One of the most excruciatingly painful conditions that can occur in the urinary tract is a kidney stone. Kidney stones are hard mineral and salt deposits that form in the kidneys and can cause severe pain as they pass through the urinary system.

They often go unnoticed until they start causing symptoms. In this article, we will discuss how to tell if you have a kidney stone.

1. Severe Back or Abdominal Pain

The most common symptom of a kidney stone is intense pain that radiates from the back and wraps around to the abdomen or groin. The pain can be sudden and excruciating, causing waves of spasms.

This severe pain often comes in waves and gets worse over time.

2. Blood in Urine

Another telltale sign of a kidney stone is blood in the urine, also known as hematuria. The presence of blood can make the urine appear pink, red, or brown.

However, it’s important to note that blood in the urine can also be a sign of other urinary conditions, so it’s best to seek medical evaluation for an accurate diagnosis.

3. Frequent Urination

If you suddenly find yourself making more trips to the bathroom than usual, it could be a sign of a kidney stone. The stone’s presence in the urinary tract can irritate the bladder, leading to increased urination frequency.

4. Cloudy or Foul-Smelling Urine

When a kidney stone causes an infection or blocks the flow of urine, it can result in cloudy or foul-smelling urine. These changes in urine appearance and odor should not be ignored and should prompt further evaluation.

5. Painful Urination

A kidney stone can cause discomfort and pain during urination. You may experience a burning sensation or sharp pain while passing urine. This symptom is often mistaken for a urinary tract infection, so it’s critical to get a proper diagnosis.

6. Nausea and Vomiting

Many people with kidney stones experience nausea and vomiting, especially when the pain becomes severe. The body’s response to the intense pain and the physical stress it causes can result in these symptoms.

If you’re experiencing severe pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it’s essential to seek medical attention.

7. Fever and Chills

In some cases, kidney stones can lead to an infection, resulting in fever and chills. If you have a kidney stone, and along with the pain, you develop a high temperature and experience chills, it could be a sign that an infection has developed.

In such cases, immediate medical evaluation is necessary.

8. Painful Flank

Localized pain on one side of the back, known as flank pain, may indicate the presence of a kidney stone. The pain may persist and intensify as the stone moves or grows in size.

Treating the stone and alleviating the discomfort can help resolve the flank pain.

9. Urinary Urgency

Feeling a sudden, urgent need to urinate can be a symptom of a kidney stone. This urgency arises due to the stone’s presence in the urinary tract, causing irritation and prompting the body to expel urine more frequently.

10. Pain Radiation

As a kidney stone moves through the urinary system, the pain may radiate to different areas. Initially, you may feel the pain in your back or lower abdomen, but as the stone progresses, the pain can shift to your groin or genitals.

This pattern of pain radiation can help differentiate kidney stones from other conditions.