Can You Die From Kidney Stones? Hidden Dangers, Complications, and Life-Saving Insights

If you’ve ever felt a sudden, sharp pain in your lower back or side that almost leaves you breathless, you’re not alone. Some say this is the most agonizing pain they ever experienced. There are people whose pain starts as dull, achy pain that suddenly turns unbearable. The pain could become so intense that it sends you to the nearest emergency room. But, can you die from kidney stones? This is a concern that is almost uniform to all.

This is a valid concern, and the truth is even though kidney stones are treatable, they shouldn’t be ignored. Kidney stones affect millions of people every year. The majority of these cases pass out naturally. But for some, they can trigger serious complications that could compromise kidney function, or worse, could become life threatening. That’s why understanding your symptoms, knowing when to seek help, and learning how to prevent them from forming is critical.

Key Takeaways:

• Kidney stones are rarely fatal, but complications like sepsis or kidney failure can be life-threatening if untreated

• Severe pain, blood in urine, fever, or difficulty urinating are warning signs that need prompt attention

• Immediate medical care is critical for infection, obstruction, or uncontrolled pain

• Stay hydrated, eat a stone-specific diet, and manage underlying conditions to reduce recurrence

• Up to 50% of people will have another stone within 5–10 years, long-term prevention is essential

What Are Kidney Stones? Understanding the Basics

Kidney stones are also called renal calculi. They are solid masses made of crystals, typically salts and minerals, that develop inside the kidneys.

Kidney stones are a common condition affecting the kidneys. It affects 1 in every 11 Americans. While they are often dismissed as a temporary inconvenience, the truth is that kidney stones can lead to serious and even fatal complications if left untreated. For most people, 90% of kidney stones will pass with hydration and pain management. But in some cases, particularly with larger stones, infection, or delayed treatment, the risks escalate dramatically.

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products out of your blood and producing urine. But when the urine contains more waste than it can dilute (a situation called concentrated urine), the excess substances can adhere to each other and form crystals, which are called stones.

These stones can stay in the kidneys or travel through the urinary tract. Some instances. These stones pass without any associated symptoms or discomfort. But more often, it can trigger excruciating pain and complications.

The Four Primary Types of Kidney Stones

There are four primary types of kidney stones. And, each stone type is influenced by different causes and requires distinct preventive strategies:

• Calcium stones

The most common type of stone is calcium stones, specifically calcium oxalate. The other type of calcium stone is calcium phosphate. These stones are usually associated with dehydration and high-oxalate intake. It happens when your urine contains less citrate, more calcium, and either oxalate or uric acid. Diets high in oxalates like spinach, nuts, or tea often predispose you to this kind of stone.

• Uric acid stones

This type of stone is formed in acidic urine. It is often related to high-protein diets, gout, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also, the stone is correlated to elevated uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia).

• Struvite stones

The stone associated with urinary tract infection is struvite stones. They develop rapidly and may become large in size. It is composed of a mixture of minerals including calcium carbonate, ammonium, magnesium, and phosphate. Bacteria that can produce ammonia often cause the struvite stone formation. The ammonia will raise the pH of urine, which is the perfect environment for the stone to develop.

• Cystine stones

These stones are produced from a rare, inherited condition where the kidneys excrete excessive amounts of cystine, which is an amino acid. The rare disease that produces this form of stone is called cystinuria, which affects how the body processes the amino acid cystine.

Who Is at Risk of Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones can affect anyone, but some people are more prone to them due to genetic, dietary, or medical factors.

Common Risk Factors Include:

• Age & Gender—Men are more commonly affected than women; It typically occurs between the age of 30 and 50 years old.

• Dehydration—Kidney stones are especially common during summer. It is because the risk of dehydration is high during this season. Low fluid intake and more losses in sweat leads to imbalance of blood fluid content. It leads to a more concentrated urine, which promotes crystal formation.

• Diet—High sodium, sugar, and protein intake increase the risk of kidney stone formation significantly. For example, excessive intake of oxalate- rich foods can lead to calcium oxalate stones.

