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Health

Pain in the right side of the abdomen

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The feeling of pain in the body always causes discomfort. Especially when it touches 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 be made only after a doctor's visit.

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Causes of pain in the right side of the abdomen

The work of internal organs is affected by a lot of external factors:

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

Frequent stress or a long process of fatigue are also factors that cause pain in the right side of the abdomen. For example, a "worn out" muscle of the heart can hardly pump blood, so it stagnates in the liver. This leads to swelling of the organ and is accompanied by painful sensations. Liver swelling can be associated with chemical intoxication, as well as infections. Along with this, a number of other inflammatory processes are possible in the human body. In the right half of the abdomen, many vulnerable organs are located:

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

When you feel pain, the first thing to check is the appendix. Other causes that cause pain in the right part of the abdomen are various diseases of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas. The condition of the pain syndrome can be caused also with ulcerative colitis, intestinal diseases of an infectious nature, ileitis, herpes. And also with the compressed fibers of the nerves in this area, the movement of the stone in the ureter, parasites.

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How does the pain in the right side of the abdomen show up?

In the case of a mild pain in the right side of the abdomen, which manifests itself less than two weeks, one can resort to independent treatment. It is recommended to consult a doctor at the time of the occurrence of periodic pain lasting more than three weeks. Urgent medical care is needed, in the case when the pain in the right side of the abdomen is accompanied by: 

  • nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, darkening of urine, light stool; 
  • heartburn, insomnia, palpitation, headaches, belching sour; 
  • strong weight loss, ascites, intense jaundice, vomiting of bile, weakness; 
  • heat, strong pain, giving to the right side, swelling, flatulence; 
  • post-traumatic pain, which lasts more than two hours.

Emergency hospitalization is necessary if:

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

Aching 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 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, special attention to periodic aching pain is not given and, often, a person always carries a medicine that quickly relieves it. Although just it can act as a marker of a serious disease. For example, aching pain usually accompanies severe physical stress or disruption of diet. On the one hand, it is a familiar matter, on the other hand it is evidence of stagnant phenomena in the bile ducts. A full gallbladder can respond to the peritoneal wall tension in this way. Aching pain in the right side of the abdomen can also be caused by hepatitis, shingles. The pain in women testifies to the diseases of the genitourinary system, in men - about diseases of the intestine, often about the chronic prostatitis.

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Sharp pain in the right side of the abdomen

Acute pain in the right side of the abdomen arises unexpectedly and is the reason for an immediate appeal to medical help. For example, the symptomatology of appendicitis is characterized by acute pain. In this case, rapid surgical intervention is urgently needed, in order to avoid the rupture of the appendix. Pain of an acute nature occurs in the case of perforation of the organ, rupture of any formation, blockage of blood vessels or intraperitoneal bleeding. To this group of diseases also can be attributed attacks of "acute" cholecystitis and pancreatitis. In women, acute pain in the right side of the abdomen can trigger inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes or rupture of the ovary. Acute pain in the lower abdomen can occur with a blockage of the ureter with a blood clot, inflammatory masses, stone, and tissue decay products. If acute pain occurs, it is urgent to resort to medical care.

Dull pain in the right side of the abdomen

Dull pain in the right side of the abdomen is deceptive. It is a marker of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. It is localized in the right upper part of the peritoneum. Characteristic symptoms:

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

Dull pain can also mean the course of chronic cirrhosis, hepatitis. In addition to the above, painful sensations of a stupid nature, often due to diseases of female reproductive organs, tumors and other pathologies. Glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis (kidney disease) is accompanied by a blunt pain syndrome that also gives to the right side of the abdomen.

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Constant pain in the right side of the abdomen

Acute and dull pain varies in the time of action, which is important for establishing an accurate diagnosis. Pain syndrome can be sharp and permanent. The constant pain in the right part of the abdomen can be associated with the stretching of the outer shell of the parenchymal structures, it speaks of the process of inflammation, the violation of the supply of the organ with blood. Constant pain in the right hypochondrium can cause diseases:

  • liver and biliary system;
  • the large intestine;
  • "Hepatic colic";
  • malignant tumor of the pancreas.

