4 Stages Of Passing A Kidney Stone: Know The Details Here!

stages of passing a kidney stone

Social media always has something to chat about! The latest topic that has made it to the internet commotion is kidney stones. A post from Google SGE has advised a reader to ‘drink urine’ to pass kidney stones! Yes, you read that right! As usual, the internet is left hilariously divided, with one user even reacting – “What If I like my kidney stone and want to keep it?” Keeping jokes aside, if you are looking for the actual stages of passing a kidney stone, your search ends here! 

This post will provide you with answers about the multiple stages of kidney stones, the symptoms you will feel during the passage, how to make the passage more accessible, and the time it will take. Let us give you specifics of the same – 

What are the stages of passing a kidney stone? 

stages of passing a kidney stone through the body
Image Credit: R. G Stone Hospital

Technically speaking, kidney stones have 4 stages of passing through – 

  • Formation of the stone – It forms within the kidney 
  • Movement of the stone – This stone moves down the ureter 
  • Passage of the kidney stone – Through the urethra, this kidney stone passes out 
  • Recovery stage – Finally, the body recovers 

Getting into further detailing – 

Stage 1 – The kidney stone’s formation process 

formation of kidney stones
Image Credit: Getty Images

You must understand that at a preliminary stage, the formation of this stone provides no evidence whatsoever. One only notices it when this stone is dislodged from the kidney wall. After being detached from the kidney wall, and while it gets passed onto the ureter, one gets kidney spasms (1-4 times on an average per hour), followed by symptoms like – blood in urine, severe pain, and feverish with chills. 

Stage 2 – When this stone enters your ureter 

kidney stones entering ureter
Image Credit: Gleneagles Hospital

The second of the stages of passing a kidney stone is when it finally enters your ureter. Considered to be one of the most challenging periods, here, the stones scrape against the walls of your urinary tract, causing a throbbing sensation. 

At this stage, there is a chance that the stone will get stuck within your urinary tract (medically referred to as impacted kidney stone). The irritation is noticeable, though the pain is limited. 

Stage 3 – The bladder is pressurized 

bladder in pressure due to kidney stone
Image Credit: Keck Medicine of USC/Shutterstock

The marked point about this stage is – the pressure felt in the bladder, more than the pain. When these stones enter the bladder, then your body will naturally respond to expelling them. Hence, you will feel the need to urinate frequently (maybe every 5-10 minutes). 

However, a problem can arise here. While the stone is passing through, it may get stuck at the urethra’s entrance. This will briefly hold back your urine. The only way out of this is to hold back, till the stone returns back to the bladder (normally it should take only up to 10 minutes). 

See also  5 Self-Care Tips to Boost Your Mental Focus

Stage 4 – This kidney stone finally leaves the body 

kidney stones pass through
Image Credit: Comprehensive Urology

This is the final of the stages of passing a kidney stone, and compared to the previous stages, it requires more effort from your end. The pain (irrespective of the intensity) is limited in this stage, since the stone has already reached your urethral opening. You have to simply push harder now, to release it from your body. Depending on the size, and location of the stone, within a specified time period, this will pass through. 

How much time it takes to pass kidney stones?

kidney stones
Image Credit: Live Science

There are categorically 2 factors that determine the time kidney stones take to pass. They are – 

Factor 1 – The size of the stone 

For starters, 80% of the time, when these stones are less than 4mm takes an average of 31 days to pass. Those within 4-6 mm, take an average of 45 days to pass. But, if the kidney stone is larger than 6mm, then it requires medical intervention and could take up to a year to pass completely. Such cases amount to only 20% of the lot.

Factor 2 – The location of the stone 

The stone’s location is also vital in determining how long it takes to pass. For the uninformed, 79% of the stones are attached to the end of the ureter, which is close to the bladder. These stones, in most cases, pass on their own. 

Additionally, 48% of the stones that are attached to the portion of the ureter closer to the kidney do not require any medical interference and pass by itself. 

How does it feel while passing kidney stones? 

shooting pain while passing kidney stones
Image Credit: International Cystinuria Foundation

Apart from clearly understanding the 4 stages of passing a kidney stone and the time it takes, most people also want to know – the exact feeling when these stones exit through the body. 

Before we delve into the specifics of that, you must remember that – though most people feel the maximum pain when the stone leaves the body, in actuality the maximum pain is felt when it exits the kidney. 

