Gallstones vs Kidney Stones: Understanding the Difference

Gallbladder and kidney stones: The names sound similar, which might leave you wondering, “Are gallstones and kidney stones the same thing?” The short answer is no, they’re not.

This article provides an overview of gallbladder stones vs. kidney stones, explaining their symptoms and answering questions like, “Which is more painful, gallstones or kidney stones?”

What’s the Difference Between Gallstones and Kidney Stones?

Whether you have gallstones or kidney stones, the experience can be painful. Knowing what the two organs do is helpful background: the gallbladder stores bile made by the liver, which aids digestion and fat absorption.

A gallstone occurs when bile hardens into a mass in the gallbladder. The “stone” can be anywhere from the size of a grain of rice to a golf ball. Kidney stones, by contrast, form when urine lacks enough water or contains excess waste, causing chemicals to crystallize. Like gallstones, kidney stones range in size from microscopic specks to, in rare cases, objects the size of a golf ball.

Can you have gallstones and kidney stones at the same time? Yes. While they arise from different processes, nothing prevents both conditions from occurring simultaneously.

How To Know if You Have Kidney Stones or Gallstones

Gallstones and kidney stones both involve hardened deposits, and they share some symptoms—most notably pain—but other signs help tell them apart. When you compare gallstone vs. kidney stone symptoms, location and associated features become key clues.

Symptoms of Gallstones vs Kidney Stones

Gallstones often present with digestive-system discomfort and pain that radiates upward:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pain in the right upper portion of the stomach that worsens.
• Pain in the center of the stomach that worsens.
• Pain in the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades.

Kidney stone symptoms tend to involve the urinary tract and lower body:

• Blood in the urine
• Frequent urination
• Severe lower-back pain
• Side pain
• Lower-abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting

Differences in Location of Pain

One of the clearest ways to tell the two conditions apart is where the pain occurs. Gallstones usually hurt higher in the body—across the upper abdomen, sometimes shooting to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades. Kidney-stone pain is lower, striking the flank, lower abdomen, or groin and often accompanied by urinary changes.

Which hurts more depends on factors such as stone size and whether a duct or ureter is blocked. Both can be severe, but knowing the typical pain location can help you and your provider zero in on the likely cause.

Who Is at Risk for Gallstones vs. Kidney Stones?

Gallstone risk rises if you are female, over 40, or have a family history of the condition. Obesity, diets high in fat and cholesterol, certain medical issues (diabetes, liver disease, leukemia), and estrogen-containing medications also increase the odds.

You are more likely to develop kidney stones if you have a personal or family history of them, eat a high-protein or high-sodium diet, or are chronically dehydrated. Recurrent urinary-tract infections, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic diarrhea, and some drugs such as certain antidepressants or migraine medications further raise risk.

Learn More About Kidney Stones and Gallstones

If you think you have gallstones or kidney stones, contact your healthcare provider. A physical exam and imaging tests can confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.

You can use our provider directory to find a Baptist Health provider if you don’t have one.

Next Steps and Useful Resources:

Learn More About Urology Services
Have You Been Diagnosed With Gallstones?
When to See a Urologist
Is Drinking Water Good for Your Urinary System?