Kidney Stones
Kidney Stone Clinic at UVM Health
Kidney stones are common and can impact your quality of life. About one in 11 people will experience a kidney stone. You’re also 75% more likely to develop another kidney stone after you’ve had your first one.
The nephrologists at the University of Vermont Health Kidney Stone Clinic are experts in kidney stone prevention. Our team uses a comprehensive approach to assess and lower your kidney stone risk with hydration, medications and nutrition. We offer in-person care at convenient locations throughout Vermont and northern New York along with digital consultations whenever possible.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As one of the leading kidney care programs in the region, we offer:
- Dedicated kidney stone experts: Our board-certified nephrologists and urologists work together to treat and prevent kidney stones. Our Kidney Stone Clinic team helps you make lifestyle changes that keep stones from forming and growing.
- Support and education: We monitor you and teach self-monitoring techniques to help you manage kidney stone risk factors. We make sure you understand how certain substances in your urine may lead to kidney stone formation.
- Advanced research: As part of a health system anchored by an academic center, our physician-leaders participate in research and innovation to improve patient care. Your provider may talk with you about participating in a clinical trial or research study.
Types of Kidney Stones We Treat
Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like masses of tiny crystals that form in the kidneys. They may develop when levels of certain substances in your urine are too high. They may also develop when your urine doesn’t contain enough of other substances that help prevent stones.
What you eat and drink and how much you exercise can contribute to the formation of certain types of kidney stones. If your urine is too concentrated, there may not be enough fluid to keep crystals from forming and hardening into kidney stones. The level of acid in your urine, which is determined by a pH test, may also affect the formation of certain kidney stones.
Kidney stone types include:
These form when there is too much calcium and oxalate in urine and not enough fluid because of inadequate fluid intake. You may develop calcium oxalate stones if you don’t drink enough fluids or if you have too much calcium or oxalate in the urine. These are the most common type of kidney stone.
These form when there is too much calcium and phosphorus, not enough fluid and too much alkali in the urine.
Develop when you have too much of a substance called cystine in your urine. Cystine stones are a rare inherited condition and result from a change (mutation) in genes that control some amino acid levels in urine. Cystine kidney stones tend to run in families.
These form as a result of urinary tract infection and blockages (obstruction). Struvite stones are a less common type of kidney stone.
These develop when there is too much of a substance called uric acid in your urine. This kidney stone type is more likely to occur in people with gout and metabolic syndrome.
Kidney Stone Symptoms
When kidney stones develop, you may experience:
- Blood in your urine (hematuria)
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine if there is an infection
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain on one side of your lower back that spreads into the groin
- No symptoms
Kidney Stone Risk Factors
You may be more likely to develop kidney stones if other people in your family have them. You may also be at greater risk for getting kidney stones again (recurrence) if you:
- Eat too many foods that are high in salt, protein or sugar and don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables
- Experience urinary tract infections and obstructions
- Don’t drink enough fluids (dehydration)
- Have gout
- Have obesity
Wellness & Prevention
Evidence shows that proactive health care focused on preventing illness leads to better outcomes. We're here to help you live a healthier, happier life. We offer wellness and prevention services to empower you to take control of your health.
How to Prevent Kidney Stones
The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink plenty of fluids. Most people with kidney stones should drink about 2 ½ to 3 quarts (2.5-3 liters) of fluid daily. Drink fluids evenly throughout the day, evening and night so urine is pale in color. All fluids count including milk, coffee, tea, and sparkling water. Avoid sugar sweetened beverages, and large intake of fruit juice. Too much added sugar might increase risk.
Tip: Add lemon or lime juice to water for a natural source of citric acid. (drink this with a straw)
Too much salt in your diet can cause your body to lose calcium by increasing levels in your urine. This can lead to kidney stones and weak bones.
Tip: Limit sodium to no more than 2300 mg per day. Read labels to determine how much sodium is in a serving of the food.
Do NOT limit calcium-rich foods in your diet. Calcium reduces how much oxalate or phosphate is absorbed in the intestines. It is also needed for bone health.
Include calcium-rich foods and/or drinks at each meal. Aim for 1000-1200 mg of calcium or 2-3 servings of dairy each day.
- Milk, yogurt, and low-sodium cheese are good sources.
- If you avoid dairy, try plant-based options such as oat milk, coconut milk or rice milk enriched with calcium.
- Avoid high doses of calcium supplements.
- Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients that can prevent stones from forming
- Use whole grains at least half the time. Eating just 5 more grams of fiber per day can reduce the risk of kidney stones
- Eat more meatless meals or smaller portions of meat:
- Excess protein from meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and protein supplements can increase risk of kidney stones. Try meatless meals with a variety of beans, nuts, seeds or tofu.
- Avoid high protein, low carbohydrate diets. This dietary pattern can increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
- Everyone has different protein needs; ask a dietitian how much protein is right for you.
Many plant foods contain oxalates. A strict low-oxalate diet is no longer advised. Often oxalate is not the cause of your stone, there may be other reasons. Some high oxalate foods such as spinach and nuts such as almonds can still be consumed in small amounts with a dietary source of calcium.
Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds have many benefits. These foods reduce the risk for kidney stones.
What to Expect
When kidney stone pain is intense or stones block urine flow, you need immediate treatment. Urology experts at UVM Health provide treatment for urgent (acute) kidney stones. Your urologist will then refer you to our Kidney Stone Clinic for follow-up care and education to help prevent future stones.
Our experts will schedule a clinic visit with you about three months after your first kidney stone. Your visit may be in person or virtual. During your appointment, we will get to know you and ask questions about your health history, diet and any medications or supplements you take.
Your provider will order urine tests to check levels of substances that may cause stones to form. They may also check for substances that can help prevent kidney stones. We will talk with you about what you typically eat and drink, and how these things may affect your urine. You may also have imaging tests like CT scans or ultrasounds to look for stones and monitor stone growth.
Depending on test results, your care plan may include:
- Lifestyle changes: Our expert dietitians teach you about nutrition and hydration practices that support kidney health. We advise you on what to eat and drink to help prevent stones from forming.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and calcium-rich foods with meals.
- Request a 24-hour urine to show unique risks for a kidney stone.
- Follow-up with specialists in kidneys stones (urology, nephrology and kidney stone dietitian)
- Medication changes: Our nephrologists are experts in using medications to help prevent kidney stone formation. Depending on your unique needs, we may recommend medication or supplements to reduce or increase substances in your urine that produce stones or keep them from forming.
After your initial appointment, you’ll have regular check-ups with our team to assess your urine and how much urine you produce. These check-ups may be every three to six months at first, then once a year. We’ll talk with you about your concerns and support your diet plan. We also make medication management recommendations and show you how to track changes in your urine.
Locations Near You
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1 South Prospect Street
Rehab, Level 2
Burlington, VT 05401-5505
792 College Parkway
Suite 302
Colchester, VT 05446-3052
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, East Pavilion, Level 5
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
1330 Exchange Street
Suite 103
Middlebury, VT 05753-4464
133 Park Street
Second Floor
Malone, NY 12953-1244
130 Fisher Road
MOB-A Suite 2-1
Berlin, VT 05602-9000
15 Degrandpre Way
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-6449
111 Colchester Avenue
East Pavilion, 4th Floor
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
