Pain on the right side under the ribs

Pain on the right side under the ribs is a symptom that even a completely healthy person has encountered at least once in their life. The close contact of the internal organs with the right hypochondrium, as well as their dense structure, somewhat complicates the establishment of an accurate diagnosis, therefore, if you have pain of any nature on the right side under the ribs, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.

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Causes right rib pain

The right hypochondrium is a reliable protection for internal organs. Pain on the right side under the ribs primarily indicates diseases:

• Liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis).
• Gallbladder (cholecystitis).
• Pancreas (pancreatitis).
• Right kidney (urolithiasis, pyelonephritis).
• Diaphragms.
• Adrenal gland.
• Right lung (lung cancer, pneumonia).
• Intestines (duodenal ulcer).
• Ribs (cracked or broken ribs).
• Spine (vertebral osteochondrosis).
• Peripheral nerves (shingles).

But in order to accurately determine the cause of pain in the right hypochondrium, it is necessary to pay attention to the localization of painful sensations and their nature.

Symptoms

Pain under the ribs on the right can have different nature:

• strong;
• acute;
• sharp;
• aching, dull, pulling;
• piercing.

Depending on the nature of the pain and its accompanying syndromes, the affected organ can be determined.

Severe pain on the right side under the ribs

Unbearable, severe pain in the right hypochondrium is typical for diseases of the gallbladder, liver and kidneys.

Inflammation of the gallbladder ( cholecystitis ). Severe pain on the right side under the ribs makes a person rush about in search of a comfortable position. In addition, he is tormented by:

• fever;
• nausea;
• repeated vomiting that does not bring relief;
• often - yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Hepatic colic is severe pain that subsides when taking antispasmodic drugs. Liver diseases are characterized by yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Liver injuries, cirrhosis. The pain increases when a person is in a horizontal position. Symptoms of blood loss are observed (weakness and dizziness, pale skin and mucous membranes, increased pulse rate with low blood pressure).

Kidneys. The pain is so intense that the person rushes about in search of a comfortable position. Most often, the pain is associated with urolithiasis, so depending on the location of the stone, the pain can be localized in the upper or lower part of the right hypochondrium. In addition, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• vomiting occurring simultaneously with pain;
• frequent urination;
• bloating.

Sharp pain on the right side under the ribs

Acute, or "dagger-like" pain occurs unexpectedly and is typical for gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. In acute pain syndrome, a person most often takes a lying position with legs pressed to the stomach.

Besides this, he is tormented by:

• nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea or constipation;
• heartburn, sour belching.

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Sharp pain on the right side under the ribs

A sharp girdle pain is the first symptom of acute pancreatitis. The cause of exacerbation of the disease is the use of large amounts of alcohol with fatty and sweet foods. Sharp pain in acute pancreatitis is distinguished by its intensity - it does not decrease with a change in body position or coughing. Pancreatitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• repeated vomiting;
• severe intoxication (cyanosis of the face and body, marbled skin of the abdomen, small hemorrhages on the sides and around the navel).

Sharp pain under the right ribs in the area of the shoulder blade and collarbone occurs when pus accumulates under the diaphragm (subphrenic abscess). The pain intensifies when coughing and sneezing, making sudden movements, breathing; relief comes when lying on the right side. Associated symptoms:

• fever;
• intoxication of the body.

A sharp pain between the ribs, which is felt at the slightest touch to the skin, is characteristic of shingles - a viral disease that manifests itself in the form of painful rashes on the skin along the nerves affected by the virus (most often in the intercostal area). Before the rash appears, a person may feel aching pain in the right or left hypochondrium, weakness, and fever.

Aching, dull, pulling pain under the ribs on the right

A nagging, dull, aching pain in the right hypochondrium indicates chronic liver diseases that provoke its enlargement (hepatitis). In addition, it may be a sign of the formation of malignant and benign tumors.

In addition to dull and aching pain, the following are observed:

• jaundice;
• liver failure;
• circulatory disorder.

Also, aching dull pain can be a symptom of the following diseases:

• polycystic right kidney;
• malignant tumors of the lung, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas;
• enlarged spleen;
• inflammation of the small intestine;
• inflammation of the appendages (in women).

Stabbing pain on the right side under the ribs

A stabbing pain under the right ribs, which intensifies when coughing and taking a deep breath, is typical of right-sided pneumonia. Often the pain spreads across the entire right side, and it is quite difficult to name the exact time of its occurrence. Associated symptoms:

• elevated temperature;
• shortness of breath;
• pale blue nasolabial triangle;
• constipation and diarrhea;
• herpetic eruptions on the right side.

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Pain in the right hypochondrium from behind

Pain under the ribs on the right side at the back indicates problems with the kidney and pancreas.

When the kidneys are inflamed, the patient experiences Pasternatsky's syndrome: severe pain when lightly hitting the lower rib from behind with the edge of the palm. With renal colic, the pain in the right hypochondrium is intense and paroxysmal and torments to such an extent that the person cannot be at rest and constantly changes his position. With urolithiasis, the pain spreads along the entire spine to the lower back.

