Condition overview
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form in urine. A stone may remain inside the kidney or move into the ureter, the narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.
The bottom line: not every kidney stone needs surgery, but every stone needs the right decision. Treatment depends on stone size, exact location, pain, fever, urine blockage, kidney swelling, infection risk, kidney function, and whether stones keep coming back.
Small stones may pass with medicines, fluids, and monitoring. Larger stones, stuck ureter stones, infected stones, stones causing kidney swelling, and recurrent kidney stones need urology review.
Dr Vikram Barua Kaushik reviews CT KUB, ultrasound, X-ray KUB, urine reports, kidney function tests, previous stone history, and current symptoms before suggesting observation, medicine, URS, RIRS, PCNL, mini PCNL, ECNL, stenting, or other treatment.
Symptoms of kidney stones
Common symptoms of kidney stones include sharp pain in the side or back, pain moving to the lower abdomen or groin, burning urine, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, cloudy urine, or pain that comes in waves.
Kidney stones pain can be severe when a stone enters the ureter and blocks urine flow. The pain may shift as the stone moves.
Some stones cause no pain and are found during ultrasound, CT scan, health check-up, or investigation for repeated UTI.
Warning signs that need urgent care
Urgent care is needed if kidney stone pain comes with fever, chills, vomiting, weakness, reduced urine, uncontrolled pain, or known single kidney.
A stone with infection can become dangerous because blocked infected urine may affect kidney function and overall health.
Do not wait at home if there is fever with stone pain, repeated vomiting, or inability to pass urine.
Diagnosis and tests
Diagnosis may include urine routine, urine culture, blood tests, kidney function test, ultrasound, X-ray KUB, and CT KUB. CT KUB is often used to know the exact stone size, location, density, and blockage.
The report should be read carefully. A 5 mm lower ureter stone may be managed differently from a 5 mm kidney stone. A 12 mm kidney stone, a 12 mm ureter stone, and multiple stones also need different planning.
For recurrent stones, stone analysis and metabolic evaluation may help identify why stones are forming again.
When to consult a urologist
Consult a urologist if a scan shows a kidney stone or ureter stone, pain keeps returning, urine is blocked, blood appears in urine, infection is present, or the stone has not passed after monitoring.
You should also consult if stones are recurrent, both kidneys have stones, kidney swelling is seen, kidney function is affected, or you have diabetes, pregnancy, single kidney, or previous stone surgery.
Patients often search for kidney stone treatment without surgery. This may be possible for selected small stones, but the decision should be based on size, location, symptoms, infection risk, and follow-up imaging.
When to consult
Do your symptoms need stone review?
What are you feeling?
This checklist helps organize symptoms. It does not replace a urology consultation.
Diagnosis and tests
Kidney stone care, step by step
Report and symptom review
Understand pain, blockage, and risk
Dr Vikram reviews pain pattern, fever, vomiting, urine symptoms, CT or ultrasound reports, urine tests, kidney function, medicines, and previous stone history.
- Bring CT KUB, ultrasound, X-ray, urine, and blood reports
- Share fever, vomiting, or severe pain episodes
- Tell the doctor about previous stones or stents
Treatment options
Treatment options for kidney stones
Kidney stones treatment depends on stone size, stone location, symptoms, infection risk, kidney swelling, kidney function, stone hardness, anatomy, previous procedures, and patient health.
Small stones may pass without surgery if pain is controlled, there is no fever, kidney function is safe, and follow-up is possible. Medicines may be used for pain, nausea, infection when present, and selected ureter stones that may pass.
URS, or ureteroscopy, is commonly used for ureter stones. A thin scope is passed through the urine passage to reach the stone. The stone may be removed or broken with laser, and a temporary stent may be placed.
RIRS kidney stone treatment uses a flexible scope passed through the natural urine passage to reach selected stones inside the kidney. It is useful for many kidney stones where a cut on the back is not preferred.
