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Stomach pain affects everyone from time to time. You can help figure out what’s causing yours by understanding where it’s coming from in your stomach.
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Most instances of right-sided stomach pain are related to common digestive issues like gas and indigestion. Yet because organs like the gallbladder, liver and appendix are present in the right abdomen, you have to consider them as possible sources if you have severe, persistent pain or pain with other symptoms.
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Always call your doctor if you’re concerned about pain on the right side of your stomach, if your pain is serious or gets worse over time, or if it appears with symptoms like nausea, vomiting or fever.
Right-side stomach pain: Causes and when to see a doctor
Stomach pain affects everyone at some point. Considering the digestive system’s role in processing the food we eat, it makes sense that problems in the process pop up from time to time.
“We all get aches and pains,” says Daniald Rodrigues, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Providence Center for Digestive Health — Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo, California. Most of the time, pain on the right side of the stomach (or anywhere in the abdomen) isn’t anything to worry about, but every once in a while, it can give you pause. That’s why understanding the common culprits and what serious conditions your symptoms could be pointing to — not to mention when to seek care from a primary care provider or gastroenterologist — is key.
Common causes of right-side stomach pain
The digestive system helps move food and liquid through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, breaking everything down into smaller parts that the body can absorb as nutrients or expel as waste.
Gastroenterologists specialize in treating conditions that affect the GI tract and the liver. That means they’re experts at distinguishing between serious and non-serious causes of breakdowns in digestion that can lead to pain.
When Dr. Rodrigues considers a patient with pain on the right side of the stomach, for example, he first rules out common causes of abdominal pain that aren’t all that serious. Some of those include:
Gas and indigestion
Gas is a normal part of digestion. Most often, it’s caused by swallowing too much air while eating or drinking, or as a byproduct of the digestive process itself. In addition, eating certain foods — like beans, corn and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower — can create gas that stays in your system until you pass it.
Indigestion can feel like gas pain or discomfort, but unless it’s frequent or long-lasting, it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Muscle strain and injury
Sometimes, a pulled muscle can cause achiness or even sharp pain on the right side of the stomach. This type of pain is often caused by torn or overly stretched stomach muscles and gets better on its own with time and rest.
Pain on the right side of the abdomen may also stem from a hernia, which occurs when an organ protrudes through a weakened part of the abdominal wall, or an ulcer, which is a sore in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum.
Constipation
Constipation, which is the buildup of stool and gas in the intestine, can make you feel bloated and achy in the abdomen. Unless it doesn’t go away on its own or is accompanied by other symptoms, like bleeding from the rectum or unexplained weight loss, constipation is typically treated with over-the-counter medicine and simple lifestyle changes, like drinking more water and exercising.
When right-side stomach pain might be serious
While most sources of pain are benign, it’s important to take note of a few more serious conditions that pain on the right side of the stomach can signal.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis develops when the lining of the appendix becomes blocked and inflamed. Most of the time, it starts with pain near the belly button that shifts to the lower right part of the abdomen.
Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency because if the appendix ruptures, it can cause a life-threatening infection.
Gallbladder problems
The gallbladder is another organ that can cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. Conditions like gallstones and bile duct stones, as well as inflammation, polyps and cancer, can lead to pain in the upper abdomen.
If you have severe pain that doesn’t go away, or that’s coupled with other symptoms, like nausea and vomiting, it’s important to see a doctor right away.
Kidney stones
Pain caused by kidney stones — solid masses that form in the kidneys — can affect the lower back or the stomach. It can also vary in severity and range between feeling sharp and achy.
Kidney stones can lead to kidney infection and poor kidney function if they’re not treated.
Liver issues
Although the liver itself doesn’t have pain receptors, the membrane surrounding the organ does. If this membrane, called the peritoneum, gets inflamed or injured, it can cause a dull ache in the right abdomen.
Most of the time, liver peritoneum pain is due to liver infections like hepatitis A or B, and occurs alongside other symptoms like jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin caused by the liver not working as it should.
Ectopic pregnancy or ovarian cysts
In people with ovaries, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cysts are also possible suspects of pain in the right side of the stomach. Both conditions require immediate medical attention because of their potential for complications.
Upper right abdominal pain: What to know
Dividing the abdomen into quadrants when searching for an underlying cause of pain can help gastroenterologists narrow down potential diagnoses.
Gallbladder and liver-related causes
Because the gallbladder and liver are in the upper right part of the abdomen, your doctor may order blood or imaging tests to measure liver function and look for gallstones, inflammation or other possible issues with either your gallbladder or liver.
Right upper quadrant pain after eating
Although gas, indigestion and heartburn are among the most likely causes of stomach pain on the upper right side after eating, other possibilities exist. For instance, you may have food poisoning. Or it could be a food allergy or intolerance, like lactose intolerance, triggering your discomfort. If you notice the pain occurring after you eat the same food, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
Another common cause of stomach pain after eating is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects the large intestine and causes cramping, bloating and changes in bowel habits.
Lower right abdominal pain: Key concerns
Like its upper counterpart, lower right quadrant abdominal pain can have many sources.
Intestinal and digestive causes
Common digestive problems like gas and indigestion are most frequently the problem behind lower abdominal pain on the right side.
Appendicitis warning signs
If you have appendicitis, you’ll likely notice subtle symptoms at first that worsen over time. These tend to start as dull pain around the belly button that gradually moves to the lower right side of the abdomen and increases in intensity.
Pain with appendicitis is also often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and a low-grade fever.
Reproductive system issues
When it comes to pain in the lower right abdomen, you can’t discount the reproductive organs. Ovarian cysts can cause pain, especially during the menstrual cycle. So can an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy that develops outside the uterus.
When to see a doctor for right-side stomach pain
If you’re still not sure what’s causing the pain on the right side of your stomach, it never hurts to ask your doctor.
Emergency warning signs
You should call your doctor based on the frequency of your pain and how your symptoms are progressing, Dr. Rodrigues says.
“If something lasts a few seconds, it’s less concerning than pain that lasts hours and is unrelenting,” he says, adding that persistent pain or pain that starts to show up with increasing frequency is concerning.
You also need to keep an eye out for associated symptoms like fever and nausea, or shortness of breath, which can warrant a trip to the emergency room.
Other symptoms Dr. Rodrigues calls red flags are vaginal bleeding and vomiting blood.
Symptoms that need same-day care
Severe pain should also have you calling the doctor to see if you need to come in, Dr. Rodrigues says. A nurse or doctor can help you determine whether you need medical attention. Providence offers same-day and urgent care appointments for your convenience.
When to monitor at home
If you have pain on the right side of your stomach that’s lasted a few hours but isn’t severe, isn’t getting worse and isn’t associated with other symptoms, you can try to treat it yourself with home remedies.
Dr. Rodrigues recommends taking an acid reducer like Pepcid® or a natural remedy that relaxes the gut muscles like peppermint-flavored Altoids®.
If your symptoms are not relieved with at-home treatments, it’s best to talk with a doctor. Schedule an appointment with a Providence primary care doctor to get started.
Contributing caregiver
Daniald Rodrigues, M.D., is a gastroenterologist at the Providence Center for Digestive Health — Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo, California.
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Related resources
Understanding your stomach pain: When to worry
Upper abdominal pain: Causes, symptoms and relief
Left side stomach pain: When it’s time to see a doctor
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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