In medical practice, a term such as “side” is not used, however, when receiving complaints of pain in the side from a patient, specialists usually mean the localization of pain in the area of the body, which is limited above by the ribs and ends at the bottom with the bend of the ilium. As urological practice shows, the most common cause of pain in the side is various kidney diseases.
Determining the cause of pain by symptoms
The table was compiled by Victoria Druzhikina, a practicing therapist on the AskVracha website, and serves as the most reliable source of information when determining the cause of pain.
| Disease | Symptom | Drugs used |
| Acute cholecystitis | Acute, severe pain radiating downwards, nausea, vomiting, fever, loose stools. | Antispasmodics (Duspatalin, No-shpa, Papaverine); Antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin, Meropenem); Analgesics (Diclofenac, Ketorol); Antacids (Famotidine, Omeprazole, Rabeprazole). |
| Chronic cholecystitis | Most often dull, aching, paroxysmal pain, intensifying after fatty foods, rarely - pronounced, loose stools. | Antispasmodics (“Duspatalin”, “No-shpa”, “Papaverine”); Antibiotics (“Ciprofloxacin”, “Amikacin”, “Meropenem”); Analgesics (“Diclofenac”, “Ketorol”); Antacids (Famotidine, Omeprazole, Rabeprazole). |
| ZhKB | Sharp, cutting pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin, loose stools" | Antispasmodics (“Duspatalin”, “No-shpa”, “Papaverine”); Antibiotics (“Ciprofloxacin”, “Amikacin”, “Meropenem”); Analgesics (“Diclofenac”, “Ketorol”); Antacids (Famotidine, Omeprazole, Rabeprazole), surgery |
| Hepatitis | The pain is strong, but dull, and may be nagging. Nausea, vomiting, fever, loose stools, weakness, sweating. | Specific antiviral therapy. |
| Cirrhosis of the liver | Dull, in the final stage severe pain, ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity, looks like a bulging belly), yellow-brown tongue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, heaviness in the right side. The protruding edge of the liver is often visible from under the ribs. In the final stage, the organ shrinks and stops protruding. | Hepatoprotectors (“Heptral”, “Ursosan”, “Ornithi”n, milk thistle extract); Proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Rabeprazole, Esomeprazole); Anticholinergic drugs (Mebeverine, Trimebutine). |
| Appendicitis | Many faces - pains are sharp, dull, strong, weak, from the navel to the level of the sternum. Nausea, single vomiting. Fever. Loose stools. Mixing of pain from the epigastrium to the right iliac region after 3–4 hours from the onset (Kocher’s symptom). | Surgery |
| Enteritis, colitis | Pain along the intestines, rumbling in the abdomen, bloating, blood and mucus in the stool. The stool is irregular, liquid. | Antispasmodics (“No-shpa”, “Papaverine”); Antidiarrheal ("Smecta") |
| Bowel cancer | The pain is aching at first, then severe. Constipation, obstruction, weight loss. | Surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiation |
| Nephroptosis | The pain is often associated with sudden movements, especially high jumps. Varying intensity, usually medium. | Kinesiology. Osteopathy. Surgical correction – kidney suturing |
| Osteochondrosis | The pain comes from the spine and intensifies with movement, inhalation, and coughing. At rest I subside or decrease. | NSAIDs (“Meloxicam”, “Xefocam”, “Diclofenac”, “Aertal”); Muscle relaxants (“Sirdalud”, “Mydocalm”); Chondroprotectors (“Teraflex”, “Dona”, “Arthra”); B vitamins (“Neurobion”, “Combilipen”, “Milgamma”). |
| Endometriosis | The pain is quite intense and is accompanied by cycle disruption and bleeding. | Surgery; Hormonal drugs. |
| Bruise, injury | Pain is associated with a fall, blow, etc., and is limited by this impact. Intensifies with pressure. Accompanied by the formation of a hematoma and bruise. | NSAIDs (Meloxicam, Xefocam, Diclofenac). |
| Myositis | Pain in the muscle, intensifies with pressure and movement. Quite noticeable, subsides when resting. | NSAIDs (“Meloxicam”, “Xefocam”, “Diclofenac”, “Aertal”); Muscle relaxants (“Sirdalud”, “Mydocalm”); |
Lesions and gallbladder
The liver and gallbladder are critically important internal human organs. Even the slightest disruption to their work can lead to serious consequences. Regular nagging pain in the right side at waist level may indicate that a pathology of these organs is developing.
