Pain in the right side of the abdomen

Feeling pain in the body always causes discomfort. Especially when it concerns the abdomen. The abdominal cavity contains organs, 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.

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Causes of pain in the right side of the abdomen

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

• lifestyle;
• bad habits;
• poor nutrition;
• 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, as a result of which it stagnates in the liver. This leads to swelling of the organ and is accompanied by painful sensations. Swelling of the liver can be associated with chemical intoxication, as well as infections. Along with this, a number of other inflammatory processes can occur in the human body. Many vulnerable organs are localized in the right half of the abdomen:

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

When you feel pain, the first thing to check is the 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 the pain syndrome can also be caused by ulcerative colitis, infectious intestinal diseases, ileitis, herpes. And also by compressed nerve fibers in this area, movement of a stone in the ureter, parasites.

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

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

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, light-colored stool;
• heartburn, insomnia, palpitations, headaches, sour belching;
• severe weight loss, ascites, intense jaundice, vomiting of 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 that is accompanied by bleeding (rectal) or vomiting of blood;
• dizziness, delirium, rapid pulse, cold sticky sweat.

Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen

A certain symptom of pain in the right side of the abdomen is the "pain" itself. It is very important to recognize its "character". Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen can be provoked by a number of factors and signal a chronic, long-term illness. Usually, special attention is not paid to periodic aching pain and, often, a person always has a medicine with him that quickly gets rid of it. Although it can be a marker of a serious disease. For example, aching pain usually accompanies sudden physical exertion or a violation of the diet. On the one hand, it is a common thing, on the other - evidence of stagnation in the biliary tract. An overfilled gallbladder can react in this way to the tension of the peritoneum wall. Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen can also be caused by hepatitis, shingles. Pain in women indicates diseases of the genitourinary system, in men - bowel diseases, often chronic prostatitis.

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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, rapid surgical intervention is essential to avoid rupture of the appendix. Acute pain occurs in the event of organ perforation, 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 rupture of the ovary. Acute pain in the lower abdomen can occur when the ureter is blocked by a blood clot, inflammatory masses, a stone, or tissue decay 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 localized in the upper right part of the peritoneum. Characteristic symptoms:

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

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

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Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen

Acute and dull pain differ in duration, which is important for establishing an accurate diagnosis. Pain syndrome can be sharp and constant. Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen can be associated with stretching of the outer shell of parenchymatous structures, indicates an inflammatory process, disruption of the organ's blood supply. Constant pain in the right hypochondrium can be caused by 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 sensations of varying duration. Increased pain is noted in the evening or at night, after eating fatty foods, alcoholic beverages.

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Diagnosis of pain in the right side of the abdomen

Pain diagnostics is one of the most difficult tasks in medical practice. Very often it is impossible to conduct a routine examination of the patient. The doctor's experience is of great importance, given that the picture of the disease may be unclear even in life-threatening conditions. Mild pain characterizes a disease that requires urgent surgery, and, conversely, in the case of an "acute abdomen" the surgeon's intervention may not be needed. In case of acute, uncharacteristic pain in the right side of the abdomen, it is necessary to undergo an examination. The first thing to do when conducting diagnostics on your own is to determine the localization 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 hypochondrium pain in the right side of the abdomen is a probable symptom of viral hepatitis. For women, a sore lower abdomen on the right indicates the presence of an infectious disease of the genitals. At 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 unreasonable to rely only 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 abstain from food that causes gas formation. And a few hours before the diagnostics, you should abstain from food altogether. It is recommended to take activated carbon.

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

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

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

Blood tests are also performed for hepatitis B and C, antibodies to parasites, and tumor markers. Stool tests are performed for intestinal infections, dysbacteriosis, and occult blood.

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

In situations where the diagnosis is unclear, abdominal X-rays or MRIs are performed.

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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 the disease requires increased attention, diet. In case of chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, it is recommended to refuse:

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

It is allowed to eat boiled fish and meat, dairy products, cereals, vegetables. Food is consumed in small portions, not hot. In case of "hepatic colic" fatty meat, smoked products, hot spices, products that lead to gas formation are also excluded. In case of disease of the ovarian appendages (adnexitis), a hypoallergenic diet is recommended, excluding mushrooms, chocolate, sweets. Food consumed during the regimen 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 in acute cases of the disease. May cause side effects - allergic reactions (urticaria, lacrimation, sneezing).

In case of adnexitis, antibiotic treatment is prescribed in various combinations, drugs for bactericidal action on anaerobic flora. 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), point massage are prescribed. In case of adnexitis, physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed (ultrasound, elektrophoresis, 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 carried out when conservative treatment is insufficient.

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

Rosehip and immortelle mixtures enhance the liver's protective properties. 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 inflammation of the gallbladder and liver.

One part chamomile flowers, four parts St. John's wort and immortelle, three parts knotweed, two parts buckthorn bark. Pour four tablespoons of the mixture with 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 as such. However, if the pain occurs once, it is worth giving up fatty and fried foods, salt and pepper for a certain period of time, it is recommended to drink herbal infusions. In case of recurrence of the pain syndrome, you should visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.