How do kidney stones travel?
My elder brother had kidney stones recently, and he was in so much pain. The doctor explained a bit, but I'm still wondering how exactly these stones move inside the body. Is it always painful when they travel?
5 answers
8 months ago
Most liked
Look boss, they start in your kidneys and have to go through a very thin tube called the ureter to reach your bladder. If the stone is tiny, it slips through without you even knowing, but if it is bigger, it gets stuck and that is when the real pain starts. Drink loads of water to push it down, but if the pain is too much, don't act brave and go to a doctor.
9 months ago
I was just reading about this yesterday out of curiosity! It is crazy how they have to squeeze through that tiny ureter tube to get to the bladder before finally leaving the body. Apparently, gravity and lots of fluids are the main things that help them make the journey.
8 months ago
Actually, they move with your urine flow from the kidney down to the bladder and then out. I had a 5mm one last year and it took almost two weeks of constant water intake and medication to finally flush it out. If you have a busy desk job like me, keep a giant water bottle next to you because dehydration just halts the whole process.
Powered by
Consult a neurologist
yrs exp
5 months ago
I completely understand how scary this sounds, honestly I was terrified of how something sharp could move inside my body. It basically travels from the kidney down the urinary tract, and yes, it can hurt when it moves. Just try to breathe, stay hydrated, and keep in touch with your doctor so you don't panic like I did.
4 months ago
Please be very careful with this. Mine got stuck halfway in the ureter and caused a severe kidney infection because the urine was blocked. If you feel sudden, sharp pain in your back or side, or if you feel feverish, go to the hospital immediately instead of waiting for it to travel out naturally.