Cholecystitis (Inflammatory process in the gallbladder)
It is usually a natural complication of developed gallstone disease and is associated with a disruption of the organ’s ecosystem. In most cases, cholecystitis develops in the presence of stones in the gall bladder. The inflammatory process develops rapidly in the acute form and relatively sluggishly in the chronic form.
Treatment of cholecystitis against the background of cholelithiasis is carried out by a surgeon, without cholelithiasis - by a therapist or gastroenterologist.
In the photo: the formation of stones in the gall bladder
Cholelithiasis
Mineralization processes in the gallbladder lead to the appearance of stones and inflammation. Organ tissues turn yellow
If the formed stones block the free flow of bile, then acute pain appears in the side. If the condition worsens, you must call an ambulance.
There is a wide range of drugs available for drug therapy. These include ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its generics. In cases where the outlet for bile is blocked, the stone has gone into the duct, surgical intervention is performed to remove the stones. A surgeon treats diseases.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A, B and C are infectious acute diseases that can lead to significant problems and subsequent complications. Often, pain in the right side is a potential symptom of the disease.
In addition to pain, fever, weakness, aching joints, and an increase in the size and weight of the spleen and liver are possible. For conservative treatment use:
- for hepatitis C, direct-acting antiviral drugs;
- for hepatitis B nucleotides/nucleosides;
- for A and B – vaccination;
- it is possible to use vitamin complexes and hepatoprotectors.
If the symptoms are similar, a general practitioner will be able to identify the disease and prescribe therapy.
Cirrhosis of the liver
Any pain at the waist level should be taken seriously. At waist level are the major vital organs, including the liver. Rapid acute intoxication of the organ and prolonged exposure to toxins can lead to tissue destruction and cirrhosis.
The disease quickly becomes chronic and the damage becomes irreversible. Therapy comes down to maintaining the function of the organ using all possible medications. If you suspect liver pathology, you can consult a hepatologist.
Gastrointestinal pathologies
The main parts of the gastrointestinal tract system are located in the abdominal cavity, and therefore they often become the cause of pain syndromes
Inflammation of the appendix (Appendicitis)
In scientific circles, appendicitis is an inflammatory process with a focus in the appendix with the accumulation of pus inside the appendix at the narrowed bottom. This can not only cause pain in the right side at the waist level, but also many other unpleasant symptoms.
The disease develops rapidly, and acute forms are fraught with fatal outcomes. Localization of pain in the right side or bottom is sometimes caused by pylephlebitis (this is an inflammatory process involving the portal vein, which leads to direct damage to the liver).
A consultation with a surgeon will help confirm suspicions of appendicitis.
Intestinal inflammation
Disruption of the microflora, bacterial and viral invasions, as well as the entry of foreign objects into the intestines provoke inflammation. The disease is accompanied by defecation disorders, the appearance of stool mixed with mucus or blood, flatulence and pain of various types.
For treatment, if necessary, antibiotics of different groups are used, depending on the disease (Enterofuril, Oleandomycin, Amoxicillin, etc.).
Oncological diseases of the intestine
Nowadays, cancer is detected quite early. Colonoscopy and MRI can identify suspicious clusters of cells and quickly reveal their nature. If you notice symptoms (pain, change in color of stool, defecation disorders), you should immediately consult a doctor.
