WVU Medicine outlines key signs, treatment, and prevention for kidney stones

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Each year, more than 500,000 people visit the emergency room with kidney stones, a common condition affecting nearly one-in-10 people. Because recurrence rates are high, WVU Medicine offers guidance on identifying symptoms and making lifestyle changes to prevent future pain.  

Kidney stones are crystals that form in the urine. Most stones are calcium-based and are caused by a combination of diet, lifestyle, genetic, and medical factors.  

Chad Morley, M.D., a urologist at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, said that one underlying cause stands out the most.  

“The biggest culprit across all stones is usually just not drinking enough water,” he said.    

Once a stone has formed in the kidney, it will either remain there or travel into the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. Stones that stay in the kidney typically do not cause problems, and patients may not even be aware they have a kidney stone.   

If a stone moves into the ureter and obstructs the flow of urine, patients can begin to experience symptoms, including:

• Sharp pain
• Blood in the urine
• Urinary urgency, frequency, and pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Infection if the stone completely blocks the urine  

Urologists diagnose kidney stones using a CT scan, along with urinalysis and blood work. Depending on the size of the stone, patients may attempt to pass it naturally or opt for medical intervention.   

Dr. Morley explained that while patients can sometimes pass stones up to 10 millimeters, stones larger than 5 millimeters often require surgical removal.   

When surgery is necessary, Ruby Memorial Hospital, nationally recognized as High Performing in Urology by U.S. News and World Report, offers advanced surgical technology for kidney stone treatment.  

Morley said small, flexible scopes are passed through the bladder to break up stones with a laser – a procedure called a ureteroscopy. Advances in technology allow these scopes to offer clearer digital pictures of the working area, measure pressure in the kidneys, and aspirate stone fragments. In addition, lasers are safer and more efficient. These benefit the patient by leading to less pain after surgery, shorter recovery time, and a low risk of complications.   

“The hospital has been more dedicated to using these new technologies so that we can do the best we can for our patients,” Morley said. “They put patient care first.”  

And, as a part of the patient-first approach, Morley noted that the best outcomes begin with prevention.   

“It’s not one-size-fits-all when we talk about stone prevention, but there are general things we recommend,” he said.   

To reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, Morley suggested the following lifestyle and dietary adjustments:

• Drink more than 84 ounces, or two liters, of water each day. Those who are prone to forming kidney stones should drink much more. 
• Consume enough calcium-rich foods.
• Limit salt.
• Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, including fruits with citric acid. Morley recommends orange or lemon juice.
• Avoid large amounts of animal protein from red meats, fish, poultry, and pork.
• Exercise regularly.  

For some people, medication may be needed to help optimize the urine to prevent kidney stone formation.  

“I always tell my patients the best way to treat kidney stones is to prevent them from forming in the first place,” Morley said.  

For more information about WVU Medicine Urology, visit WVUMedicine.org/Urology.