Kidney stones
Why do kidney stones cause pain?
A stone blocks urine, so the kidney swells and stretches. The ureter squeezes against the stone.
That causes waves of sharp side or back pain.
Across Marietta, Canton, Dallas and Jasper, our team sees you for visits and follow-ups at the office where you first come to us.
Request a visit at Advanced Urology to go over your options.
Start with the condition page, then call or book online whenever you are ready.
Any of our clinics in Marietta, Canton, Jasper or Dallas can evaluate a stone, and our urologists treat stones at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center. We'll ask about the pain, fevers and past stones, check your urine and review imaging, often a CT scan, to see the stone's size and where it's sitting.
Many small stones pass with fluids and medicine to ease pain and relax the ureter. Larger ones may need shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy. Once the stone is handled, we look at why it formed, which can include diet, fluid intake and blood or urine testing, so we can lower the chance of another.
Questions about a stone? Our team is at (678) 344-8900.
Generous fluids, prescribed pain relief and, at times, a medicine to relax the ureter are the usual starting points. Straining your urine to catch the stone lets us test what it's made of, which guides prevention later.
Yes. Smaller stones usually pass on their own, while larger ones more often need lithotripsy or ureteroscopy. Where the stone sits matters too.
They can. Prevention starts once the current stone is handled: more fluid, less salt, stone analysis and, for repeat stones, blood and urine tests.
A stone blocking the flow of urine stretches the kidney, which drives the waves of pain.
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Questions after reading this? Our offices in Marietta, Canton, Dallas and Jasper share one phone line and one caring team.