Hi everyone~
I found out a few weeks ago that on top of many other health problems, I also have a .5cm kidney stone. My dr didn't seem too worried about it because I have a lot of other health concerns right now. Is this something I should be worried about? Will I need to eventually have someting done about it? I don't really know a lot about kidney stones, so if someone could please give me some input I would really appreciate it.
~Hilery

Did you mean a 0.5 mm stone rather than a 0.5 cm stone? 0.5 mm will probably pass on its own with some discomfort (that's about as big as the thickness of your fingernail). A 0.5 cm (5 mm) stone, however, is fairly large (bigger than a BB). I have passed stones of that size (and some larger), but it definitely isn't fun. I don't want to scare you. A stone of that size isn't likely to physically damage you. It will definitely FEEL like it's doing damage. Sharp pain similar to a SEVERE gas attack that seems to move across the abdomen is my usual symptom. If you have increasing dull pain in the flank (lower back, kidney) area that gets so bad that you can't get comfortable in any position (especially if it keeps you awake), call your doctor right away. This could be a symptom that the stone is blocking the ureter (the tube from your kidney to your bladder). Since your kidney continually produces urine, a blockage causes the kidney to slowly blow up like a balloon. If not treated, this can cause permanent kidney damage.

I have carried stones of that size (and larger) for several months with NO ill effects. My urologist typically isn't concerned until they reach the 7 - 10 mm (1cm) size. Stones that large usually do not pass and must be removed (usually through lithotrypsy). In fact I have a 5X7mm and a 7X10mm stone in my left kidney right now that I am having removed through lithotrypsy next Tuesday.
Hope this info helps you understand what is going on.

Thanks so much for the info. Yes, it is a .5cm stone. I have been having some pain in the lower right side of my back lately. Usually it's kind of a dull pain, but sometimes it will feel really sharp and I can't move for a few seconds. Then, it goes away. Well, I guess I won't worry too much about it until the pain gets more constant.
Thanks again,
Hilery

I have a 3mm stone in the distal ureter. I have had moderate pain under my left rib area (nothing in the lower left). I just saw my urologist and he said that the upper left quadrant pain was definitely from the stone, even though the stone is pretty far down. I did schedule to have it removed by ureteroscopy procedure, but now am having 2nd thoughts and maybe should give it more time to pass. Also, it seems that when I am lying down the pain goes away, but when I am sitting or standing I feel it again......just a gnawing ache.

I was talking to the urologists receptionist today about some pee sample I had to do 2 weeks ago.Anyways the test involved a 24hr pee in a milk jug container and took it too the lab.I found out today that they have no idea what type of stone it is,and was told that it's 1.3cm!I had an U/S in December and it apparently showed a 5mm at that time.Then in January had a CT scan done and was told that it was 1cm.Now it's 1.3cm and the pain I go through for hours is unbelievable.It doesn't come and go in waves.It's a constant sharp pain in my right side under my ribs and in the back.I have absolutely no pain killers for it either.I think it's about time I get some though!

Kidney stones aren't much fun. I have had them 7 times in the last 10 years http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif I have been able to pass them everytime and I have had them as big as yours. Just drink as much as you can to help flush your kidneys and keep anymore from forming http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif. My urologist told me that I should even drink before bed to keep urine from getting stagnant http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif in the kidneys and running the risk of more stones- that way you have to get up at night and go pee. Hope this helps.