Can You Have Pain After Passing a Kidney Stone?

Kidney stones are hardened deposits of acid salts and minerals that can form inside the kidney and pass through the urinary tract. Pain levels from passing kidney stones vary according to several different factors.

Small Stones

• The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) notes that small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract without causing any pain. Frequently, these sorts of stones go completely unnoticed.

Larger Stones

• Larger kidney stones may trigger side effects including kidney damage, urinary tract infections and bleeding, reports the Mayo Clinic. Pain or discomfort associated with these conditions may potentially linger after a stone passes.

Shock Wave Treatment

• Individuals with large stones may undergo a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, which uses artificially-generated shock to break down the stones, notes the NKUDIC. After passage of stones from this method, you may experience pain and bruising in the back or abdomen.

Additional Stones

• Pain after passing a kidney stone may also result from the formation of additional stones. The NKUDIC notes that doctors typically analyze passed stones to determine their origin and help form a plan for prevention of future occurrences.

Considerations

• UpToDate for Patients notes that lithotripsy itself may trigger significant pain, and some individuals undergoing the procedure may require pain medication.