What factors are responsible for renal colic?

Renal colic is a type of pain that occurs when urinary stones block part of your urinary tract. The urinary tract includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Stones form when minerals or other substances build up, stick together, and create crystals. These stones can be located in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys (kidney stones), bladder (bladder stones), or ureters (ureteral stones). Depending on the size and location of the stone, renal colic can range from mild to severe.

Renal colic happens when a stone gets lodged in your urinary tract, often in the ureter. The stone stretches and widens the area, causing intense pain. A few factors increase your risk of getting urinary stones, including a diet high in substances that cause stones to form, such as oxalate or protein; a family or personal history of stones; dehydration; obesity; gastric bypass surgery; metabolic disorders; inherited diseases; hyperparathyroidism; and other conditions that can increase the amount of stone-forming substances in your body.