Symptoms

Very small kidney stones are unlikely to cause many symptoms. It may even go undetected and pass out painlessly when you urinate.

Symptoms usually occur if the kidney stone:

  • gets stuck in your kidney
  • starts to travel down the ureter (the tube that attaches each kidney to the bladder) the ureter is narrow and kidney stones cancause pain as they try to pass through
  • causes an infection

In these cases, the symptoms of kidney stones can include:

  • a persistent ache in the lower back,which is sometimes also felt in the groin men may have pain in theirtesticles and scrotum
  • periods of intense pain in the back or side of your abdomen, or occasionally in your groin, whichmay last for minutes or hours
  • feeling restless and unable to lie still
  • nausea (feeling sick)
  • needing to urinate more often than normal
  • pain when you urinate (dysuria)
  • blood in your urine (haematuria) thismay be caused by the stone scratching the kidney or ureter

Blocked ureter and kidney infection

A kidney stone that blocks the ureter can lead to a kidney infection. This is because waste products are unable to pass the blockage, which may cause a build-up of bacteria.

The symptoms of a kidney infection are similar to symptoms ofkidney stones, but may also include:

  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over
  • chills and shivering
  • feeling very weak or tired
  • diarrhoea
  • cloudy and bad-smelling urine

.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 25 Nov 2016