Kidney Stones Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kidney stones are a common urologic problem in West Michigan, and residents in Grand Rapids have access to excellent kidney stone care through providers such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options can help you know when to seek care and how to prevent future stones.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard, solid crystals that form from minerals and salts in your urine. They are sometimes called renal calculi.

These stones can develop anywhere in the urinary tract:

  • Kidneys
  • Ureters (tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder)
  • Bladder
  • Urethra

Kidney stones can range in size from a grain of sand to the size of a pearl or larger. They may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or brown.

Why Kidney Stones Matter

Kidney stones can:

  • Block the flow of urine
  • Cause severe pain
  • Lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Cause kidney damage and, in severe cases, kidney failure
  • Allow germs to spread into the bloodstream (sepsis), which is a medical emergency

The estimated lifetime risk of kidney stones is:

  • About 1 in 10 men
  • About 1 in 35 women

If you have had one kidney stone, your risk of another is higher. Around 30–50% of people will have a second stone within five years. After five years, the risk usually declines, but some people continue to form stones throughout their lives.

Types of Kidney Stones

There are four major types of kidney stones:

1. Calcium Stones

The most common type. These form when calcium combines with other substances such as:

  • Oxalate
  • Phosphate

They can occur even if your calcium levels are normal.

2. Struvite Stones

These are usually caused by urinary tract infections (UTIs) and can grow quite large. They are more common in people who have frequent UTIs.

3. Uric Acid Stones

These stones are often related to:

  • Eating large amounts of protein, especially red meat and organ meats
  • Diets high in fish and shellfish
  • Conditions that increase uric acid in the body (such as gout)

Uric acid stones are sometimes softer than other stones.

4. Cystine Stones

These are rare and caused by an inherited condition where the amino acid cystine builds up in the urine and forms stones.

Causes and Risk Factors

Kidney stones form when there is an imbalance between substances that form crystals and substances that help prevent crystals in your urine.

Common causes and risk factors include:

  • High levels of calcium, oxalate, cystine, or uric acid in the urine
  • Not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)
  • A diet high in salt, animal protein, and some sugary or cola drinks
  • Certain medical conditions, such as:
    • Kidney disease
    • Gout
    • Some metabolic or endocrine disorders
  • Some medications used to treat:
    • Kidney disease
    • Cancer
    • HIV/AIDS
  • Family or personal history of kidney stones

Michigan- and Grand Rapids–Specific Considerations

  • Cold winters in Grand Rapids can lead people to drink less water, which increases the risk of dehydration and stone formation.
  • Indoor heating and dry air during winter can also increase fluid loss.
  • Diets high in processed foods and salt, common across the U.S., can further raise the risk of stones.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area, staying well-hydrated year-round—especially during long, cold winters and hot, humid summers—is an important part of kidney stone prevention.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Many people with kidney stones have no symptoms, especially when stones are small and remain in the kidney.

When symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • Severe, gripping pain in the back or side (often called renal colic), usually just below the ribs on one side
  • Pain that radiates:
    • Around to the front of the abdomen
    • Down toward the groin
  • Pain that comes in waves and changes in intensity
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Urgent or frequent need to urinate, especially if the stone is near the bladder outlet
  • Burning or pain when urinating
  • Blood in the urine (pink, red, or brown urine)
  • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
  • Small “gravel-like” stones or sand in the urine, often with uric acid stones

Signs of Infection (Emergency)

If a kidney stone is combined with an infection, you may have:

  • Shivers or chills
  • Sweating
  • Fever
  • Feeling generally very unwell

This can be a sign of a serious infection and possible sepsis.

In Grand Rapids, if you have severe pain, fever, or chills with a suspected kidney stone, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department (e.g., Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health).

How Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

Many kidney stones are discovered by chance during imaging tests done for other reasons.

Common tests include:

  • Urinalysis – checks for blood, infection, and crystals
  • Blood tests – look for high levels of calcium, uric acid, and kidney function
  • Ultrasound – often used as an initial imaging test
  • CT scan – provides detailed images and is very accurate for detecting stones
  • X-rays, including an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) – dye is injected into your bloodstream and X-rays are taken to see the urinary tract

Stone Analysis

If a stone passes out of your body:

  1. Strain your urine (your provider can give you a strainer).
  2. Collect the stone.
  3. Take it to your doctor or urologist.

Analyzing the stone helps determine its type and guides prevention strategies.

Treatment for Kidney Stones in Grand Rapids

Most kidney stones can be treated without surgery, especially if they are small.

Conservative (Non-Surgical) Management

  • Many small stones pass on their own within 3 to 6 weeks.
  • Treatment focuses on:
    • Pain control (over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers)
    • Drinking plenty of fluids, unless your doctor tells you otherwise

Pain can be severe enough that hospital admission and strong pain medications (such as IV pain medicines) may be needed.

Always seek immediate medical attention if you have severe pain, cannot keep fluids down, or have fever and chills.

Small stones that remain in the kidney and do not cause symptoms may not need to be removed. A urologist—a doctor who specializes in urinary tract and kidney stone treatment—is the best person to advise you.

