Guest post by Angelina Marshall-Figueroa, RPA-C, physician assistant in the Urology department at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Calculi or “stones” can form in the kidneys and travel to other parts of the urinary system, like the ureters and bladder. Stones are classified based on their location in the urinary system and by their material. About 85 percent of stones are made up of calcium.

How are kidney stones made?

Kidneys are a filtration system that removes waste products from the blood and sends them out of the body via our urine. When the kidneys do not remove all the waste, it can build up and form stones. There are several reasons why the waste removal system might not be working well, including dehydration, chemical imbalances in the urine, certain medical conditions or medications, an obstruction blocking the ability to fully urinate, and a diet consisting of high animal fat, sodium, and sugars.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

Stones can cause a variety of symptoms. The most common symptom is pain. Pain can present on your side (the flank area between hip and ribs) or lower abdomen and may travel or “radiate” to the groin. It may come and go in waves, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Every patient’s experience with stones are different, some have minimal to no pain and others may have pain severe enough to require a hospital admission. Other symptoms include blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting, burning while urinating, fever, and/or a constant urge to urinate.

If you think you might be experiencing kidney stones and would like to make an appointment, call 866.804.1007 to find a doctor who can help.