Pain in the right flank is one of the most common complaints registered in the emergency room.
Pain in this abdominal region is often acute and can occur spontaneously, chronically, numb, stabbing, localized or diffuse.
Accompanying symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, numbness, constipation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, bloating, flatulence and fever.
In the right abdominal region there are many structures that can be responsible for the pain.
These include part of the large intestine (appendix, appendix, ascending colon), small intestine, right ovary, fallopian tube and right ureter.
Contents
Causes of right flank pain
Appendicitis
The most common cause of pain in the lower, right abdominal region is appendicitis, the inflammation of the appendix of the appendix.
It occurs in about 10% of the population, mainly between the ages of 10 and 30, although theoretically it can occur at any age.
The cause of appendicitis can be an infection or blockage that leads to inflammation and swelling.
Initially, abdominal pain occurs near the navel or in the middle upper abdomen, which then shifts to the right lower abdomen.
The pain becomes stronger over the course of a few hours and increases with pressure.
A deep push into the abdomen, which is then released, creates an acute rebound pain.
Concomitant symptoms include: fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea.
If these symptoms occur, the emergency room should be visited immediately.
inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
The pancreas is located under the liver and behind the stomach; it releases digestive enzymes and produces insulin, which is needed to enable glucose uptake by cells and tissues. The diseases of the pancreas can provoke pain in the right upper abdomen, these include pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
Abdominal hernia (hernia)
Abdominal hernias are often operated on, even if the hernia itself is not painful.
The operation is performed primarily to prevent a medical emergency called a pinched fracture. Depending on where the rupture site is located, the hernia can provoke pain in the right abdominal region.
In this case, the pain increases continuously, the area is extremely sensitive to palpation and also often causes nausea and / or vomiting.
Liver pain: type of pain and pain region
The liver is located in the right, upper region of the abdominal cavity. Liver pain occurs in the right upper abdomen below the last rib.
Pain caused by liver disease is usually described as dull and unpleasant. Some also speak of a feeling of pressure or cramps below the chest in the right, upper abdominal region.
The liver is surrounded by a thick capsule containing numerous pain receptors.
If pressure is applied to the liver capsule, the pain is perceived as liver pain; this can happen if the liver is swollen or enlarged due to inflammation or lesions that increase pressure on the liver capsule.
What are the causes of liver pain?
Diseases of the liver are the most common causes of liver pain. These are usually serious and dangerous diseases if they are not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Hepatitis
Any form of hepatitis causes jaundice and liver pain.
The symptoms also include loss of appetite, weight loss, fever and fatigue.
The liver pain can also be felt at shoulder level.
Without treatment, the state of the disease can worsen and lead to hepatic insufficiency.
Liver cancer
Another condition that can cause liver pain is liver cancer, which is usually discovered at an advanced stage.
As a rule, the pain occurs in the upper right abdominal section.
Other symptoms include stiffness and water belly, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Fatty liver (or steatohepatitis) In this condition,
the liver increases in size due to fatty deposits.
This can cause dysfunction of the liver and pain.
Other symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
What to do?
The first measure is to change the diet and reduce fatty food.
Cirrhosis
of the liver Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, feeling pressure, fatigue, nausea, itching and loss of appetite.
Jaundice and abdominal swelling can also be part of the symptoms.
Toxic overload
Again, this could be a possible cause of liver pain. Other symptoms include joint and muscle pain, persistent fatigue, depression, allergic reactions, etc.
Other causes of liver pain:
1. hepatic vein thrombosis
2. liver abscess
3. liver tumor
4. liver fibrosis
5. alcohol consumption
6. enlargement of the spleen
Diseases of the gallbladder
In addition to the diseases described above, disorders of the gallbladder can also provoke pain in the right upper abdomen. Liver pain is much more common than pain caused by gallbladder or pancreas problems.
Gallstones can appear symptom-free or cause biliary colic after meals.
The pain is located in the upper abdominal region or in the right flank.
Pain when running Right-sided pain can be caused by running
or fast walking; they usually occur on the left side at the level of the spleen, but sometimes also on the right at the level of the liver.
Right flank pain when breathing
If pain occurs with deep breathing, intercostal neuralgia may be present. In this case, the intercostal nerve is inflamed and produces pain along the course of the ribs.
Symptoms may occur with lateral rotation of the upper body and bending forward.
What to do?
If all possible organic causes of pain have been ruled out, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory treatment measures and exercises according to McKenzie.
Ovulation pain
Ovulation-related pain (mittelschmerz) occurs on the right or left side of the lower abdomen.
As a rule, no medical treatment is necessary.
Sometimes mittelschmerz is confused with the symptoms of appendicitis due to its position.
Intermenstrual pain occurs about two weeks before the start of the next menstruation, when the ovary releases an egg.
The pain may be dull, cramp-like, or perceived as sudden and stabbing.
Mittelschmerz is usually not serious, but can be accompanied by a slight bleeding.
