Kidney stones form when minerals and salts in urine — mainly calcium, oxalate, and uric acid — crystallize and clump together. Low fluid intake, certain diets, and family history all raise the risk, and stones are especially common in warmer climates where dehydration is more likely.

The classic symptom is a sudden, severe pain in the side or back that can radiate toward the lower abdomen and groin, often accompanied by nausea, blood in the urine, or a frequent urge to urinate. Smaller stones may pass on their own with hydration and pain management, but larger stones usually need active treatment.

Modern laser and endoscopic techniques mean most kidney stones today can be treated without open surgery — through the natural urinary passage, with little to no incision. Recovery is typically much faster than with older surgical methods, often allowing a return to normal activity within a few days.

If you're experiencing flank pain, blood in your urine, or a burning sensation while urinating, it's worth getting evaluated early — small stones are far easier to treat than large ones.