This Pain Map Could Help Reveal Exactly Why Your Stomach is Hurting

Kidney Stone (Center Left and Right Abdomen)

The kidney is basically a giant filter, taking in blood and absorbing water and other chemicals that our bodies need and releasing those we don’t need as urine. Kidney stones happen when some of those unwanted chemicals in urine crystalize, forming hard little stones in the kidney. If kidney stones move or build up, they can block urine in the kidney or bladder, causing pain in the sides of the abdomen and lower back.

Kidney stones can be prevented by drinking enough water, which helps flush out unwanted chemicals, and eating too many salty or sugary foods. Sometimes small kidney stones pass on their own. Stones that do not or cannot pass can be broken up into smaller pieces using sound waves or a small tube inserted through the urethra, which expels urine from the body. Surgery to remove kidney stones is only necessary for very rare situations when the stone is too large or in too difficult a location to be broken up.