A ureteric stone is a stone that has left the kidney and lodged in the ureter, the narrow tube carrying urine down to the bladder. Because that tube is so slim, this is the stone that causes the classic, doubling-over renal colic. The good news is that many pass on their own, especially smaller ones slow down and when one doesn't, it can usually be removed precisely through the natural urinary tract, with no incision at all, using ureteroscopy and laser.
At Tirtham Surgical Hospital on Science City Road, ureteric stone treatment in Ahmedabad centres on getting you out of pain and clearing the stone with the least intervention supporting small stones to pass, and using ureteroscopy (URS) with laser for those that won't. Dr. Alpesh Patel (MS) and team also make sure an obstructed, infected kidney is never left waiting. Below is a clear guide to where the stone sits, whether it'll pass, and how it's treated.
What a ureteric stone is (and how it differs from a kidney stone)
Stones form in the kidney; a ureteric stone is simply one that has travelled down and become stuck in the ureter. The distinction is location, and it matters, because a stone in the narrow ureter is far more likely to block urine flow than one sitting in the kidney which is why ureteric stones tend to hurt more and can more quickly threaten the kidney behind them. There are two ureters (one per kidney), and a stone can lodge anywhere along them: high up near the kidney (proximal), in the middle, or low down near the bladder (distal) and where it sits strongly influences both whether it'll pass and how it's best treated.
Where it's lodged and whether it'll pass
This is the ureteric-stone question that generic pages skip. Location and size together predict what happens next.
| Where the stone is | What it means |
| Distal (lower) ureter — the commonest site | Most likely to pass on its own; if not, URS clears it very reliably |
| Mid ureter | Intermediate; passes or is cleared well by URS |
| Proximal (upper) ureter — near the kidney | Less likely to pass; can migrate back to the kidney, so often needs a flexible scope and laser |
| Any location — small (< ~5–6 mm) | Good chance of passing with fluids, pain relief and a ureter-relaxing tablet |
| Any location — larger or obstructing | Usually needs active removal (URS) |
So a small stone low in the ureter has an excellent chance of passing with support; a larger or higher stone is more likely to need a procedure.
Symptoms and when it's an emergency
The hallmark is renal colic, sudden, severe, cramping pain that starts in the loin/back and radiates down toward the groin, often coming in waves, with nausea, a frequent urge to pass urine, and blood in the urine. As the stone moves lower, the pain may shift toward the bladder and cause burning.
Seek urgent care if this pain comes with a fever or chills, a stone blocking the ureter and infection above it is a urological emergency (risk of sepsis) that needs prompt drainage. Also seek help for uncontrollable pain, persistent vomiting, or passing very little urine. Even without a fever, a stone silently obstructing the kidney shouldn't be left, as pressure can gradually damage kidney tissue.
How a ureteric stone is diagnosed
A Ureteric Stone Doctor Ahmedabad confirms the stone with a urine test (for blood and infection) and imaging. A non-contrast CT scan (CT-KUB) is the most reliable, pinpointing the exact size and position of the stone in the ureter and whether the kidney above is swollen (hydronephrosis). An ultrasound is a radiation-free alternative, useful in pregnancy and for spotting hydronephrosis. These findings size, level, and any obstruction are exactly what decide whether to support the stone to pass or to remove it, and by which route.
Treatment led by ureteroscopy (URS)
For ureteric stones, the workhorse is ureteroscopy (URS) but there's a graded menu, matched to the stone.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
| Medical expulsive therapy | Fluids, pain relief and a tablet (e.g. tamsulosin) to relax the ureter and help the stone pass | Small stones, especially low down |
| Ureteroscopy (URS) | A thin scope passed up the urinary tract; the stone is broken with laser and removed no incision | Most ureteric stones that need removing the headline option |
| ESWL (shockwaves) | External sound waves fragment the stone to pass in urine | Selected upper-ureter stones |
| Flexible URS / RIRS (laser) | A flexible scope reaches higher or a stone that's slipped back to the kidney | Proximal stones and migrated stones → see kidney stone |
| Stent or nephrostomy drainage | Relieves a blocked, infected kidney urgently | Emergency obstruction with infection |
For the great majority who need a procedure, a Ureteric Stone Surgeon Ahmedabad uses URS with laser direct access to the stone, high stone-free rates (especially for lower-ureter stones), and recovery in days, with no external cut. Ureteric Stone Removal in Ahmedabad here is chosen to match your stone's position and size.
