Pain in Right Side of Body

Any type of pain, headache, abdominal pain, back pain or leg pain irritates us and makes us restless. Pain affects the quality of life and we cannot perform our daily activities easily. Detecting the exact cause of pain helps determine the treatment. Your doctor may ask you some questions regarding the symptoms and may find out the cause after thorough physical examination. Blood/urine tests, an ultrasound or MRI help determine the exact underlying cause of pain. While waiting for the test results, you may carefully watch the symptoms of pain. Remember, the symptoms may vary according to the cause; but you can guess what is causing pain in right side of your body. Here is a list of causes of pain in the right side.

Pain in Right Side of Head
One of the main reason of pain in right side of head is migraine. Eye problems, arthritis, injuries, overexertion, holding your head in one position for a long time (like while using a computer), stress and mental tension, sleeping in an awkward position or in a cold room, tumors, tooth decay, jaw problems, ear problems, spondylitis, etc. can cause neck pain and/or headache.

Pain in Right Leg
Sciatica, swollen varicose veins, peripheral arterial disease, injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, anemia, restless leg syndrome, leg cramps, trapped nerve, problem in blood circulation, etc. can cause pain in the right leg.

Pain in Lower Right Abdomen
The important organs in the abdominal cavity, situated at the right side of the body include pancreas, liver, right kidney, right part of large intestine, appendix, right ovary and right fallopian tubes in females and muscles of right abdomen. Testicular torsion and inflammation of seminal vesicles in men can lead to lower right abdominal pain. Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, menstruation, etc. can cause pain in lower right abdomen in women.

Other common causes of lower right abdominal pain include various digestive system problems like intestinal obstruction, constipation, diverticulitis (inflammation of the colon), Crohn's disease, etc. Acute attacks of appendicitis (inflammation of appendix) leading to unbearable lower abdominal pain are common in teenagers and people belonging to the age group 20-40.

Sharp pain in right side of body suggests ectopic pregnancy or kidney stones. Sharp excruciating pain in lower right abdomen due to kidney stones can spread to the groin and can also cause lower back pain. Femoral hernia can result in pain in the pelvic region, nausea and vomiting. Urinary tract infection can also cause abdominal pain.

Pain in Upper Right Abdomen
Hiatal hernia results in pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Bulging of the stomach creates pressure on the diaphragm and leads to a very painful condition called 'hiatal hernia' which needs immediate medical attention. Pain in right side of body under ribs can be due to a pulled muscle, gallstones, ulcerative colitis, right lower lobe pneumonia, liver problems or pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas). Stones in the gallbladder or its ducts, like kidney stones, dissolve with medicines or can be removed surgically. Nausea, vomiting, fever, rapid heartbeat can be experienced depending upon the severity of the problem. As pain in the right side can spread to the back and lower abdomen, sharp pain in left side of the body can spread towards the right side of the body. Various stomach problems can lead to stomach pain in right side, for example, trapped wind, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, food poisoning, allergies, bowel cancer, etc.

This was an overview of pain in the right side of your body. The general information regarding several possible causes of pain in the right side should be considered as guidelines only. You should consult your doctor and undergo the tests suggested by your doctor to confirm the cause of pain.