How common is painful urination in kidney stones?

A stone can irritate the lining of the urinary tract as it moves. Discomfort on passing urine may be accompanied by a strong urge to urinate, lower abdominal discomfort, blood visible in the urine, or waves of severe pain in the side that may travel toward the groin. Symptoms vary with the stone’s position and movement.

Contact a clinician for new painful urination combined with stone-like pain, visible blood in the urine, or difficulty passing urine. They can consider urine testing and decide whether imaging is appropriate. Keep a note of where the pain is, whether it comes in waves and any change in urine appearance; this can help during the assessment.

Seek urgent care for fever or chills with urinary pain, severe pain that is not settling, vomiting, inability to pass urine, or a sudden drop in the amount of urine you pass. A stone can sometimes obstruct urine flow, and infection alongside obstruction needs prompt treatment.

Ask whether your symptoms fit a possible stone, whether infection or blockage needs to be ruled out, and how you should manage pain while waiting for review. Tell the clinician about prior stones, a single functioning kidney, kidney disease, or medicines you take.