Top Ten Serious Causes of Abdominal Pain

Kidney stones are small, hard deposits composed of mineral and acid salts that form inside the kidneys. The stones travel down the ureters, which are the tubes through which urine empties into the bladder. Kidney stones can block the flow of urine out of the kidneys. This leads to swelling of the kidney and pain. Typically, the pain is severe and starts on the side or back just below the ribs, and radiates to the lower abdomen and groin. The pain can change as the kidney stone passes through the urinary tract.