A sudden, stabbing pain in your side or back can be a kidney stone. Here are the warning signs, when it's an emergency, and how stones are found, treated and prevented.
It often starts without warning: a sharp, cramping pain low in your back or side, just under the ribs, that comes in waves and won’t let you get comfortable. For a lot of people in Palm Beach County, that is how a first kidney stone announces itself. The pain can be intense, but knowing the signs, and knowing when to act fast, makes the whole experience far less frightening.
In brief
- The classic kidney stone sign is sudden, wave-like pain in the side or back that can spread to the belly or groin.
- Pain with fever, chills, vomiting or trouble passing urine needs urgent care; call 911 for an emergency.
- Many small stones pass on their own, and simple daily habits can lower the chance of another one.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a hard deposit that forms inside the kidney when minerals and salts in the urine become concentrated and stick together. Many stay put and cause no symptoms at all. The trouble usually begins when a stone moves into the ureter, the narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, and partly blocks it.
There are a few main types. Calcium stones, usually calcium oxalate, are the most common. Others include uric acid stones, struvite stones (which can form after urinary tract infections) and cystine stones, which run in some families. Knowing which type you have matters, because prevention advice differs from one type to the next.
Kidney stone symptoms to know
A stone sitting quietly in the kidney may never be noticed. Once it starts to move, the signs tend to be hard to ignore:
- Severe pain in the side or back, below the ribs, often on one side
- Pain that spreads to the lower belly or groin
- Pain that comes in waves and changes in intensity or location as the stone moves
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Pink, red or brown urine, or urine that looks cloudy or smells bad
- A frequent, urgent need to urinate, sometimes passing only small amounts
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills, which can mean an infection is present as well
Other conditions can cause similar pain, including appendicitis, gallbladder problems, a urinary tract infection or a muscle strain. That is why a proper exam and test results matter more than guessing at home.
When it is an emergency
Get urgent medical care right away if side or back pain comes with any of the following:
- Pain so severe you cannot sit still or find a comfortable position
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting that keep you from holding down fluids
- Blood in the urine along with pain
- Trouble passing urine, or very little urine
A blocked kidney combined with an infection can become serious quickly. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Sudden side pain? Talk to your own doctor
Wave members can call, text or video their own doctor 24/7, weekends included, and get same or next day visits with imaging and labs in the same building in Boynton Beach.
What raises your risk
Anyone can get a kidney stone, but some things make them more likely:
- Not drinking enough fluids. Concentrated urine is the biggest everyday risk factor. Living somewhere hot and humid, sweating through yard work, golf or a long walk on the beach in Delray Beach, adds to the fluid you lose.
- Diet. Meals high in salt, animal protein and sugar can raise the risk of certain stones.
- Family or personal history. If you have had a stone before, or a close relative has, your odds are higher.
- Weight and metabolic health. Obesity and diabetes are linked with a higher risk.
- Some medical conditions, such as gout, certain digestive diseases and some hormone disorders.
- Some medications and supplements, which is one more reason to keep a single, up-to-date medication list with your doctor.
How doctors diagnose a kidney stone
Diagnosis usually combines your symptoms, an exam and a few tests:
- Urine test to look for blood, signs of infection and crystals.
- Blood work to check kidney function and levels of substances such as calcium and uric acid. At Wave, blood work is drawn right in the office.
- Imaging. A CT scan is commonly used to find stones and see their size and location, and ultrasound is another option. Wave offers CT scans on location, often the same day, with expedited results.
- Stone analysis. If you pass a stone, you may be asked to strain your urine and save it so the stone can be tested to find out what type it is.
The usual way vs. with your own doctor
A Saturday night flare-up. The usual way: you sit in an emergency room for hours, get a scan, and leave with discharge papers and a note to follow up with someone you have never met. With your own doctor: you call or text the doctor who already knows your history. If it sounds like an emergency, you are told to call 911 or go in right away. If you are stable, your doctor talks you through the night and arranges a prompt visit, with imaging in the same building.
A stone that needs a specialist. The usual way: you call around for a urology appointment, wait weeks and repeat your story at every desk. With your own doctor: Wave normally gets you in with a specialist the same day, sends your records ahead and reviews the results with you afterward. A dedicated concierge liaison handles the booking and paperwork. Learn more about specialist referrals, and how to prepare for a specialist appointment.
How kidney stones are treated
Treatment depends on the size of the stone, where it is, and how you are feeling.
- Small stones often pass on their own over days to weeks. Care usually focuses on drinking fluids, managing pain and sometimes a prescription that can help the stone pass. Your doctor will tell you what is safe for you.
- Larger stones, or stones causing a blockage or infection, may need a procedure. Common options include sound-wave treatment that breaks stones into smaller pieces, or a thin scope passed through the urinary tract to remove or break up the stone. These are done by a urologist.
Even after the pain is gone, a follow-up visit is the moment to find out why the stone formed. If a hospital stay is ever needed, Wave arranges direct admission to Delray Medical Center when possible, skipping the ER, and your doctor stays involved.
How to lower your chances of another stone
People who have had one kidney stone are more likely to have another, so prevention is worth the effort. General steps your doctor may suggest include:
- Drink enough water through the day so your urine stays pale yellow, and more on hot days or when you are active outdoors.
- Cut back on salt, including packaged and restaurant foods.
- Keep animal protein moderate, especially red meat.
- Do not cut out calcium-rich foods unless your doctor tells you to. Getting calcium from food is generally recommended for people prone to calcium stones.
- Follow advice for your stone type. Someone with calcium oxalate stones may get different food guidance than someone with uric acid stones.
For people with repeat stones, a doctor may order a 24-hour urine test and more blood work to look for a cause. Wave also offers nutrition and diet advice to help turn those results into everyday habits.
Have a doctor who answers when it hurts
Visit our Boynton Beach office for a free tour and consultation, with no obligation to join. Wave accepts Medicare and most insurance for covered care.
The bottom line
Kidney stones are common and very treatable, but the pain can be severe and the warning signs deserve respect. Sudden side or back pain, especially with fever, vomiting or trouble urinating, should be checked quickly. Whether you live in Boynton Beach, Boca Raton or Palm Beach, having a doctor you can reach directly means faster answers, quick imaging and a real plan to help keep the next stone from forming.
This article is general information, not medical advice for your situation. For a medical emergency, call 911.
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