• Family History—If someone in your family has had stones, your risk increases.

• Underlying medical conditions—Gout, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, and inflammatory bowel disease increase your risk for stone formation.

Understanding your personal risk profile is essential in determining the best strategies for prevention and management.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Kidney Stones

The symptoms of kidney stones vary depending on several factors namely—location, movement through the urinary tract, and size. Small stones may go unnoticed and pass out naturally without any discomfort. However, larger stones can cause extreme, agonizing pain and dangerous blockages.

Key Symptoms to Watch Out For:

• Severe, cramping pain on the back, side, lower abdomen, or groin

• Pain that often comes in waves; often intensifies as the stone moves throughout the urinary tract

• Hematuria—blood in urine, which may appear pink, brown, or red

• Foul-smelling urine

• Cloudy-looking urine

• Urgency and frequency or urination, which often comes with discomfort

• Fever and chills (suggests possible infection is ongoing)

When should you seek emergency care?

If you have the following, go to the nearest emergency room:

• Extreme pain unrelieved by pain relievers

• Difficulty urinating or straining

• Fever and chills

• Gross blood in the urine

These symptoms indicate that infection is ongoing, which may suggest sepsis, or obstruction. All of which require immediate attention and ignoring them would only lead to life-threatening complications.

Can Kidney Stones Be Fatal?

The short answer: Yes, though rare, kidney stones can lead to fatal outcomes when complications arise and go untreated.

Why Are They Dangerous?

The stone itself isn’t inherently lethal. The danger comes from what the stone does:

• Urine obstruction. If your urine is blocked, the pressure builds up behind that obstruction. This damages kidney tissues.

• Harboring bacteria. When urine can’t get drained, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria to grow and multiply

• Triggers infection. Eventually as the bacteria multiplication persists and is not controlled, urinary tract infection (UTI) follows and rapidly evolve into pyelonephritis or sepsis

• Cause kidney failure. Prolonged obstruction damages the kidney permanently, which when left unchecked and untreated can lead to kidney failure

More than 1,900 deaths have been attributed to kidney stones from 1999-2013. The lifetime risk for men sits at 12% and 6% in women. Even when the numbers are low, considering the period of 15 years, the fact that they do happen albeit rare makes it a life-threatening condition. The rising cases of kidney stones is equally alarming.

What are the Complications of Untreated Kidney Stones?

If left unchecked, kidney stones can trigger a cascade of complications that may lead to long-term disability or death.

Sepsis

One of the severe complications of kidney stones is sepsis. It occurs when a urinary infection enters the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation. Almost 25% of sepsis cases originate from the urinary tract. Symptoms include:

• High fever accompanied by chills

• Rapid breathing and heartbeat

• Disorientation and confusion

• Low blood pressure

• Potential multiple organ failure

Acute Kidney Failure

Complete urinary blockage over time damages the kidney tissue. Signs include:

• Drastically reduced or absent urine output

• Swelling in the legs or face

• Fatigue

• Drowsiness

• Confusion

Hydronephrosis

This occurs when urine backs up into the kidney, causing it to swell. Prolonged swelling damages nephrons and leads to permanent function loss.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Repeated stones or prolonged obstructions increase the risk of developing CKD, eventually requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Recurrent Infections & Chronic Pain

Some individuals suffer from persistent infections or ureteral spasms, leading to chronic discomfort, reduced quality of life, and emotional distress.

How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed and Treated?

Kidney stones can cause severe pain and considerable distress, often emerging abruptly and impacting daily life. Gaining a clear understanding of their diagnosis and treatment is essential for effective management and reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

Diagnosis

Physicians use a combination of:

• Imaging (computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or X-ray)

• Urine analysis (for crystals and infection)

• Blood tests (to detect kidney function issues or infection)

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on stone size, location, symptoms, and the patient’s overall health.

