Abdominal pain – right

The sensation of pain in the body always causes discomfort. Especially when it comes to the stomach. The abdominal cavity contains organs and tissues responsible for the vital functions of our body. Pain in the right side of the abdomen occurs for many reasons and signals a disease of various organs. An accurate diagnosis can only be established after visiting a doctor.

Causes of pain in the right side of the abdomen

The functioning of internal organs is influenced by many external factors:

• Lifestyle;
• bad habits;
• improper diet;
• contacts with infected people (in case of infectious, viral diseases).

Frequent stress or a long process of overwork are also factors that cause pain in the right side of the abdomen. For example, a “worn out” heart muscle has difficulty pumping blood, causing it to stagnate in the liver. This leads to swelling of the organ and is accompanied by painful sensations. Liver swelling may be associated with chemical intoxication as well as infections. Along with this, a number of other inflammatory processes may occur in the human body. There are many vulnerable organs located in the right half of the abdomen:

• gall bladder;
• appendix;
• intestines;
• ureter;
• right ovary (in women).

If you feel pain, the first thing to check is your appendix. Other causes of pain in the right side of the abdomen are various diseases of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. The condition of pain syndrome can also be caused by ulcerative colitis, infectious intestinal diseases, ileitis, herpes. And also with compressed nerve fibers in this area, movement of a stone in the ureter, parasites.

How does pain manifest in the right side of the abdomen?

In case of mild pain in the right side of the abdomen, which appears for less than two weeks, you can resort to self-treatment. It is recommended to consult a doctor when periodic pain appears for more than three weeks. Urgent medical attention is necessary if pain in the right side of the abdomen is accompanied by:

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, light-colored stools;
• heartburn, insomnia, palpitations, headaches, sour belching;
• severe weight loss, ascites, intense jaundice, vomiting bile, weakness;
• fever, severe pain radiating to the right side, bloating, flatulence;
• post-traumatic pain that lasts more than two hours.

Emergency hospitalization is necessary if:

• pain accompanied by bleeding (rectal) or vomiting blood;
• dizziness, delirium, rapid pulse, cold sticky sweat.

Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen

A definite symptom of pain in the right side of the abdomen is the “pain” itself. It is very important to recognize her “character”. Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen can be triggered by a number of factors and signal a chronic, long-lasting illness. Usually, no special attention is paid to periodic aching pain and, often, a person always has with him a medicine that quickly relieves it. Although it may just act as a marker of a serious disease. For example, aching pain usually accompanies sudden physical activity or poor diet. On the one hand, this is a common thing, on the other, it is evidence of congestion in the biliary tract. A full gallbladder can react in this way to tension in the peritoneal wall. Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen can also be caused by hepatitis and herpes zoster. Pain in women indicates diseases of the genitourinary system, in men – intestinal diseases, often chronic prostatitis.

Sharp pain in the right side of the abdomen

Acute pain in the right side of the abdomen occurs unexpectedly and is a reason for immediate medical attention. For example, the symptoms of appendicitis are characterized by acute pain. In this case, prompt surgical intervention is essential to avoid rupture of the appendix. Acute pain occurs in the event of perforation of an organ, rupture of any formation, blockage of blood vessels or intraperitoneal bleeding. This group of diseases also includes attacks of “acute” cholecystitis and pancreatitis. In women, acute pain in the right side of the abdomen can be caused by inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes or ovarian rupture. Acute pain in the lower abdomen can occur when the ureter is blocked by a blood clot, inflammatory masses, stones, or tissue breakdown products. If acute pain occurs, seek immediate medical attention.

Dull pain in the right side of the abdomen

Dull pain in the right side of the abdomen can be deceptive. It is a marker of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. It is characterized by localization in the upper right part of the peritoneum. Characteristic symptoms:

• nausea after eating;
• yellowing of the skin and sclera.

Dull pain can also mean chronic cirrhosis or hepatitis. In addition to the above, painful sensations of a dull nature are often caused by diseases of the female reproductive organs, tumors and other pathologies. Glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis (kidney diseases) are accompanied by a dull pain syndrome, also radiating to the right side of the abdomen.

Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen

Acute and dull pain differ in the duration of action, which is important for establishing an accurate diagnosis. The pain syndrome can be sharp and constant. Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen may be associated with stretching of the outer shell of the parenchymal structures, indicating the process of inflammation and disruption of the blood supply to the organ. Constant pain in the right hypochondrium can be caused by the following diseases:

• liver and biliary system;
• large intestine;
• “hepatic colic”;
• malignant tumor of the pancreas.

Sometimes, constant pain can be interrupted by attacks of sharp pain of varying duration. Increased pain is observed in the evening or at night, after consuming fatty foods or alcoholic beverages.

