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Kidney stones: the signs, when it is an emergency, passing a stone, and preventing the next one
For any adult with sharp pain in the back, side, lower belly or groin, pain that comes and goes in waves, or pink, red or brown urine. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says a kidney stone is a hard, pebble-like piece of material that forms in the kidneys, that a small one may pass on its own, and that one that gets stuck can block the flow of urine and cause severe pain or bleeding. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs, when to get care, the four types and who gets them, the tests, passing a stone and the ways a urologist removes one, and liquids, food and medicines to prevent the next. It builds the words to say at a clinic, and prints a card for the visit.
A word with a dotted line under it, like this, opens its official definition, quoted from a U.S. government glossary.
Right now
- Fever or chills with the pain, not being able to pee (or only a little), or throwing up so you cannot keep liquids down: go to the emergency room now, and do not drive yourself (ours). NIDDK says stones that block the urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment.
- The person is confused, very hard to wake, fainting, or seems very sick, or has chest pain: call 911 (ours). See also our page on sepsis.
- Sharp pain in your back, side, lower belly or groin, or pink, red or brown urine: NIDDK says to see a health care professional right away. If you are pregnant, call today (ours).
More help
- Related: Bladder infection (UTI) in adults · When it’s your kidneys · Sepsis · An upset stomach, heartburn or constipation: find the right page · Pregnancy and a new baby.
- A child: Kidney Stones in Children (NIDDK) · A baby or child: find the right page.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When medicine costs too much · My medicines list · Symptom diary · Get ready for your appointment.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
Kidneys, bladder or urine, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for bladder infections, kidney stones, blood in the urine, bladder pain, bladder leaks, the prostate, kidney disease and bedwetting, on one list.
Other guides on this site that go with this page
Free to read. We chose these ourselves; no professional did. Each guide was written with AI and has not been reviewed by a professional. They are general information, not advice.
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis): the signs, sepsis, and the treatment: a kidney infection (pyelonephritis): the signs at each age, sepsis and when it is 911, who is more likely to get one, the tests, the antibiotics, and preventing the next one.
- Primary hyperparathyroidism: high calcium, the parathyroid glands, the tests, and surgery or watching: primary hyperparathyroidism, when the parathyroid glands make too much hormone and blood calcium runs high: what it is, who gets it, bones and kidney stones, the signs, the causes, the tests, and surgery, watching, medicines and food.
- Renal tubular acidosis (RTA): when the kidneys do not remove acid, the three types, the tests, and the treatment: renal tubular acidosis (RTA), when the kidneys do not remove acid from the blood as they should: the three types, who gets it, the signs (low or high potassium) and the complications, the causes type by type, the blood and urine tests, and the treatment, prevention and food.
- One kidney (a solitary kidney): the checkups, keeping it safe, and giving a kidney: one kidney, a solitary kidney (born with one, had one removed, or gave one): the three causes, what it can lead to, the urine, blood and blood pressure checkups, medicines and sports, pregnancy, and giving a kidney.
- Kidney disease in children: the signs, the causes, the treatment, and school: kidney disease in a child (acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease; swelling, foamy or pink urine, peeing more or less, or wetting the bed again): what it is, which children get it and the causes, the signs and what it can lead to, the tests and the kidney doctor for children, the kinds of medicine, dialysis and transplant, and school (an IEP or a 504 plan), friends and feelings.
- IgA nephropathy (Berger’s disease): the signs, the biopsy, and the treatment: IgA nephropathy, Berger’s disease (pink, cola-colored or foamy urine, swelling, or a kidney biopsy that showed it): what it is, who is more likely to have it, the signs and what it can lead to, the tests and the biopsy, the kinds of medicine and less salt, and food, family and research.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): the types, the signs, the tests, and slowing it down: polycystic kidney disease (PKD; many fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, often in the family; pain in the back or sides, headaches, high blood pressure, blood in the urine): what it is, the two types (ADPKD in adults, ARPKD in babies) and the genes, the signs and what it can lead to (kidney failure, brain aneurysms, liver cysts), the imaging and genetic tests and genetic counseling, pain medicine and the kidneys, a blood pressure goal, the steps that may slow it, food and drink, and the costs.
- Nephrotic syndrome: in adults and in children: nephrotic syndrome in adults and in children (swelling, foamy urine, protein in the urine): what causes it, the signs and what it can lead to, the urine and blood tests, the treatment, and steroids and relapses in children.
- Glomerular disease: the signs, the causes, the tests, and the treatment: glomerular disease (FSGS, lupus nephritis, membranous nephropathy, minimal change disease and others; foamy or cola-colored urine, swelling, or a kidney biopsy that showed it): what it is, the causes and who gets it, the signs and what it can lead to, the tests and the biopsy, the kinds of medicine and kidney failure, and food, family and research.
- Medullary sponge kidney: the signs, the tests, kidney stones and infections, and prevention: medullary sponge kidney, also called Cacchi-Ricci disease (a birth defect with tiny cysts inside the kidneys: kidney stones, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine): what it is, who gets it, the signs and when to call, the imaging tests, treating infections and removing stones, and the medicines, liquids and food that may help prevent the next one.
- Kidney stones in children: the pain and the signs, when to get care right away, the four types, the tests, passing or removing a stone, and preventing the next one: kidney stones in a child or teen: what they are and the four types; how common they are and which children are more likely; the signs, when to get care right away, and what untreated stones can lead to; the urine, blood and imaging tests; passing a small stone or removing a larger one; and preventing the next one with liquids, food and medicine.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 15, 2026 on NIDDK’s Kidney Stones pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition (last reviewed May 2017), and the overview of Kidney Stones in Children. Ours: going to the emergency room now for fever or chills with the pain, not being able to pee, or vomiting with no liquids kept down; not driving yourself; calling 911 when the person is confused, very hard to wake, fainting or seems very sick, or for chest pain; asking, if sent home, which signs mean come back and which pain medicine is safe for you; saying if you are or could be pregnant before any x-ray, CT scan or medicine; asking which type your stone was and keeping the answer; not stopping a prescribed medicine on your own; that it is not your fault; asking about the cost; and the order of the steps. What we left out: the medicine names NIDDK gives, doses and numbers of days or weeks, NIDDK’s percentages, and clinical pages for providers. This page is about adults. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.