Kidney stones are formed from an imbalance of salts and electrolytes that are naturally in your urine. If these salts are too concentrated they will clump together to form a stone. Kidney stones start off small, but can grow very large over time. Some stones will stay in the kidney and not cause problems. Other kidney stones, however, will travel down the ureter (tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) and cause pain. The pain is a result of the stone blocking the flow of urine and the resultant back pressure placed on the kidney. Symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Sharp cramping pain that often moves from the back to the low abdomen on one side and comes and goes

• urinary frequency or urgency

• nausea and vomiting

• pain at the end of the penis or in the testicles in men

Some stones are best managed with observation and medications to help you as you try to pass the kidney stone. Others require intervention. Because there are many types of kidney stones, your Athens Area Urology urologist will help create a kidney stone treatment strategy that is individualized to best serve you.