What Can Mimic Kidney Stone Pain? Common Conditions Explained

That sudden, intense pain in your side or lower abdomen can be scary, and it’s very common to assume it’s a kidney stone. But here’s the catch: many conditions can mimic kidney stone pain, and some need totally different treatment (like antibiotics or urgent surgery). This overlap is one reason kidney stone misdiagnosis happens.

This guide breaks down what kidney stone pain typically feels like, what can be mistaken for kidney stones, how to spot symptom patterns that suggest something else, and when it’s time to get checked urgently.

Why Kidney Stone-Like Pain Is So Confusing?

A big reason so many conditions feel similar is anatomy. The kidneys drain urine through the ureters (thin tubes that run from each kidney to the bladder). When a stone blocks or irritates a ureter, it can trigger intense spasm and inflammation.

The nerves that carry these pain signals enter the spinal cord in regions that also receive signals from parts of the abdomen and pelvis, so the brain can mis-map where the pain is coming from. That’s why stone pain often spreads or is felt in other areas (a classic referred pain pattern).

In real life, this means pain from the urinary tract can overlap with pain from the intestines, appendix, ovaries, or even the abdominal wall.

What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like?

Most people describe kidney stone pain as:

• Sudden, severe flank pain (side of the back, under the ribs)
• Pain that radiates toward the lower abdomen, groin, or genitals
• Waves of pain (renal colic): intensity rises and falls rather than staying steady
• Nausea and vomiting are common
• Urinary symptoms may show up: burning, urgency, or blood in urine

Where Do Kidney Stones Hurt?

Classically, pain starts in the flank and then may move downward toward the lower abdomen and groin as the stone travels through the ureter.

Is Kidney Stone Pain Constant?

It can be, but classic stone pain tends to come in waves. People often say they can’t get comfortable, pacing or shifting positions may help briefly, but the pain returns.

First Signs of Kidney Stones

Not everyone gets a dramatic pain spike right away. What are the first signs of kidney stones? Often it’s a mix of:

• Mild or nagging flank discomfort that escalates
• Pink/red/brown urine (blood in urine)
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Burning with urination (especially if the stone is lower)
• Nausea

If you’re wondering how to know if you have a kidney stone, symptoms can strongly suggest it, but testing is the only way to confirm.

Conditions That Commonly Mimic Kidney Stone Pain

Below are some of the most common look-alikes, along with the clues that help separate them.

Kidney Stone vs Common Mimics

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A UTI is one of the most common sources of uti vs kidney stone confusion.

UTI symptoms often include:

• Burning when you urinate
• Strong urgency/frequency (even if little comes out)
• Lower belly/pelvic discomfort
• Sometimes blood in urine

More typical of a kidney stone:

• Sudden severe flank pain radiating toward the groin
• Pain that comes in waves
• Restlessness (can’t get comfortable)

If a UTI climbs upward, it can become a kidney infection which can feel closer to a stone and needs prompt treatment.

Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

Kidney infection vs kidney stone is a big distinction because kidney infections usually require antibiotics quickly.

Kidney infection clues include:

• Fever and chills
• Nausea/vomiting
• Flank pain plus feeling generally ill or weak

Stone pain can cause nausea and severe discomfort but fever/chills strongly suggest infection rather than a simple stone.

Bladder Stones

A bladder stone vs kidney stone difference is usually location and urinary pattern.

Bladder stone symptoms often include:

• Lower abdominal pain (suprapubic area)
• Pain with urination
• Frequent urination
• Trouble starting urination or a stop-and-start stream
• Blood in urine

Appendicitis

If your pain is right-sided, appendicitis vs kidney stone is an important comparison.

Appendicitis often looks like:

• Pain that starts near the belly button and shifts to the lower right abdomen
• Pain that worsens with walking, coughing, or movement
• Nausea/vomiting, low-grade fever

Ovarian Cysts

Women with pelvic or lower abdominal pain may benefit from evaluation through women’s health services, especially when symptoms overlap with kidney stone pain.

For many women, the question becomes kidney stone or ovarian cyst.

Ovarian cyst pain patterns:

• One-sided pelvic pain (often lower than typical stone pain)
• Can radiate to abdomen or back
• May feel related to the menstrual cycle
• A ruptured cyst can cause sudden sharp pelvic pain and sometimes nausea

So yes, ovarian cyst vs kidney stone can overlap, and sometimes you need both urine testing and a pelvic evaluation to be sure.

Diverticulitis

Can diverticulitis mimic kidney stone pain? Yes, especially on the left.

Diverticulitis often causes:

• Lower left abdominal pain
• Fever
• Abdominal tenderness
• Diarrhea or constipation

Hernia

Hernia vs kidney stone tends to be confused when pain is low and close to the groin.

Hernia clues include:

• Groin pressure or heaviness
• Pain worse with lifting, straining, or coughing
• Sometimes a visible bulge that comes and goes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

People sometimes search for ibs and kidney stones because Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) cramps can be intense.

