How long it takes to pass a kidney stonedepends on how big it is.
A stone less than 4 millimeters (mm) can pass in a week or two.
Larger stones can take up to four to six weeks to pass.
Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health
What Makes a Kidney Stone?
Yourkidneysremove fluid and waste from your body.
Struvite stones are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate and are often associated with aurinary tract infection (UTI).
These stones can get large quickly.
What Do Kidney Stones Look Like When They Pass?
Kidney stones are pebble-like objects that vary in size.
They can be as small as a grain of sand to as large as a ping-pong ball.
Kidney stones can be smooth or have jagged sharp edges, and are usually yellow or brown.
What Does Passing a Kidney Stone Feel Like?
But pain is most associated with stage 2 (when it leaves the kidney).
In other cases, the pain of passing a kidney stone can be severe.
Some rank it as being worse than giving birth.
If theseat-home remediesdo not help, call your provider.
You also can avoid salty, processed foods, and foods or beverages that contain fructose.
Kidney stones can lead to infections that need to be treated.
If youre not sure what to do, call your provider.
They may have you go to urgent care or the emergency room.
Having a kidney stone means you are at greater risk of chronic kidney disease.
You also have a 50% chance of having another stone in the next few years.
Prevention
You cant always prevent kidney stones.
For example, if you already havekidney disease, you may not be able to avoid them.
However, people who have bariatric surgery for weight loss also have an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
Can Cranberry Juice Help Prevent Kidney Stones?
Some studies have shown that calcium oxalate may increase with intake.
Kidney stones can be very painful, but once the stone passes you should feel much better.
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