Kidney Stones

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are small, hard crystals or deposits that form inside your kidneys when salts and other minerals in your urine bond together. These stones often vary in shape and size, with some growing to be quite large.

While some kidney stones may remain in the kidneys without causing symptoms, others can pass through the urinary tract, leading to intense pain as they move down the ureter (the thin tube that leads to the bladder). Some patients in the Denver metro area can pass stones naturally, but others may require medical or surgical intervention.

If you live in Aurora, Lone Tree, Boulder, Westminster, or Denver and suspect a kidney stone, early diagnosis and care can help minimize complications.

4 Types of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones affect more than 500,000 people each year in the U.S., according to the American Urological Association. Whether you’re in Denver or surrounding areas, understanding what type of kidney stone you may have can impact your treatment plan.

Anyone who has experienced a large kidney stone knows the severe pain that can come along with one, but did you know there are different types of stones?

1. Calcium-oxalate stones - The most common type. These can be triggered by a diet high in salt or oxalates, certain medications, or genetics.
2. Struvite stones - These typically affect women and are often linked to kidney infections. They can grow large and frequently require surgical removal.
3. Uric acid stones - Often linked to high animal protein consumption (such as red meat), and more common in individuals with gout or inflammatory bowel disease.
4. Cystine stones - Rare, and caused by a genetic disorder called cystinuria.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The symptoms of kidney stones can range from none to extreme. In Denver-area clinics and hospitals, kidney stone pain is a common reason for emergency room visits, particularly when stones are large and difficult to pass.

When a kidney stone has passed into the urinary tract, symptoms may include:

• Severe pain, usually located in the side or the back; pain may spread to the abdomen and the groin area as well
• Urinary symptoms such as painful urination, urinary urge, and frequent need to urinate
• Blood in the urine and/or foul smelling urine
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Fever, if the stone has caused an infection

Diagnosing a Kidney Stone

Patients in Denver and surrounding cities who present with kidney stone symptoms—either in a urology clinic or emergency setting—often undergo one or more diagnostic tests:

• CT scan
• Ultrasound
• Plain X-ray

If you’re in Boulder, Westminster, or the southern Denver suburbs, accurate diagnosis ensures timely and effective treatment.

Who Is at Risk for Developing Kidney Stones?

While anyone can produce kidney stones, certain people are more at risk for developing stones than others. Causes and risk factors for kidney stones include:

• A family history of stone disease, especially in first degree relatives.
• Dehydration - Lack of fluids can cause salts and other minerals in the urine to stick together to cause kidney stones.
• Certain diets - Diets high in protein, salt, oxalates (such as spinach, chocolate, nuts), excess vitamin C or D can increase your risk of developing kidney stones.
• Certain medical conditions - Gastric conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and chronic diarrhea affect the way the body absorbs water, calcium and oxalates, which increases levels of stone-forming substances in the urine.
• Metabolic diseases (such as hyperparathyroidism or gout).
• Obesity has been linked to higher incidences of stone formation.

Metabolic Disorders that Cause Kidney Stones

It’s important to identify the reason why your body makes kidney stones so you can learn how to prevent future stones from forming. Once your acute stone episode has passed or after you have healed from your procedure(s), your provider will shift focus to stone prevention.

In some cases, the underlying cause of your stone disease (called a metabolic disorder) can be completely treated and your risk of recurrent stones eliminated.

In most cases, stone disease cannot be cured; but recurrence can be greatly reduced if you follow a well designed stone prevention plan.

A patient-specific stone prevention plan will be developed once you complete the recommended testing. Testing usually consists of an at home 24-hour urine collection and specialized blood tests.

Common metabolic disorders include:

• Hypercalciuria—Elevated calcium in the urine. This is NOT caused by consuming a normal calcium diet. Testing will reveal the underlying disorder as there are several causes.
• Hyperoxaluria—Elevated oxalates in the urine. This is generally caused by consuming foods high in oxalates. Oxalates are found in foods such as spinach, peanuts, and some teas. Patients who have bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) and also patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery are especially at risk.
• Hypocitraturia—Low levels of citrate in the urine. Citrate is also known as citric acid and is the most potent known stone inhibitor that prevents the formation of crystals in the urine. Citrate is found in high concentrations in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. Some patients have low levels of citrate in their urine that may need medication or supplements to adequately treat.
• Gouty diathesis—Uric acid stones. These stones generally form due to acidic urine. This disorder has been associated with gout; however, the disorder that causes kidney stones is distinct. This is a curable form of stone disease and treatment focuses on alkalinizing the urine (minimizing the acidity of the urine).

Dietary Risks for Kidney Stones

• Over-consumption of salt— This leads to elevated levels of calcium in the urine.
• Under-consumption of magnesium— Magnesium is another potent stone inhibitor.
• Over-consumption of proteins— Once thought to be primarily linked to red meat, over-consumption of any protein can lead to an environment in the kidney that promotes the formation of stones.

Expert Kidney Stone Care Across the Denver Metro

From advanced diagnostics to personalized treatment and prevention plans, our experienced providers offer comprehensive care for kidney stones to patients across Denver, Aurora, Lone Tree, Boulder, Westminster, and surrounding communities. If you're experiencing symptoms or need follow-up care for kidney stone disease, we're here to help you take control of your urologic health.