Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. Other terms used to explain abdominal pain are stomachache, belly pains, digestive tract pains and bellyache. Abdominal pain can be moderate or severe. It may be continuous or come and go. Abdominal pain can be short-lived (acute) or occur over weeks and months (persistent).
Call your doctor right away if you have abdominal pain so severe that you can’t move without triggering more pain, or you can’t sit still or find a comfy position. Also, look for instant medical assistance if pain is accompanied by other worrisome symptoms and signs, such as fever, bloody diarrhea or severe inflammation in your abdomen.
Causes of Severe Pain in Lower Right Abdomen
Abdominal pain in lower right side of your body has lots of potential causes. Many causes, such as gas pains or a pulled muscle, aren’t serious, while other conditions need prompt medical interest.
Commonly, the location of the abdominal pain can supply a vital hint about its cause. At other times, severe abdominal pain may take place in unforeseen patterns, and its cause is less apparent. However, it is valuable to consider abdominal pain in terms of its area.
The following conditions might trigger generalized abdominal pain, which is abdominal pain that isn’t really focused in one particular area:
- Appendicitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of ketones in the blood).
- Diverticulitis.
- Injury.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Intussusception (in children).
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Lead poisoning.
- Mesenteric lymphadenitis (inflamed lymph nodes in the folds of membrane that hold the abdominal organs in place).
- Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation).
- Pelvic inflammatory illness (PID) (infection of the female reproductive organs).
- Peritonitis (infection of the abdominal lining).
- Sickle cell anemia.
- Strained or pulled abdominal muscle.
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Uremia (buildup of waste items in your blood).
- Urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Viral gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation).
The following conditions typically cause lower abdominal pain, often described as pelvic pain:
- Appendicitis.
- Cystitis (bladder swelling).
- Diverticulitis.
- Issues with the cervix, such as a cervical infection, irritated cervix or growths on the cervix.
- Endometriosis.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Mittelschmerz (pain related to ovulation).
- Ovarian cysts.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (infection of the female reproductive organs).
- Salpingitis (swelling of the fallopian tubes).
The following conditions commonly causes lower right abdominal pain:
- Appendicitis.
- Cancer.
- Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
- Diverticulitis.
- Issues with the cervix, such as a cervical infection, inflamed cervix or growths on the cervix.
- Endometriosis.
- Inguinal hernia.
- Injury.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Kidney infection.
- Kidney stones.
- Mittelschmerz (pain associated with ovulation).
- Ovarian cysts.
- Salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).
- Influential vesiculitis (inflammation of the seminal vesicles).
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm.
- Tuboovarian abscess (pus-filled pocket including a fallopian tube and an ovary).
- Viral gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation).
Causes shown here are typically connected with this symptom. Deal with your doctor or other health care specialist for an accurate diagnosis.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or emergency situation medical support.
Look for help if your abdominal pain is severe and is related to:
- Trauma, such as an accident or injury.
- Pressure or pain in your chest.
- Look for instant medical attention.
Have someone drive you to urgent care or the emergency room if:
- Pain is so severe that you can’t sit still or need to curl into a ball to find relief.
- Pain is accompanied by bloody stools, consistent queasiness and vomiting, skin that appears yellow, severe inflammation when you touch your abdominal area, or swelling of the abdominal area.
- Arrange a doctor’s visit.
- Make an appointment with your doctor if your abdominal pain worries you or lasts more than a few days.
In the meantime, find methods to ease your pain. For instance, eat smaller sized meals if your pain is accompanied by indigestion. Prevent taking over-the-counter painkiller such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) since these can cause stomach irritation that may worsen abdominal pain.