Devansh Mehta Devansh Mehta Asked 4 months ago

Can kidney stones grow in size?

I recently found out I have a small kidney stone, about 4mm. I'm worried it might grow bigger over time and cause more problems. Can kidney stones actually increase in size if left untreated?

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8 answers

Kartik Malhotra Kartik Malhotra Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago
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Yes, they absolutely can grow over time if the underlying minerals keep building up in your kidneys. But don't worry too much about it, we can easily manage this. Just make sure you get a scan to see where it stands, and keep drinking plenty of water to stop new crystals from sticking.

Anjali Deshpande Anjali Deshpande Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

Please don't ignore this like I did! I had a tiny 3mm stone that I ignored because the pain stopped, but over two years it grew to 12mm and I ended up needing surgery. Get regular checkups and follow your doctor's advice on diet and hydration so you don't repeat my mistake.

Ritu Saxena Ritu Saxena Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Yes, they can grow if left untreated or if there are dietary issues. When my son was diagnosed, the doctor explained that not drinking enough water allows the stone to collect more calcium and grow larger. We now make sure he has water bottles everywhere to prevent it from getting any bigger.

Snehal Patil Snehal Patil Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

I just found out I have a 4mm stone and I am really scared that it will grow bigger very quickly. Does it take months or years for a kidney stone to grow? If anyone has experienced this, please let me know, I am very anxious.

Tina D'Souza Tina D'Souza Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Yes, they can get bigger if the conditions are right, but hey, don't stress too much about it right now! Just focus on drinking your water, maybe add some lemon to it, and get it checked by a doc. Stressing won't help, but a simple plan of action definitely will.

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Deepak Iyer Deepak Iyer Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

I've been reading up on this recently because my dad has them, and yes, they can grow from tiny sand-like particles into quite large stones if the urine is too concentrated. It seems staying super hydrated is the number one defense to stop them from growing. Fascinating how simple water makes such a big difference.

Aman Verma Aman Verma Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Yes, kidney stones can definitely grow in size if the mineral concentration in your urine remains high. Regular scans are the best way to monitor them.

Rajinder Singh Rajinder Singh Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

They definitely grow if you don't change your lifestyle habits. Since I have high blood pressure, my doctor told me that kidney health is crucial, so I have to be extra careful with my salt intake and hydration. Keeping up with regular health checkups helps catch any changes before they become a big problem.

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