TL;DR
Kidney stones can cause sudden, severe pain, nausea, and urinary symptoms. Urgent care can evaluate many suspected kidney stones, but symptoms like high fever, uncontrollable pain, or inability to urinate require immediate emergency care.
One minute you’re going about your day. The next, you’re doubled over with sharp pain in your back or side, wondering what on earth is happening.
People often describe kidney stone symptoms as the worst pain they’ve ever experienced. It can come on suddenly, stop you in your tracks, and leave you pacing the floor trying to find a comfortable position.
Could it be a kidney stone? And if so, is urgent care the best course of action?
The answer depends on your symptoms. While many kidney stones can be evaluated and managed through urgent care, others require emergency treatment. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Kidney Stone?
A kidney stone is a hard deposit of minerals and salts that forms inside the kidneys. Stones can range in size from a grain of sand to several millimeters — or even larger.
Problems usually begin when the stone leaves the kidney and starts traveling through the urinary tract. As it moves, it can partially or completely block the flow of urine, causing intense pain and irritation.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones develop when substances normally dissolved in urine become concentrated enough to form crystals. Over time, those crystals can grow into stones.
Several factors can increase your risk, including:
- Dehydration
- Diets high in sodium, sugar, or animal protein
- Family history
- Obesity
- Certain medications
- Digestive diseases or previous gastrointestinal surgery
- Medical conditions that affect calcium or uric acid levels
Not everyone with these risk factors will develop kidney stones, but staying hydrated is one of the best ways to reduce your risk.
Symptoms of a Kidney Stone
The hallmark symptom is sudden, severe pain, but kidney stones can produce several other symptoms depending on their size and location.
Common symptoms include:
- Sharp pain in the side, back, or below the ribs
- Pain that radiates into the lower abdomen or groin
- Pain that comes in waves and changes in intensity
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning during urination
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Smaller stones may pass with relatively mild symptoms, while larger stones can create significant blockages.
When to Go to Urgent Care for a Kidney Stone
Urgent care can be the right choice if you suspect a kidney stone and your symptoms remain stable.
Visit urgent care if:
- You have sudden pain in your side or back
- Pain is moderate but manageable
- You notice blood in your urine
- Urination is painful or unusually frequent
- You’re experiencing nausea without persistent vomiting
- This is your first suspected kidney stone
At FirstCall Medical Center, our providers can evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical examination, order appropriate diagnostic testing, provide pain management, and determine whether additional imaging or specialty care is needed.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Some kidney stone symptoms signify a more serious blockage or infection and should be treated immediately.
Go directly to the ER if you experience:
- Severe, unbearable pain
- High fever or chills
- Persistent vomiting that prevents you from keeping fluids down
- Difficulty or inability to urinate
- Significant weakness or fainting
- Pain accompanied by signs of infection
These symptoms may indicate a blocked urinary tract or kidney infection requiring immediate treatment.
How Are Kidney Stones Treated?
Treatment depends largely on the size and location of the stone.
Small stones often pass naturally with:
- Increased fluid intake
- Pain medication
- Medications that relax the urinary tract
Larger stones may require procedures performed by a urologist, including:
- Shock wave therapy to break up the stone
- Ureteroscopy to remove or break apart the stone
- Surgical treatment for very large or complicated stones
How FirstCall Medical Center Can Help
FirstCall Medical Center evaluates many patients with suspected kidney stones every year.
Our urgent care team can:
- Assess your symptoms and medical history
- Rule out other causes of abdominal or flank pain
- Help manage pain and nausea
- Recommend additional testing or imaging when appropriate
- Coordinate referral to emergency care or a specialist when necessary
- Unsure whether your symptoms require urgent care or emergency treatment? Consult our guide.
Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented?
While not every kidney stone can be prevented, healthy habits can reduce your risk:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Limit excess sodium
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Follow your provider’s recommendations if you’ve had stones before
- Address underlying medical conditions that increase stone risk
Kidney stones can be incredibly painful, but prompt evaluation helps ensure you receive the right treatment. If you’re experiencing symptoms that suggest a kidney stone, don’t wait to get checked.
For many patients, FirstCall Medical Center provides a fast, convenient first step toward diagnosis, pain relief, and determining whether additional care is needed.
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FAQs
Can urgent care diagnose a kidney stone?
Urgent care can evaluate your symptoms, perform an examination, and determine whether further testing or emergency treatment is needed.
Will a kidney stone go away on its own?
Many small kidney stones pass naturally, though they can still be quite painful.
How do I know if my kidney stone is an emergency?
Seek emergency care if you develop fever, chills, uncontrollable pain, persistent vomiting, or cannot urinate.
