Drink plenty of water to keep urine clear or light yellow
Use a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or naproxen (if you can take NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (if NSAIDs aren’t suitable)
Ask a clinician about medical expulsive therapy (such as tamsulosin) if appropriate
Use a urine strainer to catch the stone for analysis
Apply heat (heating pad or warm bath) for comfort
Keep moving as tolerated; light activity may help stone passage
Follow a low-salt diet and avoid excess sodium
Limit sugary drinks and excessive animal protein
If you’ve had calcium stones, ensure adequate dietary calcium (don’t over-restrict calcium)
Avoid high-dose vitamin C supplements unless advised
If you know your stone type, follow targeted dietary guidance (e.g., oxalate restriction for calcium oxalate stones)
Monitor symptoms and seek follow-up if pain persists or you don’t pass the stone
Go to the ER or seek urgent care if you have fever or chills
Go to the ER or seek urgent care if you have vomiting you can’t control, severe uncontrolled pain, or signs of dehydration
Go to the ER or seek urgent care if you have trouble urinating or a complete inability to urinate
Go to the ER or seek urgent care if you have one kidney, pregnancy, or kidney disease
Seek prompt medical care if the stone is large (often >5–7 mm), symptoms last more than 24–48 hours, or you have recurrent stones