K.N.O.W. Home Health - KIDNEY STONES

Patient Education – Kidney Stones

What It Is

Kidney stones are hard lumps made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They can be small like a grain of sand or big like a marble. They can cause pain when moving through your urinary tract (the system that makes and removes urine).

Causes and Risk Factors

Kidney stones form when your urine has more minerals and salts than your body can dissolve.
Common causes and risk factors include:

Not drinking enough water
Eating too much salt, sugar, or protein
Family history of kidney stones
Certain medical conditions (e.g., gout, urinary tract infections)
Being overweight
Taking certain medications that increase calcium or uric acid in urine

Signs and Symptoms (Including Early Warning Signs)

Early warning signs:

Pain in your side or back that comes and goes
Blood in urine (pink, red, or brown color)
Feeling the need to urinate often or urgently

Other symptoms:

Sharp pain in lower back, belly, or groin
Nausea or vomiting
Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
Fever and chills (may mean infection — needs immediate attention)

Complications if Untreated or Noncompliant

Severe infection in the kidney or blood (life-threatening)
Kidney damage or failure
Ongoing pain and inability to urinate

Treatment and Self-Care Measures

Treatment depends on size and type of stone:

Small stones: Drink more water, take pain medicine, and let the stone pass naturally
Large stones: May need surgery or special procedures to break stones into smaller pieces

Self-care:

Drink at least 8–10 glasses of water daily
Take pain medicine as prescribed
Strain urine to catch stones for testing
Follow dietary advice from your healthcare provider

Common Types of Medications

Pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) – help manage pain; side effects: stomach upset, liver or kidney strain if overused
Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) – help relax muscles to let stones pass; side effects: dizziness, low blood pressure
Antibiotics – if infection is present; side effects: diarrhea, nausea, allergic reaction

Dietary Needs

Drink more water daily
Reduce salt and processed food
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Limit animal protein (meat, eggs) if advised
Avoid foods high in oxalate if you have calcium oxalate stones (e.g., spinach, nuts, chocolate)

Lifestyle Changes

Maintain healthy weight
Exercise regularly
Avoid sugary drinks
Manage other health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes

Safety Considerations

Take medications exactly as prescribed
Report side effects right away
Do not wait if pain becomes severe or you cannot urinate

Prevention and Maintenance Tips

Drink plenty of fluids every day
Eat a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods
Follow your provider’s plan for repeat testing or imaging
Monitor for any early signs of kidney stones coming back

When to Call for Help

Call Home Health Agency or Doctor if:

Pain is getting worse
You have trouble urinating
You notice blood in urine that does not go away
You have mild fever or chills

Call 911 or go to Emergency Room if:

Severe pain that will not stop
Fever over 101°F with chills
Unable to urinate at all
Vomiting so much you cannot keep fluids down

True or False Test Statements

(Instructions: Mark each statement True or False. If false, correct the statement so it is accurate.)

True or False: Kidney stones are always small and never need surgery.
True or False: Drinking plenty of water can help prevent kidney stones.
True or False: Eating too much salt can increase the risk of kidney stones.
True or False: Family history can be a risk factor for kidney stones.
True or False: Sharp pain in the lower back can be a symptom of kidney stones.
True or False: Fever and chills with kidney stones may mean infection and require urgent care.
True or False: Pain medicine is the only treatment for all kidney stones.
True or False: Straining urine can help the doctor find out what kind of stone you have.
True or False: Some kidney stones may require surgery or special procedures to remove them.
True or False: Tamsulosin is a medicine that can help stones pass more easily.
True or False: Antibiotics are given to everyone with kidney stones.
True or False: Drinking less water is a good way to prevent kidney stones.
True or False: Eating a lot of spinach can increase the risk of certain kidney stones.
True or False: Blood in the urine can be an early warning sign of kidney stones.
True or False: Kidney stones cannot cause kidney damage.
True or False: Reducing salt in the diet is part of kidney stone prevention.
True or False: A person should call their doctor if they have trouble urinating.
True or False: Severe pain that will not stop is a reason to go to the emergency room.
True or False: Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent kidney stones.
True or False: Cloudy or bad-smelling urine can be a symptom of kidney stones.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Individualizing Learning

When teaching a specific patient, you can ask individualized questions to make sure the teaching applies to their life and health:

What type of kidney stone do you have (if known)?
How much water do you drink daily, and how can we increase it if needed?
Are you taking any medications that could affect your kidney stone risk?
Have you had kidney stones before? How were they treated?
Do you have other health conditions (like gout or diabetes) that might increase your risk?
What is your usual diet like? Do you eat foods high in salt, protein, or oxalate?
Have you experienced fever or chills with your symptoms?
Have you been able to urinate normally?
Do you have any medication allergies we should consider?
What pain medicine has worked for you in the past?
Have you noticed blood in your urine recently?
Are you able to get to the doctor quickly if symptoms get worse?
Do you have a family history of kidney stones?
How do you usually keep track of your daily fluid intake?
Do you use supplements (like calcium or vitamin C) that might increase your stone risk?