About the DJ stent
After URS, a soft, temporary tube called a DJ (double-J) stent is often placed inside the ureter. It keeps the ureter open and draining while any swelling settles and it heals, and it's removed in a quick procedure after 1–2 weeks. It's normal for a stent to cause mild bladder irritation, a frequent urge to urinate, or a little blood in the urine this settles once it's removed, and drinking well and simple measures help in the meantime. Knowing it's temporary and normal takes away most of the worry people have about it.
When it's urgent: obstruction and infection
A ureteric stone's biggest danger is what it does to the kidney behind it. These are the situations that need prompt or emergency attention.
| Situation | Why it's urgent |
| Obstruction + fever (infected, blocked kidney) | Emergency risk of sepsis; needs urgent drainage (stent/nephrostomy) then stone removal |
| Complete blockage of a single/solitary kidney | Urgent the only working kidney must be relieved quickly |
| Hydronephrosis (kidney swelling from back-pressure) | Prompt treatment to protect kidney function |
| Uncontrollable pain or persistent vomiting | Needs prompt assessment and relief |
The key message: a blocked, infected kidney is treated first with drainage; the stone itself is dealt with once the infection is controlled.
Recovery and preventing the next one
After URS, most people go home the same day or after a short stay and are back to normal activities within a few days, with a stent (if placed) removed at 1–2 weeks. Recovery is quicker than open surgery because there's no incision. As for the future: ureteric stones, like all urinary stones, can recur if the cause isn't addressed so the same simple prevention applies (plenty of water, less salt, balanced diet, and a metabolic check for repeat stones). The fuller prevention plan is on our kidney stone page worth following, because preventing the next stone is easier than passing it.
What ureteric stone treatment costs in Ahmedabad
Cost depends on the approach your stone needs. As general market ranges in Ahmedabad: ureteroscopy (URS) ₹40,000–₹55,000, ESWL ₹20,000–₹45,000, and flexible laser (RIRS, for a stone that's moved back to the kidney) ₹70,000–₹1,05,000, plus a DJ stent (~₹8,000–₹22,000) and pre-procedure tests (CT-KUB, urine culture). These are market figures, not a fixed Tirtham price; your cost depends on the stone's size and position and treatment is generally covered by cashless mediclaim.
We'll recommend the least-invasive effective option and give a clear, case-specific estimate. Cashless mediclaim is available, and the Tirtham Health Card covers consultations and reports. Share your CT/ultrasound on WhatsApp or reach the team.
Meet your ureteric stone removal specialist Dr. Alpesh Patel
Clearing a ureteric stone well is about precision reaching the stone wherever it sits, fragmenting it cleanly with a laser, and protecting the kidney above. Dr. Alpesh Patel (MS) brings 18+ years of practice and 22,000+ surgeries, with a ureteroscopy-led, kidney-protective approach to ureteric stones.
As a Ureteric Stone Specialist Ahmedabad and a Ureteric Stone Removal Specialist Ahmedabad for cases needing intervention his priorities are supporting a small stone to pass, using URS with laser for those that won't (with flexible access for high or migrated stones), and treating an obstructed, infected kidney as the urgent priority it is with a clear plan to prevent the next stone. → More about Dr. Alpesh Patel
Why patients choose Tirtham
Reasons patients trust this Ureteric Stone Hospital Ahmedabad:
- Ureteroscopy-led, no-incision care — precise laser clearance through the natural urinary tract.
- Matched to where the stone sits — the right approach for a distal, mid or proximal stone, at a Ureteric Stone Removal Hospital Ahmedabad with the full toolkit.
