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If kidney stones are suspected, the following help:
How a stone is treated depends on its size, position and symptoms.
Kidney stones often come back, in up to one in two people within a few years. The good news: with the right prevention, the risk can be lowered considerably. What matters is that the prevention fits the stone type, because a blanket recommendation only helps to a limited extent here.
For all stone types, the same most important basic rule applies:
Beyond that, prevention differs depending on the stone type:
| Stone type | What matters most for prevention |
|---|---|
| Calcium oxalate (most common) | oxalate-rich foods in moderation (e.g. spinach, rhubarb, nuts, chocolate, black tea), enough calcium with meals, less salt and animal protein |
| Uric acid (urate) | alkalinise the urine (e.g. with citrate), reduce purine-rich food (red meat, offal, alcohol). These stones can sometimes even be dissolved with medication |
| Infection stone (struvite) | treat and prevent urinary tract infections consistently, have the stone removed as completely as possible |
| Cystine (rare, hereditary) | drink especially plenty, alkalinise the urine, plus specific medicines as prescribed |
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Stay on track with your personal prevention.
If you take preventive medicines (such as citrate or a medicine against uric acid), brite reminds you reliably, checks for interactions and keeps your plan ready for your next appointment.
Get started for freeWith severe flank pain that is typical of renal colic, you should seek medical advice to clarify the cause and treat the pain. It is especially urgent with the warning signs mentioned above, above all with fever, uncontrollable vomiting or unmanageable pain.
Even if you have had a stone before, an appointment is worthwhile in order to clarify the stone type and discuss a suitable prevention. That way you lower the risk of it happening again.
Whether a preventive medicine or pain therapy during stone passage: brite helps you remember to take it and keep the overview.
By sudden, very severe, wave-like pain in the flank that radiates into the lower abdomen and groin, often with nausea and a strong restlessness. Blood in the urine is often found as well.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers (for example diclofenac) or metamizole are usually very effective and the agents of choice. Warmth can additionally help you relax. With fever, you should seek medical help at once.
Above all with fever or chills in addition to the pain, because an infection can then back up behind the stone. Also with uncontrollable vomiting or unmanageable pain. In that case, call the emergency number or go to the emergency department.
Small stones under about 5 to 6 millimetres often pass on their own. Drinking plenty, painkillers and sometimes a medicine that widens the ureter support the passage.
The most important thing is to drink plenty, usually about 2.5 to 3 litres a day. In addition come less salt, moderate animal protein and a diet adapted to the stone type. That is why the stone should be analysed.
With the common calcium oxalate stones, it is a widespread error to strictly avoid calcium. Enough calcium with meals can actually help, because it binds oxalate in the gut.
That depends on the stone type. With calcium oxalate, it is oxalate-rich foods such as spinach, rhubarb, nuts and chocolate, plus a lot of salt. With uric acid stones, above all meat, offal and alcohol.
Above all uric acid stones can sometimes be dissolved with medication by alkalinising the urine. Other stone types cannot be dissolved this way and have to pass or be removed.
