Symptom guide

Kidney stones causing pain? Deciding between the ER and our office

Stone pain often starts suddenly, low in the back or side, and builds into waves that make it hard to sit still. If a stone seems likely, this page helps you decide where to go and what our team in Marietta, Canton, Dallas and Jasper can do about it.

Call (678) 344-8900 Book online

Advanced Urology Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center name card with street address

What does kidney stone pain feel like?

People describe a cramping, stabbing ache under the ribs at the back or along one side. As the stone moves, the pain can travel toward the belly, groin or the tip of the penis or labia. It tends to come in waves rather than stay steady, and changing position rarely helps. Nausea, vomiting, pink or brown urine and a constant urge to urinate often come along with it.

Should I go to the ER or call the office?

Go to an emergency department right away for:

Fever or shaking chills with the pain, which can mean an infection trapped behind the stone
Vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids or medicine
Pain that pain relievers do not touch
Very little or no urine
A known single kidney, or a kidney transplant

If the pain is manageable and none of those apply, call us. Many stones can be handled through the office: we review your scans, get you the right medicines and decide whether the stone is likely to pass. If an ER has already seen you, bring the CT report or disc, because it usually lets us plan without repeating imaging.

Will the stone pass on its own?

Small stones, especially ones close to the bladder, frequently do, usually within a few weeks. We may prescribe a medicine that relaxes the ureter, pain control and a strainer so you can catch the stone for analysis. Larger stones, stones that stop moving, or pain that keeps returning are reasons to remove it instead.

How do our urologists remove stones?

Shock wave lithotripsy: energy waves aimed from outside the body break the stone into sand-sized pieces that pass with urine.
Ureteroscopy: a thin scope goes up through the urinary tract, with no incisions, and the stone is broken up or pulled out.
A stent: a soft tube from kidney to bladder that keeps urine draining after surgery or while an infection settles; it is usually removed within about two weeks.

Lithotripsy and ureteroscopy are outpatient procedures at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center on Church Street Extension NW, and most people head home after their procedure. Patients from Canton, Dallas and Jasper are scheduled there, then return to their usual office for follow-up.

How quickly can I be seen?

Call and tell our team you are having stone pain; we will look for the soonest opening at any of our four offices. We cannot promise a time over the phone, so if the warning signs above appear while you wait, go to the ER.

What about preventing the next one?

Once you have had one stone, the odds of another are real. After the pain is over, a prevention visit can include analysis of a caught stone, blood tests and sometimes a 24-hour urine collection, followed by specific changes to fluids, salt and diet, or a medicine when the chemistry calls for it. Our kidney stone page covers treatment and prevention in more detail.

Where can I be seen for this?

Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center, 1371 Church Street Extension NW, Marietta, GA 30060. Seen here for this concern: Andy Ostrowski, MD, Daniel Roberson, PA-C, Amanda Boulos, PA-C, Shane Bell, PA-C, Anna Flint Todd, PA-C, Ionela Turcin, PA-C, Britany Howard, FNP. Procedures for all four offices happen in this building.
Canton Clinic, 2205 Riverstone Blvd Suite 101, Canton, GA 30114. Seen here for this concern: Andy Ostrowski, MD, Daniel Roberson, PA-C, Amanda Boulos, PA-C, Shane Bell, PA-C, Anna Flint Todd, PA-C, Ionela Turcin, PA-C. Procedures are scheduled at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center.
Dallas Clinic, 2713 Charles Hardy Parkway, Bldg 100, Suite 122, Dallas, GA 30157. Seen here for this concern: Daniel Roberson, PA-C. Visits here are with Daniel Roberson, PA-C. Physician visits and procedures are arranged in Marietta.
Jasper Clinic, 49 Gordon Rd Suite 103, Jasper, GA 30143. Seen here for this concern: Britany Howard, FNP. Procedures are scheduled at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center.

Andy Ostrowski, MD, Advanced Urology — Andy Ostrowski, MD

Daniel Roberson, PA-C, Advanced Urology — Daniel Roberson, PA-C

Amanda Boulos, PA-C, Advanced Urology — Amanda Boulos, PA-C

Shane Bell, PA-C, Advanced Urology — Shane Bell, PA-C

Anna Flint Todd, PA-C, Advanced Urology — Anna Flint Todd, PA-C

Ionela Turcin, PA-C, Advanced Urology — Ionela Turcin, PA-C

Britany Howard, FNP, Advanced Urology — Britany Howard, FNP

Questions people ask us

Can I drive myself to the office with stone pain?

Not if the pain is severe or you have taken strong pain medicine. Ask someone to drive you, or go to the ER if you also have fever or vomiting.

Do kidney stones flush out if I drink a lot of water?

Staying well hydrated helps a small stone move. Forcing large amounts all at once won't push a large or stuck stone through.

Why do I need to strain my urine?

A caught stone can be analyzed. Knowing what it is made of guides the diet changes and medicines that prevent the next one.

Is lithotripsy done in a hospital?

No. Our urologists perform lithotripsy at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center, an outpatient surgery center run by our practice. Plan for someone to drive you home afterward.

What does a stent feel like?

Some people notice urgency, a pulling feeling or pink-tinged urine while it is in. It is temporary, and our team tells you when it will come out.

Can women get kidney stones?

Yes. Kidney stones affect women and men, and pain from a stone can be mistaken for other problems, so imaging matters.

Kidney stones on advancedurology.com

Other symptoms we help with

Educational information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Every treatment has risks, benefits and alternatives to discuss with your clinician.