10 Things That Might Be Causing You Right Side Abdominal Pain!

Last Updated on April 14, 2020

Are you experiencing severe abdominal pain in your right side? If yes, you need to assess your symptoms first before making any assumptions or seeking treatment.

Although right abdominal pain can be quite unbearable, you should take some time to track your symptoms so you can find the proper diagnosis. You need to point out whether you have right side abdominal pain that comes and goes or long-term right side abdominal pain, whether it’s sharp or dull, whether it alters your daily activities or can be manageable… etc. Your answers will help you get the right treatment.

Also, it’s important not to panic because, in most cases, the causes of right side abdominal pain are temporary or benign, such as indigestion, gas, or a pulled muscle. But if you’re worried, it’s best to see a doctor because there are certain cases when the causes of abdominal pain, in general, can be serious hidden health problems.

With this in mind, here are ten common causes of right side abdominal pain & how to deal with it.

10. Gas

Your stomach is found precisely on top of your belly button. Hence, when gas is accumulated, it often sits in the center or to the left of your abdomen. However, it’s not always the case because, sometimes, gas can move to your right side.

Gas may be the culprit behind your right side abdominal pain if you’ve recently made some diet changes or eaten plenty of gassy foods, such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or beans.
If gas is the cause, you shouldn’t worry because the pain will fade away with time. To fasten your recovery, try taking a walk to help move your stomach.

9. Indigestion

When indigestion strikes, you’ll likely experience a burning feeling in your upper abdomen that can move to your right side. Heartburn isn’t dangerous. It can often occur after downing food very fast, eating tomatoes or other acidic foods, or drinking alcohol or lots of coffee.

That’s why many people experience indigestion after enjoying a large Italian meal. This type of indigestion is supposed to disappear without the help of any medications or homemade remedies. Still, if it keeps happening and it’s already been a couple of weeks, then you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

8. A Muscle Spasm

Right side abdominal pain can occur after an intense cardio session because when you run faster than usual, your diaphragm gets stressed. If that’s the case, then stretching your arms over your head would help you get some relief and reduce the pain you’re feeling.

To prevent a muscle spasm and avoid unwanted pain, make sure to warm up with a jog or jumping jacks first so you can help your respiratory system to stretch out.

7. A Hernia

Right side abdominal pain may be one of the signs of a hernia, which could be developed after lifting heavy things at home or tremendous weights at the gym. This condition happens when an organ or tissue pokes through a muscle’s wall.

Among the causes of a hernia, we also find genetics, overweight or obesity, and old surgical areas where the tissue is weak. The symptoms of a hernia include a dull pain in the site or sharp pain when lifting something. Surgery might be necessary to treat this problem.

6. Appendicitis

The most common suspect when it comes to appendicitis is right side abdominal pain because the ache has the same location as the appendix.
If you have appendicitis, you will experience a pain that often begins around your belly button and later advances toward the lower quadrant on the right. In this case, lying in bed or sitting still might feel painful or uncomfortable.

According to experts, there are no particular causes of appendicitis, so don’t be harsh on yourself since there’s nothing really that you can do to prevent it. However, it’s crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible because if left untreated, the appendix might explode.

5. An Ovarian Cyst

Women may develop a liquid-filled cyst on one of their two ovaries for various reasons. In many cases, these cysts go away with time and can be unnoticeable. But in other cases, the cyst can be big enough to cause pain, and the woman would likely experience right side abdominal pain if the cyst is located on her right ovary.

When the pain is sharp, sudden, or unbearable, or if it’s accompanied by vomiting or fever, you’ll need to see a doctor immediately.

4. An Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg ends up being implanted in one of the fallopian tubes instead of inside the uterus. This case is a rare condition that some women may experience at any moment during their reproductive age, and that can manifest as concentrated or sharp abdominal pain either on the left or right side.

To rule this issue out, you need to do a pregnancy test first and don’t forget to tell your doctor that you might be pregnant or that you’ve been trying to have a baby while describing your abdominal pain. More importantly, watch out for other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, notably pelvic pain or unusual vaginal bleeding.

3. A Kidney Stone

A kidney stone is known for inducing pain in the lower abdomen, low back, or groin. However, some individuals might experience more pain in their left or right side.

Moreover, the pain can even keep moving, which indicates that the stone is advancing through the urinary tract. That’s not the only symptom of a kidney stone! There might also be vomiting, nausea, bloody urine, or pain when urinating.

2. A Fecal Impaction

Chronic constipation may lead to fecal impaction, in which stool is badly trapped inside your body. You’d probably like to know that the majority of stool is stored on the left side of the rectum.

To detect a fecal impaction, watch out for symptoms like bladder pressure, lower back pain, bloating, and abdominal cramping. Make sure to see a doctor as soon as you notice one of these symptoms.

1. A Gallstone

A gallstone could be the reason why you’re experiencing pain in the upper right of your abdomen, particularly if the pain gets worse after meals. This condition is surprisingly common in females between 30 and 40 years old.

The gallbladder helps the body digest food, but if you are obese or have high levels of estrogen or blood fats, this organ can begin forming gallstones, which cause sudden pain once they successfully block bile ducts.

The gallstones can be treated with medications, but in more severe cases, the person may need surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Make sure to seek medical help as soon as you notice any abnormal discomfort or pain that keeps reoccurring or won’t go away.

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We hope you stay healthy and content.