Pain/Discomfort in the Right Abdomen

[prash1987]

Hello,

I am 23 yrs of age and generally have a good dieting habit.

Since the past three weeks I am experiencing some kind of pain in the Right side of the abdomen.It is not exactly pain, it seems more like a discomfort or some kind of a niggle. However, sometimes(very rarely) I have these stinging pains in the same right abdomen region which lasts for just a second or two.
Also, the pain/discomfort doesn't seem to be there while I'm standing or lying on the bed, it is only while sitting continually for long time.

This initially started as a discomfort, then had some reasonable pain during the first week or so. But ever since then there's no pain, but only discomfort. Also the pain doesn't see to be localized to one region. It's kind of vague and seems like circulating all round the abdomen region sometimes accompanied with burning sensation(like after applying a pain balm)

I have also been to the doctor twice, but they suspected it to be some muscle pull, since the pain/discomfort is not continuous and prescribed some pain killers. But sadly it has been of now use.

Could someone tell me what is happening to me ??

Thanks!!

[prash1987]

I got myself a Scan done and it turned out that everything is normal....thank God for that !!!

Also, I have started to suspect the cause of this pain to the incident that happened around 1.5 months back wherein which i ran myself into a pole whose protrusion hit me in the right abdomen almost exactly where i have the pain now...Probably taking some rest and having some massage might help....

Thanks guys for ur views and help !!!

[shakeyla]

