How to relieve pain during a kidney stone attack?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on April 13, 2025
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When kidney stones occur, there are often significant pain symptoms. This is mainly due to the smaller stones in the kidney moving within the kidney or falling into the ureter, stimulating the ureter wall, causing ureteral spasms and subsequent pain. The pain usually appears suddenly and can be very intense. In such cases, it is necessary to go to the hospital promptly for spasm relief and pain treatment. Medications such as scopolamine, atropine, or tramadol can be used for pain relief. If necessary, scopolamine may need to be administered intravenously. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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How to treat polycystic kidney kidney stones

Patients with polycystic kidney disease who develop kidney stones should be treated the same as patients without polycystic kidney disease. It is encouraged for patients to drink more water. If the stones are symptomatic, treatments such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be considered. The main principles of treatment include managing renal colic, promoting stone expulsion, dissolving stones, or surgical interventions, as well as preventing recurrence. During a renal colic episode, it is primarily recommended to administer antispasmodic analgesics. Commonly used medications include scopolamine butylbromide and atropine, or combinations of atropine with pethidine or morphine. Expulsion therapy mainly involves drinking plenty of water, proper physical activity, and the use of some antispasmodic drugs to help expel the stones. Surgical treatment is aimed at patients with anuria and post-renal acute renal failure, or in cases where the stone diameter is larger than one centimeter, or if the expulsion therapy is ineffective, especially if there are still episodes of renal colic. Systemic metabolic disorders are an important cause of kidney stone formation, thus even after stones are cleared, recurrence is possible. Therefore, to prevent recurrence, it is advisable to ensure a daily urine output of 2000 to 2500 milliliters, avoid drinking tea and coffee as much as possible, adjust dietary habits, and treat systemic metabolic abnormalities, such as hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, and cystinuria, among others.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones fall under the category of urological diseases. If one suffers from kidney stones, it is necessary to visit a hospital and register at the urology department. Examinations such as color ultrasound and CT scans are required to precisely determine the stone's location and size, and to check if it is accompanied by spinal infection or other conditions for appropriate treatment. If the stone within the kidney is comparatively small, such as about 5 millimeters, conservative treatment to facilitate stone expulsion is generally adopted. This can be achieved through increased water intake and frequent urination, physical exercise, in conjunction with medications like stone-expelling granules and solutions to promote the expulsion of the stone from the body. If the stone is larger and causes renal accumulation of fluid or even infection, it is necessary to first control the infection before proceeding with surgical intervention.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

The symptoms of kidney stones vary depending on the size of the stones and whether they cause obstruction. If the stones are relatively small, they can usually pass smoothly through the ureters and urethra and be expelled from the body without causing any symptoms. When the stones are expelled, small stones can be seen in the urine. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction in the kidneys or bladder, they generally do not cause any symptoms. Symptoms occur only when larger stones move downward and become lodged in the ureters, causing back pain, nausea, and vomiting. The stones can scratch the walls of the ureters, leading to blood in the urine. When stones get stuck in the urethra, it can cause painful urination discomfort and perineal pain. Since the stones can scratch the inner walls of the urethra, they may also cause blood in the urine.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How to relieve the pain of kidney stones

Kidney stones, if mobile within the kidney, can cause intense pain in the patient's lumbar and abdominal area, clinically referred to as renal colic. Patients often experience unbearable pain, heavy sweating, along with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. In such cases, it is crucial to seek timely treatment at the hospital's urology department. Doctors will use medications to alleviate pain and spasm. If there is nausea and vomiting, antiemetic drugs will also be used to relieve symptoms. Once diagnosed with kidney stones, patients are advised to seek treatment at a hospital as soon as possible.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Are urinary stones the same as kidney stones?

Urinary stones and kidney stones are not exactly the same. Urinary stones refer to stones in the urinary system, including kidney stones, ureter stones, bladder stones, and urethral stones. Therefore, kidney stones are just one type of stones in the urinary system, and urinary stones include kidney stones. If kidney stones occur, one should promptly visit the hospital's urology department for examinations such as ultrasound or CT scans. This facilitates understanding the specific size, location, number of stones, and whether there is accompanying hydronephrosis or infection, allowing for targeted treatment. If the stones are small, drinking plenty of water, urinating frequently, and exercising can help expel the stones from the body. If the stones are large, or there is hydronephrosis, it is advisable to consider surgery as soon as possible.