Yes, in most cases you can! Kidney stones are common, and the most common forms of them vary in sizes between a grain of rice and a corn kernel. If you get a kidney stone and it’s around this size, chances are you can pass it on your own.

Learn more about kidney stones from our AFC Urgent Care Memphis team below!

What Is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is a hard deposit in the urinary system made up of a variety of minerals and substances.

Substances like uric acid and calcium usually pass through the urinary system without causing any harm, but when urine is too concentrated, these substances crystalize and cause kidney stones. We’ve listed the most common kidney stone symptoms below.

Common Kidney Stone Symptoms

• Severe pain on either side of your lower back
• More vague pain or stomach ache that doesn’t go away
• Blood in the urine
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy

If I Get a Kidney Stone, How Can I Get Rid of It?

If a kidney stone is small, you can pass it on your own. If it’s really big, like the size of a golfball in some instances, you will probably need medical care to either shrink it or have it surgically removed.

If you believe you have a kidney stone, visit our AFC center. We will run a few tests to confirm the diagnosis and decipher what steps should be taken next.

Ways Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed

• Blood testing. Blood tests may suggest that you have an excessive amount of calcium or uric acid in your system, which can indicated that kidney stones are present.
• Urine analysis. The 24-hour urine collection test may reveal that you’re excreting either too many stone-forming minerals or too few stone-preventing minerals. Your doctor may ask you to collect two urine samples over the course of two days for this test.
• Imaging. Urinary tract imaging testing may reveal kidney stones. Even small stones can be detected using a CT scan. Simple abdominal X-rays aren’t utilized as often as they have been in the past, due to the fact that they can overlook minor kidney stones.
• Analysis of passed stones. If you believe you have kidney stones, you may be asked to strain your urine to catch passed stones. Your doctor will then use this information to determine what’s causing your kidney stones and form a plan to prevent future kidney stones.

Think you may have a kidney stone? Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC team today!