Purnima Rao Purnima Rao Asked 7 months ago

Can kidney stones cause kidney damage?

My friend told me that if kidney stones are left untreated, they can cause damage to the kidneys. Is this true? I'm trying to be proactive with my health and understand the risks.

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12 answers

Shreya Ghoshal Shreya Ghoshal Joined May 2026 6 months ago
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It is so incredibly stressful to worry about your kidneys failing because of a stone, I literally couldn't sleep for weeks. But please know that if you treat it on time, your kidneys will be totally fine. Don't let the anxiety take over.

Deepak Chawla Deepak Chawla Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Yes, if they block urine flow for too long, they can cause damage. Best to get an ultrasound done to check for swelling.

Nalini Sharma Nalini Sharma Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

I understand your worry. While trying home remedies like pumpkin seed juice and plenty of warm water is good for small stones, please don't rely only on them if the stone is big. Chronic blockage can silent damage the kidney, so always get a doctor's opinion.

Arjun Reddy Arjun Reddy Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

In my case, I had a 12mm stone sitting silently in my left kidney for a year without much pain. When I finally got it checked, the doctor said there was mild swelling or hydronephrosis. It cleared up once the stone was surgically removed.

Rajesh Kumar Rajesh Kumar Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Don't delay the treatment out of fear of expenses. A simple ultrasound and KFT test cost around 1000-1500 rupees in most labs, and they will clearly show if there is any swelling or kidney strain. It is much cheaper to treat a stone early than dealing with complications later.

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Consult a urologist

Neha Kapoor Neha Kapoor Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

I know how terrifying the words 'kidney damage' sound, and it is completely normal to feel scared. But please remember that this only happens if a large stone blocks the kidney for a very long time without any treatment. You are looking into it now, so you will be fine.

Vikram Sen Vikram Sen Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

Yes, persistent obstruction due to a large stone can lead to hydronephrosis and gradual kidney damage over time. However, this is highly preventable. Consulting a urologist for timely intervention is the safest course of action.

Aayush Verma Aayush Verma Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

My roommate had a huge stone and got so paranoid about his kidneys failing. But the doctor just did a quick laser thing, removed it, and his reports are completely normal now. Just don't sit on it for too long.

Rohan Salvi Rohan Salvi Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Actually yaar, don't ignore it if the pain is continuous. If the stone blocks the urine path for months, kidney damage ho sakta hai. Just go see a urologist and get it sorted, tension mat lo.

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Mayank Joshi Mayank Joshi Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Keeping me awake at 3 AM with back pain is the real damage these stones do! Jokes apart, yes, untreated blockage can harm the kidney. Get it checked so you can sleep peacefully.

Sudarshan Nair Sudarshan Nair Joined May 2026 5 months ago

In our times, we used to drink a lot of barley water and coconut water to flush out stones. But remember, if the stone is very large, it can strain the kidney. Take traditional remedies but do not ignore modern scans.

Tanvi Shah Tanvi Shah Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

Hey, I had the same fear when I got my first stone! Usually, small stones that pass quickly don't cause any permanent damage at all. Just keep drinking water and keep in touch with your doctor to monitor it.

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