatments designed to address your specific symptoms, focusing on long-term recovery and your personal health goals.
Specialists
Our specialists for Kidney Stones
Leading experts for this condition. View profiles to see clinical backgrounds and current availability.
Our Commitment
Care you can trust
Every step of your care is delivered to the same standard: senior consultants, a personalised plan, and the safety of an accredited private hospital behind you.
Consultant-Led Excellence
Receive evidence-based care delivered by senior NHS consultants in a professional, specialist setting.
Personalised Care Plans
Your consultant will design a bespoke plan tailored to your condition, health goals and lifestyle.
Hospital-Grade Safety
We operate within leading private hospitals, adhering to strict CQC safety and technology standards.
A Heritage of Trust
Our partners bring decades of NHS and private experience, successfully managing thousands of patient cases.
Patient Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about specialist referrals and consultations.
3 questions
If a stone is smaller than 5mm, there is a good chance (approx. 60-80%) that it will pass naturally with plenty of fluids and pain medication. However, if the stone is larger than 6mm or if you have a fever, uncontrolled pain, or only one functioning kidney, we typically recommend surgical intervention to prevent serious complications.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
Was this helpful?
Actually, no. This is a common myth. If you don't eat enough calcium, the levels of oxalate in your urine will actually increase, making stones *more* likely. The goal is to eat a normal amount of dietary calcium but to drastically reduce your salt and animal protein intake, which are much more significant drivers of stone formation.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
Was this helpful?
A stent is a thin, flexible plastic tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder. After laser surgery, the ureter can swell shut. The stent ensures that urine can always get past the swelling so the kidney doesn't become blocked and painful. It is usually temporary and is removed in the clinic 1–2 weeks after your procedure.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
Was this helpful?