Right side abdominal pain is pain occurring in the abdomen, to the right of an imaginary line drawn from the center of the chest through the umbilicus or belly button to the top of the genitalia.
Do you have pain on the right side of your abdomen? Did it start within the last three or four days? Or did it just start today? At what level of the right side of your abdomen is it? Is the pain always there, or does it come in strong waves like contractions? Are you vomiting, or do you feel like vomiting? What about your appetite?
The following are the most common causes of right side abdominal pain in men and women. If you have recent onset right hand side abdominal pain, it is worth considering if you are having any of the following . They are:
Biliary colic or Gallstones
Cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder
Duodenal ulcers
Kidney Stones / ureteric stones
Appendicitis
Ovarian cyst
Ectopic pregnancy
Constipation
Pulled muscle
Trapped wind
Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and right lower lobe pneumonia, strangulated or obstructed hernia, polycystic ovaries, food poisoning, are other common causes of pain in the right side of the abdomen.
We shall discuss these common causes of right side abdominal pain briefly here, and then in details later.
In order to understand the possible cause of a 'right stomach pain', it may be helpful to know the organs and structures that exist in this region of the body. Disease, infection, or irritation of any of these organs will lead to a right side abdominal pain.
Also, it must be stated quickly that pain in the right side of the abdomen can be "referred" or could spread from injury or disease of some organs near by, but way from the abdomen.
An infection in the lower segment of the right lung for example, could present as a right side 'stomach' pain. So to can inflammation of the lower esophagus.
Organs and structures in the right side of the abdomen include:
Skin over the right abdomen
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
Right kidney
Right Ureter (the tube that drain urine from the kidney to be stored in the bladder
Right adrenal gland
Duodenum ( the very first part of the small intestines)
Right part of the large intestines
The Appendix
Right ovary in females
Right Fallopian tube (or simply right tube)
Muscles of the right abdominal wall
Blood vessels in the right side of the abdomen
Other structures not found in the abdomen that can cause right side abdominal pain include:
The lower part of right lung
Tumours from other sites
We shall now take you through a few of the various possible causes of right abdominal pain, giving a very brief gist of the important signs and symptoms that will help in recognizing and making a diagnosis of the possible cause of the pain.
As a quick run through, causes of right side abdominal pain in any age group or sex would include the following:
Appendicitis?
Are you between the age bracket of 9 years to 40years?
Do you have pain in the lower right abdomen below the level of the navel or umbilicus?
Did the pain start in the last few days?
Is the pain always there?
Any fever? What about your appetite; have you noticed that you don't feel like eating?
If you answered yes to the second and last question, and then perhaps to any of the other questions, then you most likely have acute appendicitis.
Right side abdominal pain of a few days duration, associated with loss of appetite, nausea and occasionally vomiting, fever, feeling generally unwell in anyone between the ages of 9 and 39 is appendicitis, until proven otherwise. Even more so if you are male.
This does not mean that appendicitis do not occur out side that age bracket. It is more common within the first three decade of life, and can occur at any age.
How to know? It is the most common cause of right side abdominal pain requiring operation. Appendicitis is commoner in the early teens to thirties. It can however occur in any age group. The pain typically starts up in the abdomen, or around the belly button called umbilicus, then it moves to the lower right abdomen.
In some individuals, the pain starts straight in the lower right abdomen. It gradually builds up in severity, initially niggling. The pain is typically always there, worsened by movement, and there is often loss of appetite, feeling of wanting to vomit, and may actually vomit.
Read more on appendicitis
GallBladder Disease?
Do you have pain in the upper right abdomen just under the rib cage on the right or a few inches lower?
Is this a dull ache, sometimes like stitches? Is the pain severe? Does it spread to the side of your body to the back? Does this pain come in waves? Have you noticed that the pain tends to come on after eating? Any vomiting? Fever? Are your eyes yellowish?
You may be suffering with right side abdominal pain caused by gallstones (called biliary colic) or inflammation of the gallbladder (called cholecystitis). Both can be referred to as gallbladder disease.
Biliary Colic
This is a disease of the gallbladder, due to the entrapment of a gall stone in the gall bladder or anywhere along the canals that drain the gallbladder. It starts as a severe upper right side abdominal pain, gripping, with periods of very heightened severity, may spread to the back or right arm, and may be crushing. There may be associated vomiting, and pain typically lasts a few hours.
It could easily be confused for heart attack, or Cholecystitis.
Cholecystitis
This is another very common cause of upper right side abdominal pain. The typical person who develops this problem is a fair female in her forties or fifties, big, and fertile. It can occur in anyone though, male or female. It is due to infection of the gallbladder.
Kidney Stone?
Do you have a very severe sudden onset right side abdominal pain? Did the pain start up on the side of your upper right abdomen and spreads down towards your umbilicus or even towards your genitals? Are you pacing around trying to find a position of comfort? Do you feel like vomiting, or have actually vomited? Sweating? Does the pain comes in waves?
It sounds like you have a right sided abdominal pain due to kidney stones! Do not panic. You will be alright. Kidney stone pain causes such a tremendous pain but will not cause immediate fatality.
This often presents as sudden onset right loin or side pain, very severe in intensity (many describes this as the most severe pain they have ever felt), it spreads down the side to the lower right abdomen and groin, cramp like, with associated nausea and vomiting. During attacks, one may be rolling around, trying to seek a position of comfort.
Depending on the size of the stone, it is often passed down without any after effect.
Sometimes though, the stone could be too big (greater than 7mm) and will not pass down the ureters, causing obstruction. This is a medical emergency that will need dealing with.
If you think you have kidney stone, then go to the hospital now. It is only after tests that doctors can be sure if there is obstruction or not. Please read more on kidney stones.

[shakeyla]

Right Ovary Pain
Pain due to twisting or rupture of an ovarian cyst typically comes on suddenly too. It is mainly localized in the lower region of right abdomen, moderate to severe in intensity. The pain may spread down the abdomen to the thighs. There may be accompanying vomiting or feeling of nausea.


Ectopic Pregnancy
Pain in the right lower abdomen, associated vaginal bleeding, dizziness, shoulder tip pain, in a woman who has missed her period is most likely due to ectopic pregnancy.


Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy
This is a very common cause of right side abdominal pain in children. It presents as pain in the right lower abdomen. Typically, the child would have had cold or sore throat in the preceding days up to two weeks. The neck glands would be enlarged. This is often confused with appendictis. The difference been that the child would still retain his or her appetite.