You’ve likely heard of kidney stones before, or you’ve known someone who has had one. You might have even had one yourself, and if so, you know that they aren’t a pleasant thing to deal with.

But do you know what causes them? Find out from our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team below!

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits formed by a variety of minerals and substances found in urine. Many types of body waste dissolve in urine. When there is too much waste in too little urine, though, waste like uric acid, calcium and get stuck together and crystallize.

These crystals then attract more waste, resulting in the formation of a kidney stone that must be passed through the urinary system. If you experience the symptoms that we’ve listed below, you are most likely dealing with a kidney stone.

Common Kidney Stone Symptoms

• Severe pain on either side of your lower back
• More vague pain or stomach ache that doesn’t go away
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy

How Can I Get Rid Of a Kidney Stone?

If a kidney stone is small, you will likely be able to pass it without requiring any real medical attention. If it is large, though, you will likely need medical care to have it removed from your urinary system.

If you believe you have a kidney stone, visit our AFC center. We will run a few tests to confirm the diagnosis and help you understand what the next steps should be.

Ways Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed

• Blood testing. Blood tests may suggest that you have an excessive amount of calcium or uric acid in your system, which can indicated that kidney stones are present.
• Urine analysis. The 24-hour urine collection test may reveal that you’re excreting either too many stone-forming minerals or too few stone-preventing minerals. Your doctor may ask you to collect two urine samples over the course of two days for this test.
• Imaging. Urinary tract imaging testing may reveal kidney stones. Even small stones can be detected using a CT scan. Simple abdominal X-rays aren’t utilized as often as they have been in the past, due to the fact that they can overlook minor kidney stones.
• Analysis of passed stones. If you believe you have kidney stones, you may be asked to strain your urine to catch passed stones. Your doctor will then use this information to determine what’s causing your kidney stones and form a plan to prevent future kidney stones.

We’re here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team if you need any non-emergency care.