Discomfort on your right back side can range from a mild ache to sharp, intense sensations. This pain refers to discomfort from the lower ribs down to the hip on the right side of the back. While back pain is common, its specific localization often prompts questions about its origin. Understanding potential causes is important. This article explores common reasons for right back pain.
Musculoskeletal Causes
Right back pain often stems from musculoskeletal issues, involving muscles, bones, and connective tissues. Overexertion or sudden, awkward movements can lead to a muscle strain or sprain. Poor posture can also contribute to these strains, causing localized pain and tightness on the right side. This pain often feels like a soreness or ache, worsening with movement.
Sciatica is another common musculoskeletal cause, where pain radiates along the sciatic nerve. When compressed or irritated, often by a herniated disc, it can cause radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the right lower back, buttocks, and down the right leg.
A herniated disc in the lumbar spine can also directly cause right back pain. This occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc bulges or ruptures, pressing on nearby nerves. The pressure can lead to significant pain in the affected area, which may also radiate.
Issues with the small joints connecting the vertebrae, known as facet joints, can also contribute to right back pain. Facet joint dysfunction involves inflammation or degeneration of these joints, leading to localized pain that can worsen with movement.
Organ-Related Pain
Pain originating from internal organs can often be felt in the back, a phenomenon known as referred pain. The pain’s location can provide clues about the involved organ. Several organs near the right side of the body can cause pain radiating to the right back.
Kidney issues are a frequent source of right flank or back pain. Kidney stones, solid masses that form in the kidneys, cause severe, wave-like pain when moving into the ureter, felt in the lower back, right flank, or groin. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) also cause lower back or side pain, typically with fever, chills, and painful urination. This pain is usually constant and can range from dull to severe.
Gallbladder problems can cause pain in the right upper back or shoulder blade. Located in the upper right abdomen, inflammation (cholecystitis) or gallstones can cause pain that radiates to the back. This referred pain often feels sharp and may occur after eating fatty foods.
Less common, some liver conditions may cause referred pain to the right upper back or shoulder. The liver is in the upper right abdomen; inflammation or enlargement can lead to discomfort radiating to the back. This pain may be dull or throbbing, accompanied by fatigue or jaundice.
Appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix, typically causes pain in the lower right abdomen, but can sometimes cause referred pain to the right lower back, especially if positioned behind the colon. Pain often starts near the navel before moving to the lower right side, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fever. Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, can also cause back pain, often centered in the upper abdomen and spreading to the mid-back, sometimes more to the left. This pain can be severe and may worsen when lying flat.
Neuropathic and Other Causes
Beyond musculoskeletal and organ-related issues, right back pain can also arise from nerve damage or other conditions. Neuropathic pain occurs when damaged or dysfunctional nerves send faulty signals. This pain can feel like a burning, shooting, or stabbing sensation, often with tingling or numbness.
Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, results in painful nerve inflammation following a specific dermatome (area of skin supplied by a single nerve). If nerves on the right back are affected, it causes severe pain and a characteristic rash. Pain can precede the rash by several days.
Referred pain can also originate from other sources, such as certain lung conditions. Though less common for direct back pain, inflammation of the lung lining (pleurisy) can cause discomfort perceived in the back due to shared nerve pathways. This pain might worsen with deep breaths or coughing.
For women, certain gynecological issues can cause referred pain to the lower right back. Conditions like ovarian cysts or endometriosis (where uterine lining-like tissue grows outside the uterus) can lead to pelvic pain radiating to the lower back on the right side. These pains may vary with the menstrual cycle.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Understanding when to seek medical attention for right back pain is important for diagnosis and treatment. While many instances resolve with rest and self-care, certain symptoms warrant prompt evaluation. Consult a healthcare professional if pain is severe, constant, or worsening, especially if not relieved by rest.
Specific “red flag” symptoms indicate a more serious underlying condition. These include sudden, severe pain, particularly after injury or trauma. Pain with fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting also requires immediate attention.
Neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, limb weakness, or difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements are concerning and necessitate urgent medical care. Unexplained weight loss with back pain also warrants a medical visit. A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose the cause and recommend a treatment plan.