Until a kidney stone moves into the ureter - the tube connecting the kidney and bladder - you may not know you have it. At that point, these signs and symptoms may occur:

• Pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Fluctuations in pain intensity, with periods of pain lasting 20 to 60 minutes
• Pain waves radiating from the side and back to the lower abdomen and groin
• Bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Pain on urination
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Fever and chills if an infection is present

Kidney stones that don't cause these symptoms may show up on X-rays when you seek medical care for other problems, such as blood in your urine or recurring urinary tract infections. You should talk to your health care provider if you think you may have a kidney stone.

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