Conservative (Non-Surgical) Management

• Drink 2–3 liters of water daily

• Pain management (NSAIDs, opioids if severe)

• Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin) to help stones pass

• Anti-nausea medications

• Monitoring for complications

About 81-98% of stones less than 6mm spontaneously pass. So watchful waiting is sometimes necessary for these stones.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

• Shock wave Lithotripsy (SWL)

Breaks stones into fragments using sound waves

• Ureteroscopy

A thin scope is used to visualize and laser-fragment or retrieve stones

• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

Used for large or complex stones via a small back incision

PCNL offers the highest success rate (75-98%) for complete stone clearance.

Emergency Interventions

• Ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes to relieve obstruction

• Intravenous antibiotics for infections

• Surgery in the case of complications like sepsis or severe bleeding

How Can You Prevent Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are not just painful, they can disrupt your life in unexpected ways. The good news? A few mindful choices can dramatically lower your risk.

Hydration Is the Foundation

• The goal is to have more water for your kidney to filter so there’s more fluid to your urine than the minerals

• Drink water steadily throughout the day

• Increase fluid intake during exercise or hot weather

• Monitor your urine color, aim for pale yellow

Dietary Modifications

Tailor your diet to your stone type:

Lifestyle and Medication-Based Prevention

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Stay physically active

• Avoid crash diets or extreme dehydration

• Medications like thiazide diuretics, potassium citrate, or allopurinol may be prescribed based on stone type

You should always work with your doctor to identify the stone composition. This is important because long-term planning could be based on this information.

Can Kidney Stones Recur?

Yes, in fact about 50% of people who had one episode of kidney stones will develop another in 5-10 years. And, 75% of them will develop in 20 years. This is why prevention is far better than just actively treating stones after they have formed.

Final Thoughts: The Smart Approach to Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are more than just a painful inconvenience, they’re a serious medical issue with the potential for devastating outcomes. The good news is that they’re highly preventable and treatable, especially when identified early.

The smart strategy is a -pronged approach including:

• Recognizing symptoms and acting promptly

• Choose evidence-based treatments

• Commit to long-term prevention through lifestyle and medical guidance

If you’ve experienced kidney stones or suspect you may be at risk, don’t wait. Schedule an evaluation with your healthcare provider today. Take control of your kidney health before complications arise.

Quick Summary Box

• Kidney stones themselves aren't deadly, but complications like sepsis or kidney failure can be.

• Severe back/side pain, blood in urine, nausea, or painful urination

• Fever, chills, inability to urinate, or unrelenting pain require urgent care

• Untreated stones can cause infections, urinary blockages, or organ damage

• Imaging (CT, ultrasound), blood/urine tests confirm stone presence and complications

• Hydration, pain meds, or procedures like lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, or PCNL

• Drink plenty of water, adjust diet based on stone type, and manage medical conditions

• 50% risk within 5–10 years after the first episode

• Calcium, uric acid, struvite, or cystine, each has different causes and prevention

• Most stones pass, but early action prevents serious, even fatal, complications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can small kidney stones be dangerous?

Yes, small stones can cause blockages or infections, requiring medical attention. Monitor symptoms and consult a doctor if needed.

What should I do if I think I have a kidney stone?

Drink plenty of water to aid passage, but seek immediate care for severe pain, fever, chills, or urination issues.

Is it normal to have recurrent kidney stones?

Recurrence is common if risk factors (diet, genetics) aren’t addressed. Work with a healthcare provider to manage risks.

References

References

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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2019). Definition & Facts for Kidney Stones | NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones/definition-facts 

NYU Langone Health. (n.d.). Types of Kidney Stones. Nyulangone.org. https://nyulangone.org/conditions/kidney-stones/types 

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. (2022, October 19). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17349-percutaneous-nephrolithotomy 

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Scales, C. D., Smith, A. C., Hanley, J. M., & Saigal, C. S. (2012). Prevalence of Kidney Stones in the United States. European Urology, 62(1), 160–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2012.03.052 

Shastri, S., Patel, J., Sambandam, K. K., & Lederer, E. D. (2023). Kidney Stone Pathophysiology, Evaluation and Management: Core Curriculum 2023. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 82(5), 617–634. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.03.017 

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