Can kidney stones cause abdominal pain?

Calculi (stones) refer to solid masses that form within the human body. Clinically, biliary tract stones and urinary tract stones are the most commonly encountered types. But can calculi cause abdominal pain? The following addresses this question.

Can calculi cause abdominal pain?

Typically, calculi remain stationary at their site of formation and produce no noticeable symptoms. However, when a calculus dislodges and migrates into a narrow anatomical passage—causing obstruction—it often triggers severe pain. Since both biliary and urinary tract stones are located within the abdomen, they can indeed cause abdominal pain, frequently presenting as sudden, intense abdominal discomfort.

After gallbladder stones form, they frequently irritate the gallbladder, leading to inflammation of the gallbladder wall (cholecystitis). Patients commonly experience dull, persistent upper abdominal pain. Following excessive eating, binge eating, or consumption of large amounts of high-fat foods, stones may suddenly obstruct the biliary ducts, precipitating acute cholecystitis. This manifests as pronounced right upper quadrant abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever and jaundice. Because gallbladder stones and cholecystitis frequently coexist and mutually exacerbate one another, the condition tends to become chronic and refractory. Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is considered the optimal treatment for symptomatic gallbladder stones.

Knowledge Extension: How are calculi treated?

Calculi may develop anywhere in the urinary system, with renal and ureteral stones being the most common clinically. Patients often experience sudden, severe colicky pain in the flank or lower abdomen—commonly triggered by vigorous physical activity, labor, or jostling. This pain typically results from a dislodged stone traveling downward with urine flow and becoming lodged in a narrowed segment of the ureter, inducing ureteral spasm.

Small stones may pass spontaneously with increased fluid intake and appropriate pharmacologic therapy (e.g., alpha-blockers or other medical expulsive therapy). For larger stones that are unlikely to pass spontaneously, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) may be used to fragment the stone into smaller pieces, facilitating spontaneous passage in the urine. In cases of very large stones or failed conservative management, surgical intervention—tailored to the patient’s specific clinical situation—may be required to remove the stone.

The above outlines whether calculi can cause abdominal pain. We hope this information is helpful to you.