- The kidney protected — urgent drainage for an obstructed, infected kidney, never left to wait.
- Honest stent care — clear guidance on the DJ stent and its removal, at a Ureteric Stone Surgery Hospital Ahmedabad that explains what to expect.
- Cashless mediclaim and prevention advice so it doesn't happen again.
Frequently asked questions
Will my ureteric stone pass on its own?+
Often, yes — it depends on size and location. Smaller stones (under about 5–6mm), especially low down in the ureter (distal), have a good chance of passing with plenty of fluids, pain relief and a tablet to relax the ureter. Larger stones, or those higher up (proximal), are less likely to pass and more likely to need removal. A scan showing size and position guides the decision.
What is ureteroscopy (URS)?+
Ureteroscopy is a keyhole procedure — with no external incision — where a thin scope is passed up through the urethra and bladder into the ureter to reach the stone directly. The stone is fragmented with a laser and removed. It has high success rates, especially for lower-ureter stones, and a quick recovery. A temporary DJ stent is often placed afterwards to help the ureter heal.
Does where the stone is lodged change the treatment?+
Yes, significantly. Stones low in the ureter (distal) pass more easily and are cleared very reliably by URS. Stones high up (proximal) are trickier — they can migrate back to the kidney and often need a flexible scope and laser (RIRS). So your surgeon chooses the approach based on the stone's exact position as well as its size.
Why is a DJ stent placed, and does it hurt?+
A DJ stent is a soft, temporary tube placed in the ureter after URS to keep it open and draining while it heals. It's removed in a quick procedure after 1–2 weeks. It commonly causes mild bladder irritation, a frequent urge to urinate, or a little blood in the urine — this is normal and settles once the stent is removed. Drinking well and simple measures help in the meantime.
When is a ureteric stone an emergency?+
A stone blocking the ureter together with a fever is a urological emergency — it means the blocked kidney is infected, which can lead to sepsis, and needs urgent drainage before the stone is removed. A completely blocked solitary kidney, uncontrollable pain, or passing very little urine also need urgent care. Even without a fever, an obstructing stone shouldn't be left, to protect the kidney.
How long is recovery after URS?+
Recovery is quick because there's no incision. Most people go home the same day or after a short stay and return to normal activities within a few days. If a DJ stent is placed, it's removed at 1–2 weeks, after which any stent-related irritation settles. Your surgeon gives specific advice on fluids, activity and pain relief for your case.
What does ureteric stone treatment in Ahmedabad cost?+
As general ranges, ureteroscopy (URS) is around ₹40,000–₹55,000, ESWL ₹20,000–₹45,000, and flexible laser (for a stone that's moved back to the kidney) ₹70,000–₹1,05,000, plus a DJ stent (~₹8,000–₹22,000) and tests. Treatment is generally covered by cashless mediclaim. We recommend the least-invasive effective option and give a case-specific estimate.
Who is a good Ureteric Stone Doctor Ahmedabad?+
A good Ureteric Stone Doctor Ahmedabad matches the treatment to the stone's size and position (supporting small distal stones to pass, using URS with laser for those that won't), protects the kidney by draining an infected obstruction urgently, and advises on prevention. At Tirtham, Dr. Alpesh Patel (MS) — 18+ years and 22,000+ surgeries — provides that precise, kidney-protective ureteric-stone care.
Stuck stone, severe pain? Let's sort it quickly
Renal colic from a stuck ureteric stone is exhausting and there's usually a quick, no-incision way to sort it. Share your CT or ultrasound with us for a clear opinion on whether your stone will pass or needs removing, and which approach fits. Reach us on call or WhatsApp at +91-9428736360, any time. If your pain comes with a fever, treat it as an emergency and reach the nearest facility where a blocked, infected kidney needs urgent drainage.
Next step
Plan your procedure
Share your reports on WhatsApp for a guided opinion, or visit us on Science City Road for an in-person examination.