The therapeutic plan is developed depending on the stage of the cancer. It is possible to use chemotherapy or surgical removal of malignant tissue. Read about polyps in the intestines here.
Reproductive diseases
They are, of course, different for men and women. For representatives of the fair sex, an unexpected painful sensation in the waist area can be quite physiological and indicate ovulation. Also, pain in the abdominal area is common during menstruation due to active uterine contractions or during hormonal changes in the body.
Thus, an unpleasant syndrome often occurs in pregnant women. Pain on the right side in pregnant women is a common occurrence. It is usually associated with displacement of organs due to fetal growth and is physiological in nature.
But if the pain is severe, or is accompanied by additional alarming signs, you should definitely see a doctor. Sometimes painful syndromes in the waist area on the right in representatives of both the weaker and stronger sex are pathological in nature and suggest the following diseases:
| Among women | Essential medicines | In men | Essential medicines |
| Acute adnexitis | Antibacterial drugs of different groups, for example, aminoglycosides and penicillins (“Oxacillin” and “Kanamycin”) | Colliculitis | Instillation of the urethra with antiseptic solutions and the use of antibiotic drugs depending on the type of infection |
| Ovarian cyst | Hormonal drugs, for example, Rigevidon, Marvelon, Diane-35 | Orchitis | Drugs to eliminate pain, swelling and inflammation (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen), for bacterial causes of the disease - antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Erythromycin, Azithromycin) |
| Ovarian rupture | For minor tears, antispasmodics will help. The same “No-spa” and bed rest, the rupture requires laparoscopic surgery | Orchiepididymitis | Drugs to eliminate pain, swelling and inflammation (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen), for bacterial causes of the disease - antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Erythromycin, Azithromycin) |
| Malignant neoplasms | Surgery and chemotherapy will be required | Prostatitis | Antibiotics (“Oxacillin”, “Sulfa-P”), as well as means for relieving unpleasant symptoms and recovery (“Prostatilen”, “Prostan”, “Vitaprost”, “Prostamol Uno”) |
If a woman has discomfort that lasts more than two days and is not related to menstruation, she should definitely visit a gynecologist. And if pain torments a representative of the stronger sex, you need to go to the doctor as soon as possible. Self-medication is impossible here; a course of treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. Otherwise, there is a risk of losing the ability to have offspring and the degeneration of illnesses into severe forms.
Diseases of the spine and kidneys
Painful sensations are not always associated with problems with the liver or gastrointestinal tract. Problems with the spine and osteochondrosis often cause similar symptoms. A neurologist treats osteochondrosis.
Nephroptosis
Nephropotosis – prolapse of the kidney. Mobile kidney syndrome is often accompanied by pain at the waist level.
The disease is divided into three levels (degrees). Nephroptosis appears on the right side more often, and also becomes obvious in the second stage, when the kidney is easily palpable through the skin at waist level in non-obese patients.
Pain in the right side may be an early symptom of the development of level 1 nephroptosis, and therefore pain should not be ignored. Various techniques are used for diagnosis:
- Carrying out complete blood biochemistry;
- Study of the state of biological fluids;
- Ultrasound scan at waist level;
- X-ray scanning.
Conservative forms of treatment: wearing a special corrective bandage at the level of the waist or lower abdominal area, exercise therapy and exercises. Surgery is rarely prescribed. The treatment of kidney diseases in women is described here.
Osteochondrosis and hernia
Discomfort and pain are often associated with nerve compression or inflammation of the skeletal muscles. A characteristic symptom is loss of flexibility, as well as increased discomfort with sudden movements or even breathing.
To relieve some symptoms, medications are prescribed to reduce inflammation, as well as exercise therapy and physiotherapy. Find out about the symptoms of hernia in men from this article.
Doctor's advice
Shingles. The pain of herpes zoster before the appearance of characteristic rashes in the form of blisters along the nerve can be so severe that they are mistaken for a heart attack or renal colic. Having excluded all conditions using examination, laboratory (general and biochemical blood tests, general urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG, ultrasound, MRI) research methods, herpes can be assumed.
Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist
Pinched nerve
Disturbances in the functioning of the urinary system
Cystitis is one of the most common causes of aching pain in women. The bladder can become inflamed after simple hypothermia. Pain when urinating, false and frequent urges are characteristic symptoms of this disease. Other frequently diagnosed pathologies of the urinary system include pyelonephritis and urethritis, in which case discomfort occurs not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the back (especially in the lumbar region).
If pain is dull in nature and occurs in the area above the pubis, bladder polyps can be assumed.
Pain in the lower abdomen in women
The lower abdomen may hurt for the same reasons as the side. Pain in the right side of the lower abdomen in women is often a manifestation of the following pathologies: inflammation of the uterine appendages, less often – ovarian cysts and the primary stages of uterine fibroids. The lower abdomen is the main part of the abdominal cavity, but pain can be caused by pathologies of surrounding organs and tissues. Very often, the lower abdomen hurts due to complications of pathologies of the reproductive organs. What are the causes of discomfort in the lower abdomen?
Endometriosis
This is a common disease that often develops in healthy women and mainly affects people of reproductive age. The endometrial tissue (uterine wall) begins to grow and spread into the surrounding tissue. This causes pain in the lower abdomen.
There are two main types of endometriosis: Genital. In this case, endometrial cells are localized in the uterus and ovaries. Extragenital. In this situation, the growth can affect the entire lower abdomen, and the inflammatory process affects the intestines and navel. Based on the nature and severity of the disease, the disease is divided into 4 degrees. Laparoscopy is recognized as the only effective diagnostic method. This is an “exploratory” surgical operation that is performed through an opening in the lower abdominal cavity.
Treatment is with hormonal drugs, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, surgical intervention is necessary. If the right side of the lower abdomen hurts in women, this is very often a manifestation of complications in the reproductive system. Other possible causes of lower abdominal pain are described here. If you have similar symptoms, you can see a gynecologist online.
Lung inflammation
Lower lobe pneumonia causes stabbing discomfort in the area under the right rib. At the same time, it becomes weaker when lying on one’s side and intensifies during inhalation. Associated symptoms:
- body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- dyspnea;
- cough;
- general deterioration of condition, drowsiness and weakness;
- chills;
- wheezing during breathing.
These symptoms also signal the progression of dry right-sided pleurisy, in which the side hurts. Cancerous tumors in the lungs cause weight loss, as well as hemoptysis. Organ diseases require a serious approach and thorough professional diagnosis.
Acute inflammatory processes of internal organs require immediate hospitalization and diagnosis.
Diagnostic methods
| Cause of pain in right side | Diagnostic methods |
| Liver diseases | OAM, OAC, Blood biochemistry, CT, MRI, ultrasound. |
| Appendicitis | CBC with leukocyte formula, OAM, ultrasound |
| Nephroptosis and kidney disease | OAM, UAC, Blood biochemistry, CT, ultrasound. |
| Diseases of the female reproductive system | OAM, OBC, Blood biochemistry, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, Laparoscopy. |
| Bruises and injuries | Visual examination, history, palpation. |
| Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract | OAM, OBC, Blood biochemistry, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, Colonoscopy, |
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent pain in the right hypochondrium boil down to following the following recommendations:
- taking medications only as prescribed by a doctor;
- avoidance of stressful situations;
- compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- healthy and active lifestyle;
- rejection of bad habits;
- proper and nutritious nutrition;
- use of barrier contraceptives during sexual intercourse, refusal of casual relationships.
Regular medical examination (once a year) will allow you to prevent or promptly detect any health problems and receive the necessary treatment.
