Lower Right Side Abdominal Pain

The abdomen covers some of the most important organs of our body, viz., liver, pancreas, right kidney, part of large intestine, the appendix; right ovaries and right fallopian tube (in females), etc. Any injury or disorder in the functioning of any of these organs leads to abdominal pain in the right side. Abdominal pain can occur due to a variety of reasons, however, if it is sudden, without any known cause, and also is observed frequently; one should not ignore it. Let us have a look at the causes of lower right abdominal pain.

Causes of Abdominal Pain on Lower Right Side
Among the several causes, here are a few important and common causes of abdominal pain in the lower right side.

Appendicitis
Appendicitis is the inflammation of vermiform appendix, that can cause the wall of the appendix to weaken and rupture. Pain in right side of the abdomen, inflammation, reddening, irritation and blockage are the other signs of appendicitis. This condition is more common in teenagers and young adults.

Inguinal Hernia
The inguinal hernia is one of the most common types of hernia in men. It is also one of the most common cause for abdominal pain in men. Inguinal hernia occurs when a loop of the intestine enters the inguinal canal and bulges through a weak part in the lower abdominal muscles. A bulge in the lower abdomen that causes discomfort while lifting and straining, along with lower abdominal pain are the symptoms of inguinal hernia.

Kidney Stone
Abdominal pain caused due to kidney stone is considered as one of the worst kind of pain in human beings. Kidney stone occurs when excess urea or calcium in the body fails to get washed out. On the contrary, it gets stored in the body in the form of crystalline stones known as the kidney stones. One experiences lower right side abdominal pain if the stones are located in the right kidney. Apart from this, difficulty and pain in urination are the other symptoms of kidney stone.

Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is the most significant cause of lower right side abdominal pain during pregnancy in women. Ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy that occurs when the fertilized egg gets placed in the part of the female reproductive system, other than the uterus. In most of the cases, the fertilized egg gets struck in the fallopian tube which leads to miscarriage. If it gets planted in the right fallopian tube, the woman experiences abdominal pain in lower right side.

Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion is a medical condition observed only in males, specially adolescent males. Trauma or deformity gives rise to this condition where torsion or twist occurs in the spermatic cord resulting in interrupted blood supply to the testicle. Along with lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, etc, are the other symptoms of testicular torsion.

Apart from these, Crohn's disease, Diverticulitis, uterine fibroids and ovarian cancer (in women) are the other causes of lower right abdominal pain.

Treating Lower Abdominal Pain
If one observes sharp, sudden or frequent abdominal pain in lower right side, he / she should consult the doctor immediately. All the above-mentioned causes can be cured effectively if timely treatment is undertaken. Appendectomy is the only treatment method used for treating appendicitis. Antibiotics may be required prior to and post appendectomy. On the other hand, herniorrhaphy and Laparoscopy are the two surgical procedures that are used for treating inguinal hernia. Treatment of kidney stone depends on the size of it. Stones that are smaller in size can be treated with the help of medications, whereas, surgical procedures are required to treat larger kidney stones. Similarly, the treatment of ectopic pregnancy depends on the location of the fertilized egg. However, one should note that ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated immediately. Surgery is the only treatment method used to cure testicular torsion.

This was brief information on lower right side abdominal pain. As a concluding note, it can only be said that one should not ignore abdominal pain of any type as it can be a sign of any serious underlying cause!