PCNL or mini PCNL is used for larger kidney stones, hard stones, multiple stones, or stones that are not suitable for RIRS or shock wave treatment. ECNL may be considered for very large or complex stone burden.
Shock wave lithotripsy may be suitable for selected stones, but stone size, location, hardness, body habitus, kidney drainage, and chances of fragment passage must be considered.
A ureteral stent may be placed temporarily when there is swelling, infection risk, ureter injury risk, or after some procedures. Stents can cause frequency, urgency, mild blood in urine, or flank discomfort, and they must be removed as advised.
The best treatment is the one that clears the stone safely, protects kidney function, controls infection risk, and reduces the chance of another stone.
Kidney stone care in Gurgaon
Patients searching for the Best urologist in Gurgaon for kidney stones treatment, kidney stone pain, ureter stone, CT KUB report review, RIRS kidney stone treatment, PCNL kidney stone surgery, stent removal, or recurrent stones can consult Dr Vikram Barua Kaushik at Urowellness Clinic. Urowellness Clinic is a urology clinic in Gurgaon where Dr Vikram Urologist, a urologist and robotic surgeon, reviews stone size, location, kidney swelling, urine infection, kidney function, previous stone history, and prevention needs before planning care.
"The goal is not only stone removal. The goal is safe clearance, kidney protection, and prevention of the next stone."
Dr. Vikram · Urologist, Robotic SurgeonRecovery and follow-up
Before, during, and after stone treatment
Good kidney stone care includes pain control, safe stone clearance, infection prevention, stent follow-up, and recurrence prevention.
- Bring CT KUB, ultrasound, X-ray, urine, and blood reports
- Share fever, vomiting, severe pain, or reduced urine history
- Tell the doctor about blood thinners, allergies, diabetes, or kidney disease
- Ask whether the stone can pass without surgery
- Understand which procedure is planned and why
- Follow fasting instructions if a procedure is planned
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Symptoms of kidney stones include sharp side or back pain, pain moving to the lower abdomen or groin, burning urine, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, cloudy urine, and pain that comes in waves. Fever with stone pain is a warning sign and needs urgent care.
Some small kidney or ureter stones can pass without surgery with medicines, fluids, pain control, and monitoring. The chance of passage depends on stone size, location, swelling, pain control, infection risk, and kidney function. Larger, stuck, infected, or painful stones may need a procedure.
A urologist treats kidney stones, ureter stones, urinary blockage, stent-related issues, and recurrent stones. Patients looking for a Urologist in Gurgaon can consult Dr Vikram Barua Kaushik at Urowellness Clinic for report review and treatment planning.
Kidney stone pain is urgent if it comes with fever, chills, vomiting, weakness, reduced urine, uncontrolled pain, blood in urine, single kidney, pregnancy, diabetes, or kidney disease. A blocked infected kidney can be dangerous and should not be ignored.
Tests may include urine routine, urine culture, blood tests, kidney function test, ultrasound, X-ray KUB, and CT KUB. CT KUB is often used to identify exact stone size, location, density, swelling, and blockage.
URS means ureteroscopy. A thin scope is passed through the urine passage into the ureter to reach the stone. The stone may be removed or broken with laser. A temporary ureteral stent may be placed after the procedure.
RIRS means retrograde intrarenal surgery. A flexible scope is passed through the natural urine passage to reach selected stones inside the kidney. The stone is usually broken with laser, and a stent may be placed temporarily.
PCNL is usually considered for larger kidney stones, multiple stones, hard stones, complex stones, or stones that are not suitable for RIRS or shock wave treatment. Mini PCNL or ECNL may be discussed depending on stone burden and anatomy.
A stent is not always needed, but it may be placed after URS, RIRS, PCNL, or during emergency drainage. It helps urine flow and protects the ureter while swelling settles. Stents are temporary and should be removed as advised.
Prevention may include drinking enough fluids, reducing excess salt, moderating animal protein, avoiding unnecessary supplements, treating infection, stone analysis, urine testing, and medicines for selected stone types. Prevention should be personalized to the stone type and risk factors.