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

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Diagnosis of pain in the right side of the abdomen

Diagnosis of pain is one of the most difficult tasks in medical practice. Very often it is impossible to make a routine examination of the patient. Of great importance is the experience of the doctor, in view of the fact that the picture of the disease can be unclear even under conditions threatening life. Light pain characterizes the disease, which requires urgent surgery, and, conversely, with the clinic "acute abdomen", the surgeon's intervention may not be needed. In acute, uncharacteristic pain in the right side of the abdomen, it is necessary to be examined. The first thing to do when conducting the diagnosis yourself is to determine the localization of pain. If pain occurs, palpation should be performed. Strengthening the pain syndrome with a slight pressure on the upper abdomen on the right indicates problems of the gallbladder, pancreas, liver. The appearance of subcostal pain in the right side of the abdomen is a likely symptom of viral hepatitis. For women, having fallen on the lower abdomen on the right, indicates the presence of an infectious disease of the genitals. With 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 pain, periodicity, localization, duration, causes that increase pain.

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

  • liver and gallbladder;
  • pancreas;
  • the large intestine;
  • kidney and ovaries.

It is important to remember that, before the passage of ultrasound, it is necessary to abandon the food that causes gassing. And a few hours before the diagnosis in general from eating. It is recommended to drink activated charcoal.

Doctors, often, appoint patients with fibroadastroskopiyu (FGS) and colonoscopy. These methods occupy a leading position in the diagnosis of diseases of the stomach and intestines. With their help, a biopsy of the inflamed tissue can be performed. 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 the biochemical blood test, the content of substances is determined:

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

Blood tests for hepatitis B and C, antibodies to parasites, oncomarkers are also performed. For the presence of intestinal infections, dysbiosis, latent blood, feces are analyzed.

The deviation of the contents of the above listed indicators from the norm is a characteristic of a particular disease. However, the purpose of the analyzes is strictly defined for each specific case.

In situations where the diagnosis is unclear, an abdominal radiograph or MRI is performed.

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Treatment of pain in the right side of the abdomen

Diseases that cause pain in the right side of the abdomen are many, but in the current medicine they are all subject to diagnosis and treatment. Due to the timely definition, it is possible to avoid surgery. Any treatment of the disease requires increased attention, diet. In chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis is recommended to reject:

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

Allowed the use of boiled fish and meat, dairy products, cereals, vegetables. Food is consumed in small portions, not hot. At "hepatic colic" also exclude fatty meat, smoked products, sharp spices, products, which lead to gas formation. When a disease of the appendages of the ovaries (adnexitis) is recommended hypoallergenic diet, excluding mushrooms, chocolate, sweets. Food consumed under the regime should be fresh.

In addition, the treatment is medicated. Cholenzim and its analogs are prescribed in the treatment of hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, which are chronic. It has a choleretic effect due to the active substances that make up its composition. The drug is taken one tablet up to three times a day, after meals. It is not recommended to take the drug for acute disease. May cause side effects - allergic reactions (hives, lacrimation, sneezing).

With adnexitis, antibiotics are prescribed in various combinations, preparations for bactericidal action on anaerobic flora. Additionally prescribed antihistamines, analgesics.

A painful attack of "hepatic colic" is removed with the help of spasmolytic drugs, but-spines or papaverine.

In addition to taking medicines, methods of reflexotherapy of bioactive points of the gallbladder and pancreas (pancreatitis, cholecystitis), acupressure are appointed. With adnexitis, physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed (ultrasound, elketrophoresis, vibromassage).

However, in the case of a "severe phase" of the disease, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention (appendectomy, holicystectomy). Surgical treatment is also performed with insufficient effect from conservative treatment.

If after the examination of the cause of pain in the right side of the abdomen there are no serious pathologies, you can conduct home treatment with phytotherapy. Immortelle, hips, plantain, corn stigmas, milk thistle, calendula - herbs, tinctures of which will help ease pain.

Blends of rosehip and immortelle enhance the protective properties of the liver. Take 10-14 days once a quarter.

10 grams of hop cones should be filled with water, allowed to stand and take three times a day with inflammatory condition of the gallbladder and liver.

One part of the flowers of chamomile, four parts of St. John's wort and immortelle, three pieces of knotweed, two parts of the bark of the shrub jester. Four tablespoons of the mixture pour one liter of cold water, insist the night, in the morning boil 10 minutes, allow to cool. On an empty stomach to drink one glass, the rest - an hour after each meal.

Prevention of pain in the right side of the abdomen

Specific methods of preventing pain in the right side of the abdomen as such are not present. However, if the pain is manifested once, it is necessary to give up some time for fatty and fried foods, salt and pepper, it is recommended to drink the infusions of herbs. In case of recurrence of the pain syndrome, you should visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

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