The reasons for pain in
your right lower quadrant range from harmless to severe.
There are several
reasons why you might experience pain in your lower right abdomen — also known
as the right lower quadrant (RLQ). And though it might be tempting to let your
thoughts drift to more serious causes, it’s important to keep in mind that
reasons for experiencing pain in the RLQ can range from harmless to severe.
Below, we’ll talk
about what each of these causes entails. But while self-diagnosis could be
useful in some cases, nothing replaces the advice of a medical professional.
“Anyone with
abdominal pain should seek immediate medical attention if the pain is severe,
also felt in the chest, accompanied by fever, bloody vomit or stools, or if the
abdomen is hard or swollen.” Stephani Laing, CEO, ACP, an Advanced Care
Paramedic at Elite Emergency
Response Inc. tells Considerable.
Again, there are many
cases where abdominal pain can be the cause of something less severe. Perhaps
your lower right abdomen is hurting due to one of the reasons listed below.
1. Gas/indigestion
RLQ pain could simply
be caused by gas or
indigestion. If you’re experiencing indigestion (which may be
accompanied by flatulence, heartburn, or other similar symptoms) there’s
typically no reason for concern, unless it lasts more than two weeks.
Indigestion can also
lead to gas and bloating, which is another cause for discomfort or RLQ pain but
usually will pass in a matter of hours.
2. Kidney stones
A more severe cause
of RLQ pain might be kidney stones. This is when salts and minerals build up in
the kidney into hard lumps that can vary in size.
Sometimes kidney
stones that are smaller in size will simply pass through the urinary tract. But
larger stones may become stuck, resulting in significant pain.
Along with pain, an
individual might experience blood in the urine, persistent urge/pain when
urinating, and nausea or vomiting, according to Medical News Today.
3. Hernia
According to
Healthline, a hernia occurs
when an internal organ or a part of the body pushes through muscle or tissue
that holds it in place and protrudes from the body in an abnormal way. Many
types of hernias happen in the abdomen, which is why RLQ pain might be related.
Other symptoms you
might experience along with abdominal pain are feeling full or constipated,
swelling or bulging at the site, and pain while lifting, laughing or crying,
coughing, or straining.
4. Kidney infection
If bacteria spread
from the uterus, bladder, or urethra, it could result in kidney infection. One
or both of the kidneys may be affected, and though abdominal pain may be a
symptom, an individual more typically experiences pain in their sides, back, or
groin.
If you suspect your
RLQ discomfort is caused by a kidney infection and you’re also experiencing
fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, increase in urination frequency or increased
urge to urinate, cloudy, painful, or pussy/bloody urination, seek medical
attention immediately.
5. Inflammatory bowel
disease
Inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two separate conditions: Crohn’s disease
and ulcerative colitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), IBD is characterized
by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and prolonged
inflammation could result in permanent damage to the GI tract.
If your RLQ pain is
accompanied by severe diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, blood in the stool,
fever, or reduced appetite, you might be suffering from IBD.
6. Irritable bowel
syndrome
Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS)
is a common disorder that targets the large intestine — it shouldn’t be
confused with IBD.
According to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, along with RLQ pain, IBS could cause
gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea/constipation, or both. Doctors aren’t sure what
causes IBS, according to the organization.
7. Pelvic
inflammatory disease
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs and is often caused by some
STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, PID can also result
from other infections that are not sexually transmitted.
If you have PID,
other symptoms you might experience in addition to RLQ pain would be fever,
unusual/odorous vaginal discharge, burning during urination, or pain/bleeding
during sex.
8. Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are
fluid-filled sacs in the ovary and are a very common part of ovulation. Many
women with ovarian cysts don’t experience symptoms; the cysts are harmless and
go away on their own, Womenshealth.gov explains.
However, there are some cases where large cysts rupture and lead to severe
pain. In this case, it’s important to see your doctor.
9. Appendicitis
“The appendix is
located in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) but interestingly, the abdominal pain
can start on the left side or around the belly button before
moving to the right lower abdominal area,” Laing tells Considerable.
According to Laing,
the danger with appendicitis is that if an inflamed, infected appendix
ruptures, it can spew bacteria into the body and causes sepsis. “Sepsis
causes severe illness and can lead to death so it’s important to get
appendicitis ruled out by a doctor if you’re experiencing persistent abdominal
pain and suspect appendicitis,” she says.
10. Ectopic pregnancy
“In women of
childbearing age, an ectopic pregnancy can also cause RLQ pain,” says Laing.
“An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus,
often in a fallopian tube.”
Women who suffer
ectopic pregnancies often don’t know yet that they’re pregnant, explains the
paramedic, and this would require emergency surgery. This is due to the fact
that if an ectopic pregnancy causes rupture of a fallopian tube, the result can
be severe internal bleeding, shock, and possibly death.
11. Inguinal hernia
An inguinal (or
groin) hernia occurs when part of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in
the abdominal wall at the inguinal canal (a passageway near the groin).
According to Harvard Health, inguinal hernias are
up to 10 times more common in men than in women.
You might not
experience any symptoms at first, but if you notice severe RLQ pain or pain in
the groin along with a bulge and suspect it’s an inguinal hernia, see your
doctor.
12. Testicular
torsion
Testicular
torsion is a serious condition in which a man’s testicle twists
and loses its blood supply, and according to Cleveland Clinic, this condition
requires emergency care.
If the blood supply
is not returned to the testicle within six hours, the testicle may need to be
surgically removed. If you experience swelling of the scrotum along with RLQ
pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, or uneven testicle position, seek medical
attention.
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