Are kidney stones about as painful as it gets? more painful than gall stones?

It certainly can be.: Both conditions can cause variable and excruciating amounts of pain. Biliary colic is usually of a different character than renal colic caused by kidney stones. But as a physician who has treated patients suffering from kidney stone pain, it can be incredibly, debilitatingly painful--sometime even triggering uncontrollable vomiting for which the patient requires intravenous hydration.

See below: Yes it is described as a extremely painful problem, since pain is subjective it varies from individual to individual, but comparatively this condition is very disabling.

Yes: Many female patients say they would rather have unmedicated vaginal birth than have another kidney stone.