Symptoms of kidney stones show much before pain starts, nephrologist lists what to watch out for

Symptoms of kidney stones: If you are feeling pain on one side of your back or your lower abdomen, it is possible that the stone is starting to move down inside the kidney (Image: Canva)

Kidney stones may form silently and they are painful only when large. The first few symptoms can be difficult to detect but identifying the signs early on, may help prevent severe pains, emergency hospitalization and long-term kidney damage.

Lifestyle modifications, dehydration, excessive high-salty foods and high-protein diets have led to an increased prevalence of kidney stones, while lack of awareness has further weakened our kidneys. A lot of people think that kidney issues only present themselves when you are suddenly doubled over in excruciating pain, but kidney stones don’t generally form overnight. At first, they are little more than a mineral deposit - also known as a crystal - in the kidney, but they grow over time. Though some stay small enough to be unnoticeable, others grow big and get stuck in the urinary tract, causing severe pain that many people liken to childbirth.

The doctor says the biggest problem is that everyday symptoms can get ignored or misdiagnosed as ordinary digestive or urinary conditions.

“Patients present when the pain is unbearable, but early symptoms could have prevented hospital admission entirely,” says Dr Pallav Mathur, Senior Consultant – Nephrology & Kidney Health. In addition, half of kidney stone patients had vague symptoms well in advance of the acute episode, he added.

Backache sharp or dull on one side

If you are feeling pain on one side of your back or your lower abdomen, it is possible that the stone is starting to move down inside the kidney. The pain may not be constant, or if it is, drinking less water might make it worse (meaning you fill up faster when the bladder isn’t as hydrated), or standing for long periods of time might aggravate your symptoms.

Burning or pain during urination

A urinary tract infection can cause pain while urinating andalso is a classic early sign of stones. This burning is a sign of sensitive areas in the urinary tract as the stone begins to pass, or come close, to the ureter.

Frequent urge to urinate

If you find yourself needing to urinate much more often than usual and have not significantly increased your water intake, chances are, your urinary passages are under too much pressure. Frequent voiding is the bladder’s sign that it is irritated or obstructed by an incipient stone.

Blood in the urine or abnormal color of the urine

But if a stone has irritated the lining of the urinary tract—perhaps by getting stuck in a ureter on its way from a kidney to your bladder—you may experience pink, red, brown or tea-colored urine. Do not ignore even a single count in which the color changes.

Nausea or vomiting, but not upset stomach

When your kidneys are under stress, the body sends signals through nerves that it shares with the digestive system, leading to nausea. If you are feeling nausea for no apparent reason, it could be a secret sign of stones growing inside your body.

Kidney stones doesn’t show symptoms early in their formation. By early identification of symptoms, increasing hydration, reducing intake of salty and oxalate-heavy foods and seeking out medical advice soon enough, such extreme pain and long-term kidney damage can be avoided. Early attention makes treatment simpler, quicker and much less invasive.

FAQs on kidney stones:

Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys when certain substances—like calcium, oxalate, or uric acid—build up in excess.

Common causes include dehydration, high salt intake, too much oxalate-rich or animal-protein–rich food, obesity, and family history.

Severe back or side pain, pain while urinating, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, and frequent urge to urinate.

Stay well-hydrated, reduce salt, limit processed foods, balance calcium intake, and cut down on oxalate-heavy foods like spinach and nuts.

If the pain is intense, urine has blood, fever or chills occur, or if the stone doesn’t pass on its own, medical attention is necessary.