[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/04\/how-to-treat-kidney-stones-at-home\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/04\/how-to-treat-kidney-stones-at-home\/","headline":"How to Stop Kidney Stone Pain at Home","name":"How to Stop Kidney Stone Pain at Home","description":"If you have kidney stones, you don't always need to go to the doctor. Read on for how \u2014 and when \u2014 you should treat kidney stones at home.","datePublished":"2022-04-22","dateModified":"2026-01-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology-regions","name":"Urology","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/urology\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1290259746.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1290259746.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/04\/how-to-treat-kidney-stones-at-home\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Urology"],"wordCount":1022,"articleBody":"Kidney stones\u00a0can be painful. While some kidney stones are small and pass harmlessly out of the body, others can lead to complications like infections and kidney damage.In some cases, it may be OK to treat kidney stones at home. It depends on whether the kidney stone is blocking the\u00a0urinary tract, and how much pain it\u2019s causing.Learn when and how you can treat kidney stones at home, and when you should call a doctor for treatment.What Are Kidney Stones?Kidney stones are hard masses that form from crystals in the urine. They can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Sometimes they stay in the kidney, but often they travel through the urinary tract.If a kidney stone is small enough, you may not even know you have one as it passes through the urinary system.However, a large kidney stone can cause significant pain. It can also block the flow of urine, causing a harmful backup.The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate stones.Calcium naturally binds to a substance called oxalate. Ideally, calcium binds with oxalate in the stomach and intestines before moving to the kidneys. Then, the substances leave the body without forming stones.However, if calcium and oxalate combine in the urine, they can form kidney stones, especially if there\u2019s not enough liquid to dilute them.Kidney stones are common in adults. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that\u00a01 in 10 people will have a kidney stone\u00a0at some point in their lives. They affect more men than women.What are Kidney Stone Symptoms?If you\u2019ve had them before, you may recognize the symptoms of kidney stones.Typical symptoms of kidney stones are:Bloody urine.Chills.Constant need to urinate.Fever.Nausea.Pain in your lower back or side (flank pain).Vomiting.What Are Risk Factors for Kidney Stones?There\u2019s no single cause of kidney stones, but some people are more likely to get them.Risk factors include:Dehydration.Eating a high-protein and\/or high-salt (sodium) diet.Genetics.Obesity.How Can I Stop Kidney Stone Pain?To get quick relief from kidney stones, try these methods:Drink a few glasses of water.Lie down with a heating pad on your middle to lower back.Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil\u00ae or Motrin\u00ae) or naproxen sodium (Aleve\u00ae).How Can I Treat Kidney Stones at Home?Some people treat kidney stones at home using remedies like apple cider vinegar, pomegranate juice, and dandelion tea. But these drinks have not been clinically proven to dissolve kidney stones.If you feel a kidney stone coming on \u2014 or want to prevent future stones from forming \u2014 try these proven methods.Drink lots of waterThe absolute best kidney stone home remedy is simple: Drink more water. Liquid helps flush the stones through your urinary tract. Aim for at least 12 8-ounce glasses of water per day if you\u2019re trying to pass a stone.If possible, catch the stone in a strainer when it passes. Your doctor may want to examine it to determine what kind of kidney stone you have.After the stone passes, keep drinking lots of water to help prevent more stones from forming. If you\u2019re\u00a0well-hydrated, your urine should be pale yellow. Dark or very yellow urine is a sign of dehydration.Cut back on other drinksDrinking coffee, tea, alcohol, and soda can increase dehydration. Water is the best drink to flush out kidney stones.Add lemons to your water and foodTo boost the health benefits of your drinking water, add lemon juice,\u00a0which contains the chemical citrate. Citrate may help break up small kidney stones as well as prevent them from forming in the first place.To get the benefit, add 4 ounces of lemon juice to your water throughout the day. You can also spritz lemon juice on fish, chicken, salads, and other veggies.Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieversTo help relieve the discomfort of kidney stones, you can take an NSAID. They include OTC pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil\u00ae, Motrin\u00ae), acetaminophen (Tylenol\u00ae), and naproxen (Aleve\u00ae). Follow the package directions for the correct dosage.Avoid salty foodsA high-sodium diet increases the chances of kidney stones forming.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. But if you\u2019re susceptible to kidney stones, you should limit sodium to 1,500 mg per day.Cutting back on salt won\u2019t immediately help your kidney stone pass. However, it can help\u00a0prevent more kidney stones\u00a0from forming.Cut back on animal proteinA meat-heavy diet raises your risk of getting kidney stones. Replace some servings of meat, fish, poultry, and eggs with high-protein plant-based foods, such as beans, edamame, and tofu.Eat the right amounts of foods with calcium and oxalateIf you have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones, ask your doctor about how you should adjust your diet.To help prevent kidney stones from forming, it\u2019s important to include foods containing calcium in your diet as part of your meals. That way, the calcium binds to the oxalate in your digestive tract and prevents it from forming stones in your urine.Calcium-rich foods include:Beans.Cheese.Green, leafy vegetables.Milk.Yogurt.Avoid eating too many high-oxalate foods.Oxalate-rich foods to avoid include:AlmondsBeetsChocolatePeanutsRhubarbSpinachSweet potatoesWhen Should I See a Doctor for Kidney Stones?Sometimes a kidney stone home remedy isn\u2019t enough. You need to see a doctor right away if you have:Blood in your urine.Severe pain.Trouble urinating.Your doctor can treat larger kidney stones with medicine or, in some cases, surgery.SourcesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Treatment for Kidney Stones, LinkNational Kidney Foundation, 6 Easy Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones, LinkNational Kidney Foundation, Kidney Stone Diagnosis, LinkNHS, Kidney Stones Treatment, LinkUrology Care Foundation, How Kidney Stones are Diagnosed and Treated, LinkHarvard Medical School, 5 things that can help you take a pass on kidney stones, LinkConsumer Reports, Natural Remedies for Kidney Stones, LinkCDC, Sodium, Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Stop Kidney Stone Pain at Home","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/04\/how-to-treat-kidney-stones-at-home\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]