Pain under the right rib during inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) occurs suddenly, has a girdle-like character, and its intensity does not change.

The causes of inflammation of the pancreas can be alcohol and fatty food abuse, metabolic disorders, complications after surgery, and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

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Pain in the right hypochondrium in front

If the pain radiates to the front of the ribs, then this is caused by diseases:

• Lungs (pneumonia, inflammation).
• Gallbladder (acute or chronic cholecystitis).
• Liver (hepatitis, fatty cell degeneration, cirrhosis, tumors).
• Duodenum and stomach (erosions, peptic ulcer, gastritis).

When the lungs are affected, the pain in the right hypochondrium is stabbing, it becomes stronger when inhaling or coughing, and it is also accompanied by typical symptoms of fever (temperature, weakness), which distinguish it from other diseases of the internal organs of the right hypochondrium.

In gallbladder diseases, severe pain is felt in the epigastric region and in the right shoulder blade. In acute cholecystitis, the pain moves to the lower part of the right hypochondrium.

If the pain under the right rib is aching or dull, then this indicates liver disease. As a rule, it is accompanied by signs of jaundice (yellowish color of the skin and whites of the eyes), the only exception is benign tumors.

With gastric and duodenal ulcers, the pain is localized in the anterior part of the right and left hypochondrium, flowing to the back and lower back. They are slightly dulled when pressed, so the patient feels relief when lying on the stomach or squatting.

Pain in the right hypochondrium below

Pain on the right side under the ribs is a sign of inflammation:

• intestines (namely, the appendix). The first sign of appendicitis is a sharp, stabbing pain in the right side. The nature of the pain indicates a possible rupture of the appendix, so you should see a doctor immediately.
• right kidney. In renal colic, the pain is generally not clearly localized and spreads throughout the right hypochondrium, including the spine and lower back.
• duodenum and stomach - with an ulcer, the pain moves down the right hypochondrium from the epigastric region.

In addition, pain on the right side under the ribs can occur in a completely healthy person when moving. This happens when people are exposed to loads that are not typical for them. In the vena cava, which passes under the lower right ribs, the blood flow increases and it swells. Pain can also occur with sharp bends and turns, when the internal organs come into contact with the rib bones.

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Diagnostics right rib pain

Regardless of the nature of the pain under the ribs on the right, only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. Examinations should begin with a family doctor (therapist), who, if necessary, will refer the patient for additional examination to another specialist.

Diagnosis of pain in the right hypochondrium consists of several stages:

1. Patient interview (anamnesis), during which the doctor finds out information about the patient’s chronic and past inflammatory diseases.
2. Manual examination (palpation). An inflamed liver and kidney will be easily palpated, while gallbladder disease will make the examination more painful.
3. Examination of the skin, tongue and eyes (if the liver and gallbladder are affected, the skin and whites of the eyes may acquire a yellowish color).
4. Further hospitalization and laboratory examination.

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Treatment right rib pain

The right hypochondrium is a protection for such internal organs as the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, intestines. The organs are very close to each other, so it is often quite difficult to determine the cause of pain on your own. The main principle of treating pain on the right under the ribs is to contact a specialist in time (a local therapist, gastroenterologist, oncologist, surgeon).

You can relieve pain on your own with the help of antispasmodic drugs:

• no-shpa (two tablets no more than three times a day);
• nitroglycerin (1 tablet under the tongue or three drops per piece of refined sugar);
• subcutaneously: 1 ml of 0.1% atropine solution and 1 ml of promedol; 5 ml of baralgin and 2 ml of no-shpa.

Without knowing the exact diagnosis, you should not resort to warm compresses; it is permissible to apply cold to the painful area, but only if it provides an analgesic effect.

It is worth remembering that in cases where severe pain is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to call a doctor immediately. Often, with a list of diseases that are accompanied by acute pain in the right hypochondrium, emergency surgery is indicated (in case of severe liver injuries, urolithiasis, inflammation of the gallbladder).

If the diagnosis has already been made by a specialist, then, in addition to drug treatment, you can use traditional medicine:

• for gallbladder pain - potato decoction: boil unpeeled potatoes, mash without draining the water. Let it brew and drink the resulting liquid 3 times a day, 2 tablespoons;
• for liver pain – mix half a liter of honey with two spoons of ground cinnamon. Take one spoon before and after meals;
• for pain in the spleen - rosehip decoction or one gram of royal jelly per day.

Prevention

In order to prevent pain in the right hypochondrium from turning into a nightmare on the operating table, it is enough to take simple preventive measures:

1. Once a year, undergo a complete medical examination and do an ultrasound of the internal organs in order to know your chronic diseases, their condition and methods of treatment.
2. Do not abuse alcohol, fatty, salty, heavy foods.
3. At the first sensation of pain and accompanying symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.

Pain on the right side under the ribs is a dangerous symptom that always signals a serious illness of the internal organs, so at the first encounter with it, you must seek qualified medical help.

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