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 calcium and oxalate combine in urine. 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 in the urine and the urine doesn’t have high acid levels (known as alkaline urine).
Develop when you have too much of a substance called cystine in your urine. Cystine stones are rare and result from a change (mutation) in genes that control 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 you have 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
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain on one side of your lower back that spreads into the groin
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.
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.
- 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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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, #103
Middlebury, VT 05753-4464
133 Park Street
Second Floor
Malone, NY 12953-1244
130 Fisher Road
MOB-A Suite 2-2
Berlin, VT 05602-9000
15 Degrandpre Way
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-6449
111 Colchester Avenue
East Pavilion, 4th Floor
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
