Kidney Stones

Urologists at MaineHealth offer the latest treatments for kidney stones. Patients can get rapid diagnosis and effective kidney stone treatment without surgery.

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard crystals that form in the kidney or urinary tract. They may get bigger over time and can be painful. Most kidney stones pass through urine. Some kidney stones require medical treatment.

Kidney stone risks

Not drinking enough fluids is a common reason for kidney stones. Other risk factors include:

  • Being overweight

  • Family history of kidney stones

  • Medical history of urinary tract infections (UTIs)

  • Having gout or Crohn’s disease

Kidney stone symptoms

The most common kidney stone symptom is pain in the side of your stomach or back. The pain may be sudden and severe, and may radiate from your side down to the groin. Other symptoms are:

  • Pain with urination

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Bloody urine

  • Urinating a lot

  • Sweating

Diagnosing kidney stones

Your doctor of healthcare provider may order a variety of tests to tell if you have kidney stones. The tests can include:

  • Urinalysis

  • Blood test

  • X-ray

  • Ultrasound

  • CT scan

Kidney stone treatment

See your doctor if you are having kidney stone symptoms. Your doctor may tell you to drink a lot of water and take a pain reliever. The kidney stone may pass when you urinate.

Your doctor may refer you to a urologist to break up or remove larger kidney stones. A larger stone can get stuck in the urinary tract and block the urine flow. Our urologists use the latest technology as an alternative to open surgery.

Search our directory to find a urologist.

Preventing kidney stones

Through Maine Medical Partners – Urology in Portland, we offer New England’s only center for preventing kidney stones in adults and children to make sure kidney stones do not return.

Primary care is your first stop for healthcare

The primary care providers at MaineHealth have the compassion and skill to care for you and the entire family. They make your health and your family’s health the first priority.