The smaller your kidney stone the easier and faster it passes out naturally!
From a clinical perspective, we strongly recommend medical treatment and conservative management for stones that are less than 5 mm in size. Furthermore, for most stone sizes less than 5 mm in size, with a combination of medications and aggressive fluid therapy we can expect the stone to be expelled out of the body roughly in about 4 to 6 weeks.
How long to pass to kidney stone naturally? it can take anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks with the right combination of medicines and fluid therapy. Moreover, most doctors would prescribe alpha blockers like tamsulosin to help you pass out the stones faster and quicker.
One important fact to bear in mind is that, if you get an ultrasound report showing a stone size of 4 mm or lesser, the stone would pass normally without any medical management in 30 days. Of course, as with any stones of any size, you would have pain. There are simple home remedies to treat kidney stone pain effectively that can aid stone passage.
One of the best ways to quickly pass out small stones is to drink at least 3.5 to 4 liters of water every day.
Stone location:
The location of stones is another important factor that decides whether the stones will pass out naturally or not. In general, stones that are lower and closer to the bladder will pass out more quickly without any treatment.
However, stones that are higher up in the kidney may not pass out as quickly. Stones that are located in the lower pole of the kidney are particularly notorious and are difficult to treat.
This is exactly why you should see a kidney stone expert for a proper assessment of stone size. Depending on the size and location of your kidney stone, a suitable line of management can then be chosen.
How long does kidney stone pain last after passing?
Interestingly, one of the most common signs that you are passing a kidney stone is a pain in the sides, combined with blood in the urine. This pain is actually a referred pain and can radiate down to the groin.
Furthermore, smaller stones seem to cause more pain than larger stones, although there is no global consensus among experts on the facts. Usually though the pain after passing a small stone, say 3 to 4 mm in size should disappear in 24 to 48 weeks. Persistent pain, on the other hand, is probably a sign that there are additional stones. This might have been missed during a routine ultrasound.
Either way, the most important thing to take home today is that “stone size and location ultimately decides whether the stone will pass out naturally or will stay stuck”.
