Symptoms
If you feel pain on one side of your lower back or in the belly or down in the groin (for an extended period), have a frequent urge to urinate, urinate blood or sediment in the urine, feel nauseous or vomiting, and fever and chills you should get yourself tested for kidney stones.
What to do
However, if you want to find out why you have kidney stones you can consult with your doctor. You could take a test, such as urinalysis, x-rays, CT scan, blood test, intravenous pyelography, and heavy metal test. It will help you know about the type of kidney stone you have and you will be able to choose the right therapy to get rid of it.
Some kidney stones compose of 80% calcium salts (calcium stones). Some are the result of chronic urinary tract infection (struvite stones). Struvite stones are horn shape and could seriously damage your kidneys. Some compose of phosphate, uric acid (a byproduct of protein metabolism), cystine and other materials.
The material can block the urinary tract and cause urine to back up. This makes kidney stones extremely painful and difficult to pass, especially the larger ones. Some people have to be hospitalized to treat it. For this reason, many think prevention is always better than cure.