A kidney stone is a solid mass that forms in a person's urinary tract. It is usually hard and compact as it is composed of mineral salts in high concentration in the urine, which aggregate into crystals that grow and accumulate in the kidneys until they become a stone.
The size of a kidney stone ranges from a few millimeters to several centimeters. When it is very small, less than 5 mm, it resembles sand and can generally pass out of the body on its own through the urinary tract without causing any pain or only slight discomfort at the time of expulsion.
Larger stones are usually quite painful. When the stone is larger than 6 mm, it can block the flow of urine in the urinary system because the ureters are very thin tubes. If this happens, urine accumulates and backs up into the kidney. The pressure on the kidney from the backed-up urine, along with muscle spasms of the ureter as the body tries to expel the stone, can cause intense pain and pressure in the lower back, side, groin, or all three areas at the same time. Once the stone moves from the ureter into the bladder, there are usually no more problems for it to pass through the rest of the body. The urethra is at least twice as wide as a normal ureter, so the stone usually does not obstruct it.
Larger stones can occupy all available space in the kidney, completely obstructing urinary flow. These stones require a surgical procedure to remove them.
For both smaller and larger stones, the waiting time for spontaneous expulsion or until surgical intervention can be several weeks, during which the stone may continue to grow. It is recommended to take crystallization inhibitors specific to your type of stone to avoid complications. Click here to see which type of product will help limit the growth or recurrence of your stone.