  • A severe onset of pain in the abdominal region(below ribcage) and backside(lower back)
  • Shooting pain during urination with traces of blood in your urine
  • At times, the pain keeps coming back in waves during a specific period 
  • The intensity of the pain varies from time to time 
  • Nauseous feeling accompanied by vomiting 
  • You may have fever with chills (restricted to those cases where you have UTI along with kidney stones) 

Apart from that, you may have other symptoms that vary from case to case. 

How to make the passage easier? 

water to ease passage of kidney stones
Image Credit: Medical News Today

You have gained clarity about the stages of passing a kidney stone from the section mentioned above. Now let us make you aware how to make this process less painful – 

Step 1 – Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids (water, fresh fruit/vegetable juices/plant-based diets) to help flush out the stone. Add a dash of lemon to your water at times (citrate content helps dissolve a stone). Reduce your intake of caffeine during that period. Cut down on your alcohol consumption. 

Step 2 – As mentioned above, you will feel a shooting pain during the passage of the kidney stone. To reduce the pain, keep moving. 

See also  Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK?

Step 3 – Using a heating pad, or soaking in a warm bath is of immense help in this case. They reduce the pain considerably. 

Step 4 – Apart from the above-mentioned steps, consult your medic for OTC meds. These might help address the pain to a certain extent. 

What is the recovery time? 

The recovery time depends on the time consumed in passing the stone. The more time it takes to pass the stones, the more time your body requires to recover. If an outpatient process is performed, then the patient is released on the same day. However, if a person undergoes surgery, then the recovery time extends to a couple of days.  

How to prevent kidney stones? 

nutritious meal solves kidney stone issue
Image Credit: Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

Prevention, the adage says, is always better than cure. Keeping that in mind, we need to see how you can prevent kidney stones from occurring in the first place. Let us give you some schedule-altering practices – 

Watch what you eat 

You have been repeatedly told to cut down on your processed food and red meat consumption. Replace those fries and burgers, with nutritious alternatives to avoid kidney stone formation. 

Monitor your salt consumption 

The primary composition of kidney stones includes – uric acid, oxalate, and calcium. Excessive salt consumption leads to high calcium levels, which further leads to increased chances of getting a kidney stone. 

Drink an adequate amount of water 

You must drink an adequate amount of water to ensure that your urine is diluted to reduce the chances of kidney stone formation. 

Exercise regularly 

Make it a point to strengthen your body’s core through the correct workouts. This helps to release the toxins from your body and maintain its balance. 

Go in for regular health checkups 

Opt for either bi-annual or annual health checkups to stay updated about your physical health. 

Parting thoughts 

Assuming you have read this post well, you are better aware of the stages of passing a kidney stone and know how to ease the discomfort. However, at the end of the day, it is always advised that you seek professional medical help to deal with the key issues and side effects. Apart from that, to prevent kidney stones in the first place, you must alter your schedule and diet to make them more nutritious. Also, make it a point to undergo regular health tests to stay updated on what’s happening inside your body. 

If you enjoyed reading this post, then do leave your comments below. We have also answered some of your most common queries regarding this topic. Stay tuned for more! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What are the causes of kidney stone formation? 

The primary causes of kidney stones are – dehydration, intake of excess Vitamin C and D, high protein consumption, excess intake of salt, metabolic disorder, obesity, and IBS. 

2. What are the medical procedures for dealing with kidney stones? 

Non-surgical medical procedures to deal with kidney stones use both calcium channels and alpha-blockers. Apart from that, lithotripsy is another of the key procedures that doctors use. 

3. When does surgery become necessary for kidney stones to pass? 

Though surgery is rarely a choice when dealing with kidney stones, if they are more than 6 mm, or are blocking the urine flow – then your doctor can recommend immediate surgery. The available surgical options are – percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and ureteroscopy (depending upon your medic). 

4. What are the common symptoms of kidney stones? 

The most common symptoms include – frequent urination or episodes of infrequent to no urination. This is followed by – cloudy urine with a foul smell, intense pain in the lower back side, and passing of blood through urine. Some people even face episodes of nausea and vomiting. 

5. Are they fatal? 

Multiple researches have found that most kidney stones pass through accompanied by blood loss and intense pain. But in some instances, if a stone gets stuck in the ureter or is left undiagnosed, it can cause multiple health complications.