Painkillers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and rest provide relief in most cases; However, if fever and nausea also occur, an infectious disease (e.g. appendicitis) must be considered.
Kidney stones in the right kidney
Small crystal deposits can form in the kidneys, especially if the urine concentration is increased.
Kidney stones can travel through the urinary tract from the kidney to the bladder.
The hike can be very painful, even if the stones do not cause permanent damage.
Symptoms include right-sided pain below the ribs, in the right flank and in the back of the back. The pain can radiate to the lower right abdominal region and groin.
The pain can rise and decrease in waves and vary in intensity. The symptoms also include pain during urination, nausea, vomiting, fever with chills and increased urination.
The urine may take on a pink, reddish or brownish tint, have a cloudy appearance and smell foul.
Drinking plenty of water and taking painkillers can help relieve pain.
In case of severe pain, a visit to the doctor may be necessary to remove the kidney stones.
Infection of the right kidney A bladder or urinary tract infection can spread to the kidneys and lead to inflammation and pain.
Typical are pain in the abdomen, back, in the lateral abdominal region (flank) or in the groin.
There is a persistent urge to urinate and urination may cause pain.
Pus or blood residues in the urine may be noted, often fever also occurs.
Kidney infection can cause diffuse infection or kidney damage if left untreated.
Antibiotic treatment is intended to prevent complications.
Cysts on the right ovary The ovary
can develop fluid-filled cysts that can grow and cause discomfort. Ovarian cysts are usually harmless and can go away on their own, but in some cases they spread and twist, causing pain in the abdomen.
There may be dull, persistent or irregular pelvic pain, sometimes radiating to the back or thigh. They are noticeable at the beginning or end of a menstrual cycle.
Irregular menstrual cycles may occur.
Abdominal pain can also be associated with heaviness and bloating, nausea, vomiting and pressure on the bladder or rectum.
Constipation
Another common cause of pain in the right (or left) lower abdomen is constipation. Constipation occurs when the intestine is not emptied regularly and the stool becomes too firm, because bowel movements occur less often than three times a week.
Intestinal wall stretching, swelling and feeling of pressure in the rectum accompany the pain.
The symptoms usually disappear when emptying the intestine. A change in diet or the intake of laxatives can lead to relief.
Giardia Giardia
are not common, but are sometimes neglected.
These are small intestine parasites that cause infection of the small intestine.
The cramps can cause mild or moderate right-sided abdominal pain, accompanied by diarrhea and sometimes fatigue.
Thorough hand washing can prevent infection in many cases, to which people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible.
Giardia are mainly found in kindergarten children and in athletes who practice their sport outdoors and are exposed to polluted water.
Less common causes
There are rarer causes of pain in the right lower abdomen:
Colorectal cancer – occurs in elderly patients and is manifested by constipation or altered bowel habits, chronic abdominal pain and considerable weight loss.
Inflammation in the area of the small pelvis – an infection of the female reproductive organs by sexually transmitted bacteria.
The abdominal pain is accompanied by severe discharge, irregularities in the menstrual cycle, fever, back pain and pain during sexual intercourse.
Endometriosis – a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity, such as on the right ovary, fallopian tube or intestine, causing severe menstrual pain.
Inflammatory bowel disease – chronic inflammation in one part of the digestive system or in the entire digestive tract; these include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
These painful and debilitating diseases cause chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and can cause life-threatening complications.
Women and right-sided abdominal pain
Ectopic pregnancy
When the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, it is called an ectopic pregnancy or extrauterine pregnancy. Pregnancy can occur in the right ovary, fallopian tubes or abdominal cavity, provoking severe pain.
If it is located on the right side of the abdomen, it can be confused with appendicitis. However, it is often recognized as extrauterine gravidity because it is accompanied by the typical pregnancy symptoms and vaginal bleeding.
It is necessary to go to the emergency medical room immediately, because the fallopian tube can rupture; the result is dangerous heavy internal bleeding.
Bursting ovarian cysts: Most ovarian cysts are harmless, but some grow and reach a certain size. When they burst, a dangerous infection of the peritoneum can develop, which is called peritonitis.
Intact ovarian cysts can cause quite severe pain and sometimes surgical removal is necessary.
Although the disease can be diagnosed by the emergency doctor, a gynecologist often has to be consulted.
Right flank pain in pregnancy
During pregnancy, the bone-connecting ligaments stretch and become more flexible.
When moving, they can cause mild pain on one or both sides of the body.
As a rule, the right side is affected more often, because as the child grows, the uterus tends to tilt to the right.
The ligaments stretch to support the growth of the uterus.
By sitting down or lying down on the painless side, the symptoms can probably be alleviated.
In case of cramps, rest and protection help.
A warm full bath or warm grain pillow on the painful area provides relief.
During sexual intercourse and reaching orgasm, cramps and low back pain sometimes occur.
Sexual intercourse during pregnancy can cause spasmodic contractions, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
The cramps can be alleviated if the sexual union proceeds very slowly; a gentle massage after orgasm can also have a beneficial effect.
