Doctor lists warning signs of Kidney Stones you should not ignore

In an interview with Jagran English, Dr. Abhinav Jain, a urology consultant at Manipal Hospital in Dwarka, New Delhi, outlined the key signs of kidney stones that people should pay attention to.

Common Symptoms:

Pain that comes in waves and changes in intensity (called colic)

Sharp, severe pain in the side and back, just under the ribs

Burning or pain during urination

Urine that appears pink, red, or brown

Cloudy or bad-smelling urine

Frequent urge to urinate, often in small amounts or urgently

Trouble passing urine

Nausea and vomiting

Fever and chills

General feeling of illness

Sudden blockage of urine if a stone gets stuck in the urinary passage

Swollen feet

Puffiness around the eyes

Drop in daily urine output

Lower abdominal pain that may feel like appendicitis

Blood Test Signs:

A sudden increase in serum creatinine levels in someone who previously had normal kidney function

A rise in creatinine levels in a kidney patient whose levels were stable, even on dialysis

Unusual Symptoms:

Kidney stones are known as “great mimickers” because their symptoms can resemble other health issues. These may include:

Pain in the testicles (for men) or labia (for women)

Pain similar to ovarian problems or stomach ulcers

Feeling nauseous or sick

Dr. Jain explained that the symptoms depend on how long the stone has been in the body and where it is located — whether in the kidney, ureter (upper, middle, or lower), bladder, or urethra. In many cases, kidney stones are found by accident during ultrasound or CT scans done for other reasons.