What are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones (clinically known as Renal Lithiasis or Nephrolithiasis) are hard, solid deposits made of minerals and acid salts that form inside your kidneys. They typically form when your urine becomes highly concentrated, allowing minerals to rapidly crystallize and stick together. While passing them can be incredibly painful, they usually cause no permanent damage if they are diagnosed and treated early. Symptoms A kidney stone usually will not cause any symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into your ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys and the bladder). When it gets stuck, it blocks the flow of urine, causing the kidney to swell and the ureter to spasm. Symptoms include: Severe Pain: Sharp, debilitating pain in the side and back, just below the ribs. Radiating Pain: Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin area. Fluctuating Pain: Pain that c...