Diagnosis of pain in the right side of the abdomen

Diagnosing pain is one of the most difficult tasks in medical practice. Very often it is impossible to carry out a routine examination of the patient. The doctor’s experience is of great importance, due to the fact that the picture of the disease may be unclear even in life-threatening conditions. Mild pain characterizes a disease in which emergency surgery is necessary, and, conversely, in the case of an “acute abdomen”, surgical intervention may not be necessary. If you have acute, uncharacteristic pain in the right side of your abdomen, you should be examined. The first thing you need to do when diagnosing yourself is to determine the location of the pain. If pain occurs, palpation should be performed. Increased pain with light pressure on the upper abdomen on the right indicates problems with the gallbladder, pancreas, and liver. The appearance of subcostal pain in the right side of the abdomen is a likely symptom of viral hepatitis. For women, a sore lower abdomen on the right indicates the presence of an infectious disease of the genital organs. For any manifestation of pain, it is necessary to seek medical help to exclude the manifestation of serious pathologies. Before visiting a doctor, you need to pay attention to important points: the nature of the pain, frequency, localization, duration, causes that increase the pain.

When making a diagnosis, it is unwise to rely solely on a verbal description of pain. It is very important to conduct additional diagnostics. The most informative method is ultrasound. Diagnoses diseases:

• liver and gallbladder;
• pancreas;
• large intestine;
• kidneys and ovaries.

It is important to remember that before undergoing an ultrasound, you must avoid foods that cause gas. And a few hours before the diagnosis, avoid food altogether. It is recommended to drink activated carbon.

Doctors often prescribe fibrogastroscopy (FGS) and colonoscopy to patients. These methods occupy a leading position in the diagnosis of diseases of the stomach and intestines. They can be used to perform a biopsy of inflamed tissue. Rectromanoscopy is also prescribed for intestinal diseases.

One of the first methods for determining the disease is a general blood test and a general urinalysis. During a biochemical blood test, the content of substances is determined:

• bile pigments and cholesterol;
• enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract;
• proteins and sugar.

A blood test is also performed for hepatitis B and C, antibodies to parasites, and tumor markers. A stool test is performed to check for intestinal infections, dysbiosis, and occult blood.

Deviation of the content of the above indicators from the norm is a characteristic of a particular disease. However, the purpose of the tests is strictly determined for each specific case.

In situations where the diagnosis is unclear, an abdominal x-ray or MRI is performed.

Treatment of pain in the right side of the abdomen

There are many diseases that cause pain in the right side of the abdomen, but in modern medicine they are all subject to diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to timely detection, it is possible to avoid surgery. Any treatment of a disease requires increased attention and diet. In case of chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, it is recommended to avoid:

• fatty and fried;
• sour and spicy foods;
• alcoholic beverages;
• rich broths.

Eating boiled fish and meat, dairy products, cereals, and vegetables is allowed. Food is consumed in small portions, not hot. For “liver colic”, fatty meats, smoked foods, hot spices, and foods that lead to gas formation are also excluded. For diseases of the ovarian appendages (adnexitis), a hypoallergenic diet excluding mushrooms, chocolate, and sweets is recommended. Food consumed while following the regime should be bland.

In addition, treatment is carried out with medications. Cholenzym and its analogues are prescribed for the treatment of hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, which are chronic. It has a choleretic effect due to the active substances included in its composition. The drug is taken one tablet up to three times a day, after meals. It is not recommended to take the drug during acute illness. May cause side effects – allergic reactions (urticaria, lacrimation, sneezing).

For adnexitis, treatment with antibiotics in various combinations and drugs for a bactericidal effect on the anaerobic flora are prescribed. Additionally, antihistamines and analgesics are prescribed.

A painful attack of “hepatic colic” is relieved with the help of antispasmodics, no-shpa or papaverine.

In addition to taking medications, reflexology methods of bioactive points of the gallbladder and pancreas (pancreatitis, cholecystitis), and acupressure are prescribed. For adnexitis, physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed (ultrasound, electrophoresis, vibration massage).

However, in the case of a “severe phase” of the disease, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention (appendectomy, cholecystectomy). Surgical treatment is also performed if the effect of conservative treatment is insufficient.

If, after examining the cause of pain in the right side of the abdomen, no serious pathologies are identified, treatment can be carried out at home using herbal medicine. Immortelle, rose hips, plantain, corn silk, milk thistle, calendula are herbs whose tinctures will help relieve pain.

Mixtures of rose hips and immortelle increase the protective properties of the liver. Take 10-14 days once a quarter.

Pour 10 g of hop cones with water, let it brew and take three times a day for inflammatory conditions of the gallbladder and liver.

One part chamomile flowers, four parts St. John’s wort and immortelle, three parts knotweed, two parts joster bush bark. Pour four tablespoons of the mixture into one liter of cold water, leave overnight, boil for 10 minutes in the morning, let cool. Drink one glass on an empty stomach, the rest – an hour after each meal.

Prevention of pain in the right side of the abdomen

There are no specific methods for preventing pain in the right side of the abdomen. However, if the pain appears once, you should give up fatty and fried foods, salt and pepper for a certain time, and it is recommended to drink herbal infusions. If the pain syndrome recurs, you should visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.