Frequently asked questions and doctor's answer
General practitioner Victoria Druzhikina answered questions
Pain in the right side at the level of the lateral ribs - “The most common options for such symptoms are pancreatitis, cholecystitis, osteochondrosis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis. Everything except osteochondrosis can be diagnosed using ultrasound of the abdominal organs. Problems with the spine are confirmed using an MRI or x-ray of the area concerned.”
Pain in the right side from the back - “Pain radiates to the back with the following diseases: pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, osteochondrosis, cholelithiasis, pancreatic cancer, ulcer. Damage to the pancreas is characterized by girdle pain.”
Pain in the right side at the waist level in front in women - “Inflammatory bowel diseases, endometriosis, myositis manifest themselves with just such symptoms. With intestinal pathology, the stool will be disturbed - liquid, frequent, with admixtures of mucus or blood. Endometriosis is accompanied by bleeding and cycle disruption. Myositis occurs only with local symptoms. For pain in women, consultation with a gynecologist is indicated.”
Pain in the right side at the waist level in front in men - “With such pain, one can suspect osteochondrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, myositis. Examination and palpation give a lot - a tense, painful muscle with myositis, a rumbling painful stomach, limited mobility of the spine due to pain with osteochondrosis will help to suggest a pathology and refer for further examination (ultrasound of the kidneys, X-ray or MRI of the spine, general blood and urine tests, stool analysis and etc.)."
Pain in the right side under the ribs radiates to the back - “Symptoms can be observed with osteochondrosis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis. All conditions require medical evaluation and care. Hospitalization may be indicated."
Differences in men and women: diseases by gender type - “The cause of pain in the right side differs depending on gender. Women may have pathologies of the reproductive system - endometriosis, inflammation of the ovaries or their appendages. Men are more likely to have liver problems and osteochondrosis.”
Right side hurts during pregnancy
Women who abused alcohol, tobacco, or took drugs before conception may experience similar discomfort. If pain in the right side of the abdomen in a pregnant woman lasts more than an hour and is accompanied by vomiting and profuse sweating, then it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. Otherwise, there will be a high risk of miscarriage (miscarriage).
Women carrying a child often have problems with the following organs, which lead to attacks of pain on the right side at the waist level:
- kidneys;
- urinary system;
- gallbladder;
- fallopian tubes;
- pancreas.
This may be facilitated by the exacerbation of previously suffered diseases of organs located in this area or the formation of new pathologies caused by changes in the body due to pregnancy. Pain in the right side of the abdomen in women at the waist level occurs during an ectopic pregnancy.
The ideal way out of the situation would be to visit a hospital, where competent specialists will provide the necessary assistance. However, if it is not possible to call a doctor at home or go to a medical facility, you can try to solve the problem yourself. Before relieving pain in the right side or at least reducing it, you need to try to determine as accurately as possible what is causing the discomfort. The nature of pain and accompanying sensations should be established.
When to see a doctor
Pain at the waist or lower abdominal region indicates the development of hidden pathologies affecting various internal organs (in the absence of injuries or bruises), and therefore, when this symptom appears, it is necessary to visit a doctor for an initial examination and diagnostic measures. The waist level is the location of vital organs and tissues that are vulnerable to a wide range of infectious, bacterial and genetic diseases. Even after an ordinary injury, if you have abdominal pain at the waist level, it is better to go to the doctor for a consultation.
Visit a doctor at the first symptoms. Pain in the side at waist level should absolutely not be ignored. This is an alarm bell that should immediately make you “scurry around” and get ready to go to the hospital. Never put off visiting a doctor. Timely detection of the disease is the key to recovery.
This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.
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Acute appendicitis
Perhaps this is the first pathology that a person thinks about when pain appears in the lower abdomen on the right. The pain in this case does not go away, arising near the navel, and eventually moves downwards1, 2, 15. The sensation may begin as dull, gradually becoming tugging, cutting, burning. A person’s health deteriorates and symptoms of digestive disorders occur: vomiting, bloating, constipation, and sometimes diarrhea15.
Acute appendicitis is treated surgically; if similar symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance1.