IBS tends to cause:

• Cramping abdominal pain tied to bowel movements
• Diarrhea, constipation, or both
• Bloating/gas

Unlike stones, IBS pain usually follows a bowel pattern rather than urinary changes.

Left-Side vs Right-Side Pain: Why Location Matters

Pain location doesn’t give you a diagnosis by itself, but it can narrow possibilities.

What can mimic kidney stone pain on left side?

• Diverticulitis (often left lower abdomen, plus fever/bowel changes)
• IBS (cramping + bowel pattern)
• Left ovarian cyst issues (lower pelvic pain)

What can mimic kidney stone pain on right side?

• Appendicitis (right lower abdomen, worse with movement)
• Right ovarian cyst issues (pelvic pain)
• Kidney/ureter stone is still very possible (right flank to groin)

Why Are Kidney Stones Often Misdiagnosed?

A few reasons kidney stone misdiagnosis happens:

1. Overlapping symptoms (nausea, abdominal pain, urinary discomfort)
2. Shared nerve pathways and referred pain, so different organs can feel similar
3. Symptoms evolve over time (a stone moves; an infection spreads)
4. Imaging isn’t always immediate, and early symptoms can be nonspecific

How Doctors Tell the Difference?

At Manhattan Primary Care, evaluating kidney stones–like pain focuses on identifying the exact cause rather than guessing. Many conditions that mimic kidney stones require different treatments, so accurate diagnosis is essential.

If you’re trying to figure out how to know if you have a kidney stone, the most reliable answer is testing.

Common tools include:

• Urinalysis: checks for blood, white blood cells, bacteria, and crystals testing that can be done on-site through our lab services at Manhattan Primary Care
• CT scan: often the most definitive for stones
• Ultrasound: useful and often preferred in some situations
• Blood tests: kidney function, infection markers
• Pelvic exam / pelvic ultrasound (for women): helps evaluate ovarian causes

The goal is to identify whether there’s a stone, an infection, an obstruction, or a non-urinary source of pain.

When To Seek Emergency Care

Seek urgent evaluation (ER/urgent care) if you have:

• Severe, unrelenting pain
• Fever/chills with flank pain (possible kidney infection)
• Vomiting that prevents hydration
• Blood in urine, especially with worsening symptoms
• Inability to urinate or only passing tiny amounts
• Sudden worsening symptoms, fainting, or severe weakness

What To Do If You’re Not Sure?

If symptoms are sudden, severe, or confusing, early medical evaluation can prevent complications and speed up relief.

If you’re stuck thinking “Is this just a stone?” here’s the safest approach:

• Don’t rely on pain location alone, what can be mistaken for kidney stones is a long list
• Avoid delaying care if symptoms are intense, new, or getting worse
• Imaging + urinalysis can prevent delays and get the right treatment faster

If you’re in NYC and want a clear plan without guessing, Manhattan Primary Care offers acute illness visits, same-day lab testing, and telehealth consultations with board-certified physicians in Greenwich Village / Union Square and Forest Hills, Queens. Our team can evaluate kidney stones–like symptoms, rule out infections or gynecologic causes, and guide next steps quickly.

Conclusion

Kidney stone pain is famous for being intense and for being confusing. What can mimic kidney stone pain includes UTIs, kidney infections, bladder stones, appendicitis, ovarian cysts, diverticulitis, hernias, and IBS.

The good news: once the cause is identified, treatment is usually much faster and safer. If you’re unsure, don’t try to self-diagnose an exam, urine testing, and the right imaging can get you answers and relief.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dehydration alone cause pain similar to kidney stones?

Yes. Dehydration can cause mild flank discomfort, but it’s usually less severe and improves with fluids.

Can muscle strain feel like kidney stone pain?

Yes. Muscle pain can mimic stones but typically worsens with movement and improves with rest.

Can kidney stone pain come and go over days?

Yes. Small stones may cause intermittent pain as they move through the urinary tract.

Can anxiety or stress cause kidney stone–like pain?

Stress doesn’t cause stones but can increase muscle tension and pain sensitivity.

Can kidney stone pain occur without urinary symptoms?

Yes. Some stones cause flank pain without obvious urinary changes.

Can kidney stones cause gas and bloating?

No, not directly. Bloating usually comes from digestive issues or stress.

Can you see kidney stones on ultrasound?

Often yes, but small stones may be missed, so CT scans are sometimes needed.

Sources

1. Urocare – What Can Mimic Kidney Stone Pain?
2. Doctronic – What Can Mimic the Pain of Kidney Stones?
3. Urology Group – Is It a Kidney Stone, Or Something Else? 6 Signs
4. Docus – What Can Mimic Kidney Stone Pain: Identifying Conditions

Disclaimer

This blog is for informational & educational purposes only and does not intend to substitute any professional medical advice or consultation. For any health-related concerns, please consult with your physician, or call 911.