By the Urology Team at DHS Multispecialty Hospital · Published October 14, 2026 · 6 min read
Kidney stones are common in Gujarat. Hot summers, heavy sweating and not drinking enough water make urine concentrated, which lets minerals crystallise into stones. Many people first learn they have a stone when sudden, severe pain sends them to the emergency room. This guide explains the symptoms, which signs need urgent care, how stones are treated, and how to lower your chances of getting another one.
What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?
A stone can sit quietly in the kidney for a long time. Pain usually starts when it moves into the ureter, the narrow tube between the kidney and the bladder. Typical symptoms include:
- Sudden, severe pain in the back or side, below the ribs, often coming in waves
- Pain spreading to the lower abdomen or groin
- Pink, red or brown urine (blood in the urine)
- Burning while passing urine, or needing to pass urine often
- Nausea and vomiting
Go to the emergency department straight away if you have:
- Fever or chills with stone pain, which can mean an infection behind a blocked kidney
- Pain so severe you cannot sit still or find relief
- Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down
- Very little or no urine
- A stone and only one working kidney
DHS emergency is open 24/7: +91 9081610444.
How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and usually advise a urine test and blood tests to check for infection and kidney function. Imaging such as an ultrasound or CT scan shows the size and position of the stone, which decides the treatment.
Treatment Options
Small stones: medicines and fluids
Many small stones pass on their own over days to weeks. Your doctor may prescribe pain relief, medicine that relaxes the ureter to help the stone pass, and plenty of fluids. Follow-up scans confirm that the stone has passed.
Larger or stuck stones: minimally invasive procedures
Stones that are too large to pass, are blocking the kidney, keep causing pain or come with infection need a procedure. Today most stones are treated with minimally invasive techniques, without a large cut. Depending on the stone's size and position, a urologist may use shock waves from outside the body, a thin telescope passed through the urinary tract to break and remove the stone, or a small keyhole opening in the back for large kidney stones. Your urologist will explain which approach suits you and why.
Preventing Kidney Stones
About half of people who have had a stone will have another within some years. These habits help:
- Drink enough water to pass pale yellow urine, more in summer and after sweating
- Cut down on salt, including pickles, papad and packaged snacks
- Do not stop dairy on your own; normal dietary calcium usually helps prevent stones
- Limit excess animal protein and sugary drinks
- Ask about stone analysis, as knowing the stone type guides prevention
Urology Care at DHS Multispecialty Hospital
The Urology department at DHS treats diseases of the kidneys, bladder and prostate, with minimally invasive surgery for kidney stones, prostate conditions and urological cancers. Care is led by Dr. Darshil Shah (MS General Surgery, MCh Urology, Gold Medal), who specialises in minimally invasive urological surgery, kidney stone management and prostate treatment.
Living with stone pain or recurring stones? Talk to a urologist.
Book a Consultation Call +91 9081610444 Urology at DHSAbout this article. Written by the Urology Team at DHS Multispecialty Hospital, Ahmedabad, a NABH-accredited multispecialty hospital. This article is for health awareness only and does not replace personal medical advice. If you have symptoms, please consult a doctor promptly.