Symptoms of kidney or ureter stones include:

• Severe, sharp flank pain which may come in waves and radiate into the groin or lower abdomen
• Pain or burning upon urination with a persistent need to urinate
• Urine which is cloudy, has an odor, or is discolored
• Nausea, vomiting, fever, chills upon occasion

Causes and risk factors for stone formation include:

• Family or personal history of stone formation
• Dehydration from not drinking enough fluids or by loss of fluid such as diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetic passing of excess sugar in the urine, excessive sweating
• Diet that is high in salt, sugar, or animal protein
• Obesity
• Other medical conditions such as post gastric bypass surgery, kidney disease, hormonal problems such as hyperparathyroidism which affects the calcium levels in the body
• Excessive use of antacids containing calcium, vitamin C, and use of some migraine/depression medications

To diagnose, your AUCNY urologist will use some of the following:

• Detailed history and physical examination – requesting details on symptoms, personal and family medical history, social history including smoking habits, physical examination with special emphasis on the bladder area including rectal/pelvic exam
• Blood test to measure calcium, uric acid, hydration, and measures of kidney function in general
• Urine test which may include a 24-hour urine collection to analyze the substances and their concentrations in the urine
• Imaging procedures (X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound)
• Analysis of passed stones that the patient strains from their urine as it is voided through a strainer (to isolate the stone as it is passed out the urethra). The stone is then analyzed by our lab to determine its composition (calcium, uric acid, oxalate, struvite) which aids your AUCNY urologist in determining the cause of the stone formation. This information guides both the treatment and subsequent prevention of future recurrences.