When a Stone Needs to Be Removed

A stone may need active treatment if it:

  • Does not pass on its own
  • Blocks urine flow
  • Causes persistent pain, bleeding, or infection
  • Is very large

Modern techniques offered by major health systems in Grand Rapids (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health) often allow treatment with short hospital stays—sometimes as little as 24–48 hours.

Surgical and Procedural Treatments

1. Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

  • Non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound or X-ray guidance and high-energy shock waves to break the stone into smaller pieces.
  • The fragments can then pass out with the urine.
  • Typically used for stones less than 2 cm in size.

2. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

  • Usually used for larger stones (greater than 2 cm) or complex stones.
  • A small cut is made in your back.
  • A special instrument is passed directly into the kidney to remove or break up the stone.

3. Ureteroscopy (Endoscopic Removal)

  • An instrument called an endoscope is inserted through the urethra, into the bladder, and then up into the ureter or kidney.
  • The doctor can:
    • Remove the stone directly, or
    • Break it up with a laser so you can pass it more easily.

4. Traditional (Open) Surgery

  • Rarely needed today.
  • Used only when other methods are not suitable.
  • Requires a larger cut in your back to access the kidney and ureter and remove the stone.

Your urologist in Grand Rapids will recommend the best approach based on stone size, location, type, your overall health, and your symptoms.

Possible Complications of Kidney Stones

If not treated properly, kidney stones can lead to:

  • Permanent kidney damage
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections
  • Sepsis (infection spreading into the bloodstream)
  • Ongoing pain and reduced quality of life

This is why prompt evaluation and treatment at a local Grand Rapids clinic or hospital is important if you suspect a kidney stone.

Preventing Kidney Stones and Recurrence

If you have had one kidney stone, you are at higher risk of another. Prevention focuses on hydration, diet, and managing underlying conditions.

1. Talk to Your Doctor or Urologist

  • Ask about the cause of your previous stone.
  • Review your medications to see if any could increase your risk of stones.
  • Do not stop any medication without medical advice.

In Grand Rapids, you can discuss prevention with your:

  • Primary care doctor
  • Nephrologist (kidney specialist)
  • Urologist

Local resources such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also provide general guidance on healthy hydration and nutrition.

2. Stay Well Hydrated (Avoid Dehydration)

  • Aim for enough fluids to produce at least 2 liters of urine per day, unless your doctor gives you a different target.
  • This can cut your risk of a second stone in half by diluting stone-forming chemicals in your urine.

Tips for Grand Rapids residents:

  • Drink water regularly during cold winters, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Keep a water bottle with you at work, school, or while commuting.
  • Increase fluids during hot, humid summer days or when physically active.

Drinking mineral water is generally fine—it contains only trace minerals and does not itself cause kidney stones.

3. Limit Certain Beverages

  • Avoid drinking too much tea or coffee. Moderate intake is usually fine, but very high amounts may contribute to dehydration or stone risk in some people.
  • Limit cola and some dark soft drinks:
    • Avoid drinking more than 1 liter per week of drinks containing phosphoric acid, commonly found in cola beverages.
  • Be cautious with beer and alcohol, which can increase dehydration and uric acid levels.

4. Choose Juices Carefully

Some juices may reduce the risk of certain stones, particularly:

  • Orange juice
  • Grapefruit juice
  • Cranberry juice

However:

  • Grapefruit and cranberry juice can interact with certain medications.
  • Always ask your doctor or pharmacist before increasing these juices in your diet.

5. Reduce Salt Intake

High salt intake increases calcium in the urine and raises stone risk.

  • Don’t add salt while cooking, or use as little as possible.
  • Leave the saltshaker off the table.
  • Choose low-salt or no-salt processed foods.
  • Read food labels and avoid heavily salted snacks and fast food.

6. Diet and Protein

  • Avoid very high-protein diets, especially those heavy in red meat and organ meats, which can increase uric acid.
  • Aim for a balanced diet with:
    • Fruits and vegetables
    • Whole grains
    • Lean protein (fish, poultry, beans)

Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian—many are available through Grand Rapids health systems—before making major diet changes.

Local Resources and Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids

If you think you have a kidney stone or are at risk:

  • Contact your primary care provider (GP/doctor) for initial evaluation.
  • Ask for a referral to a urologist or nephrologist if needed.
  • Major kidney stone and urology services are available through:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health

For general kidney and urinary health information:

  • Check resources from the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health.
  • National kidney organizations also provide educational materials and support.

In an Emergency

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:

  • Severe, unrelenting pain
  • Fever, chills, or shaking with suspected kidney stone
  • Difficulty passing urine or no urine output
  • Confusion, weakness, or feeling very unwell

Prompt care can prevent serious complications.

Key Points About Kidney Stones in Grand Rapids, MI

  • Kidney stones are solid crystals formed from salts and minerals in the urine.
  • They can block urine flow and cause pain, infection, kidney damage, or even kidney failure.
  • The lifetime risk is about 1 in 10 for men and 1 in 35 for women.
  • Many people with kidney stones have no symptoms, but others experience severe back or side pain, blood in urine, and urinary changes.
  • Most stones pass on their own within 3–6 weeks, but some require procedures such as ESWL, ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
  • Good hydration, lower salt intake, and diet changes can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
  • Grand Rapids residents have access to high-quality kidney stone care through local hospitals, clinics, and public health resources.