Ureteral stones header

Our team of expert urologists at Aurora Health Care uses cutting-edge treatment methods and diagnostic tools to provide the care you need for ureteral stone management.

A ureteral stone is a kidney stone that has entered the ureter (the tube that connects your kidneys to your bladder). This painful condition sometimes requires surgery to remove them. However, most of them move through the ureter on their own with lifestyle changes and medication.

These stones are formed in the kidney from waste products normally found in urine, such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid. Ureteral stones can vary in size. Most of the time they are small enough to pass through the urinary tract unnoticed, while larger ones can cause significant pain and blockages.

Are ureteral stones the same as kidney stones?

Ureteral stones are kidney stones. The only difference is the location. A kidney stone is a stone that is in the kidneys, while a ureteral stone has moved from the kidney and into one of the ureters.

The four types of ureteral stones

There are four types of ureteral stones:

• Cystine stones: Stones that form from elevated levels of the amino acid cystine.
• Uric acid stones: Stones that form from a high-protein diet or not drinking enough water.
• Struvite stones: Stones that form from frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Calcium stones: Stones that form due to elevated levels of calcium, uric acid or oxalate (a chemical found in plants and animals). These are the most common.

Symptoms of ureteral stones

Ureteral stone symptoms are very similar to what you’d feel with kidney stones. Most of the time, ureteral stones pass through the urinary system without you noticing any symptoms.

However, sometimes these stones can get stuck in the ureters and block them, causing symptoms such as:

• Blood in your urine (hematuria)
• Cloudy urine
• Frequent and sudden urge to go to the bathroom
• Intermittent pain in your back below the rib cage
• Nausea and vomiting
• Not being able to fully empty your bladder
• Pain or burning when you pee
• Pain that travels to the lower abdomen

In most cases, smaller stones will pass within one to two weeks. Once it reaches the bladder, it typically exits your body within a few days. However, if you are experiencing severe pain or any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your provider.

Diagnosis of ureteral stones

Your provider will complete a physical examination, ask about your and calcium.

Other tests your provider may perform include:

• CT scan
• Ultrasound
• X-rays

Digital imaging tests may help your urologist see the shape, size and location of your ureteral stones to provide the proper treatment.

Ureteral stone treatment

Treatment is aimed at ureteral stone removal. Non-surgical ureteral stone treatment options your provider may recommended could be simple such as prescription diuretics and lifestyle changes.

Surgical treatment options are minimally invasive and include:

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: If your ureteral stones are too large or there are too many of them, your doctor may consider percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This is when a small tube is inserted into the ureter through a small incision and removes the stones through suction.
• Shockwave lithotripsy: High energy shockwaves are used to break the ureteral stones, making them easier to move through the ureter.
• Ureteroscopy: A small tube is inserted into your urethra and moved through the bladder and into the ureter. The tube includes a laser that breaks up your ureteral stones so they can move through the ureter and into the bladder.

Ureteral stone risk factors

Anyone can have ureteral stones; however, they are more common in white men, or people assigned male at birth, between 40 and 60 years old. Dehydration is the most common cause of ureteral stones.

Other factors that increase the risk of ureteral stones include:

• Being diagnosed with conditions such as gout, UTIs, kidney disease, diabetes or hypothyroidism.
• Eating a diet high in spinach, nuts, chocolate, tea, salt and animal proteins.
• Having a family or personal history of kidney stones.
• Having a high body mass index (BMI) or obesity.
• Living in a hot climate where dehydration is more likely due to increased sweating.
• Taking medications such as diuretics, antacids with calcium and antibiotics.

Drinking enough water and making changes to your diet can decrease your risk and help prevent ureteral stones.

Preventing ureteral stones

Managing your symptoms and taking prevention measures are keys to living with ureteral stones. Some ways to prevent ureteral stones include:

• Limiting animal protein in your diet
• Limiting salt intake
• Limiting the amount of spinach, almonds, potatoes and cashews in your diet

Other steps you can take to manage symptoms include drinking plenty of water and taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to get relief from pain. Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. Talk with your doctor before using NSAIDs for pain relief.