Kidney Stones: Why They Keep Coming Back and What to Do About It

If you’ve had a kidney stone, you remember the pain. It hits you out of nowhere  a crushing, nauseating agony in your back or side that makes it impossible to stand still. And then, months or years later, it happens again. Because kidney stones, unfortunately, tend to recur. About half of people who’ve had one will get another within five to seven years.

The good news is that with the right approach, recurrence can be significantly reduced. But first, let’s understand what’s actually going on.

What are kidney stones?

Stones form when certain minerals in the urine become too concentrated and start to crystallise. The most common type  calcium oxalate  forms when there’s too much calcium or oxalate in the urine, often combined with too little fluid. Other types include uric acid stones (linked to a high-protein diet and conditions like gout) and struvite stones (usually caused by chronic urinary infections).

Gwalior and the broader Madhya Pradesh region have a notably higher incidence of kidney stones compared to many parts of India. Hard water, hot climate, dietary habits, and chronically low water intake all contribute to this.

Symptoms worth knowing

Classic kidney stone pain starts in the back, below the ribs, and often moves around to the front and down toward the groin as the stone travels. It comes in waves and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine (which can range from pink-tinged to visibly red), and pain when urinating.

Fever with kidney stone pain is an emergency. It suggests the stone is blocking the kidney and infection has set in  this can become serious quickly and needs immediate attention at Kalyan Hospital, Gwalior.

When stones pass on their own  and when they don’t

Stones smaller than 5mm often pass by themselves, helped along by drinking plenty of water and sometimes a medication to relax the ureter. It’s not comfortable, but it works.

Stones above 7 to 8mm rarely pass on their own and usually need intervention. At Kalyan Hospital Gwalior, we have three main approaches depending on the stone’s size and location: ESWL  shock waves aimed at the stone from outside the body, breaking it into fragments the kidney can pass naturally. URS (Ureteroscopy)  a thin scope is passed through the urethra and a laser is used to break the stone. PCNL  for large stones, a small incision in the back provides direct access to the kidney.

Why do they keep coming back?

Usually because whatever caused the stone in the first place hasn’t changed. If you’re not drinking enough water, if your diet is high in salt or animal protein, if you’ve never had the stone’s composition analysed  you’re at the same risk you always were.

At Kalyan Hospital, we analyse stone composition whenever possible after removal. This tells us exactly what dietary and medical steps will reduce your risk of recurrence.

The simplest, most powerful prevention

Drink more water. Consistently. Aim for 2.5 litres a day at minimum  more in summer. Your urine should be pale yellow, not dark. This alone significantly reduces the risk of stone formation. It sounds too simple to work. It’s not.