Kidney stone sizes

Kidney stones can vary massively in size dependant on how long they have been in the body, what kind of kidney stones they are as well as many other contributing factors. There is no real answer to how big the average kidney stone size is.

 

If you have a family history of kidney stones, chances are you are likely to get them yourself. It has been proven that kidney stones or renal stone disease are more commonly formed when there is a family history of them so if your father or mother has had them, it may be worth looking up the information just in case you get them yourself.

Questions such as what is the average kidney stone size, how long do they take to pass, how are they formed and many others are common ones that are asked, but with regards to the kidney stone size question, there is no actual real answer.
 
Kidney stones can vary massively in size dependant on how long they have been in the body, what kind of kidney stones they are as well as many other contributing factors. There is no real answer to how big the average kidney stone size is.

Some kidney stones are as small as a grain of sand. These ones normally form and then pass through the body very easily and sometimes the patient may not even know they have these stones at all. These are very often commonly referred to as “silent stones” and although these silent ones can sometimes be a bit larger in size, the general rule is, the smaller the kidney stone size, the less likely you are to feel it.

Of course there are exceptions to this rule. If a tiny kidney stone is in a very sensitive place then you are going to feel it and it is as simple as that. For example, if the kidney stone was stick in the urethra or any other important tubes within this area of the body, chances are you are going to feel slight discomfort whereas a small kidney stone that is in the bladder is less likely to cause a problem.

A larger kidney stone size is going to cause somewhat of a problem. These can be harder to pass through natural and may need medical intervention such as ESWL, (shock waves to break them down) or even surgery to have them removed if they are in a very sensitive position. The larger stones are also more likely to cause blockages which can then lead to discomfort when urinating and also an increased risk of urinary tract infections.

Although there is no definitive kidney stone size average, each person will react to them differently so a stone of 4mm diameter may hurt one person more than another. That is why it is important to visit a medical professional as soon as you see any of the Kidney stones symptoms associated with renal stone disease to remove them before they potentially get any bigger.  (Written by alvinhop published in MDJunction)