Causes of Lower right abdominal pain

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Causes include:

Appendicitis

This is occurs more frequently between the ages of 11 and 39, though it can occur at any age. It usually starts as a gradual pain around the belly button or umbilicus, and then move over to the lower right lower abdomen. It is associated with feelings of wanting to vomit, or actual vomiting after the unset of pain, reduced appetite, and one may even develop a temperature. Read more on appendicitis here



Bowel Cancer


Bowel or colon cancer causing lower right abdominal pain is not very common generally. It is however more likely in an elderly person who have been having abdominal pain, remarkable weight loss, loss of appetite, and change in bowel habit or the amount of time he or she goes to toilet, all this happening over a period of more than three months. The rule here is that whenever you notice change in your bowel habit and you are concerned, see your doctor immediately. To read more on cancer, see here

Constipation


If you are constipated, you can easily develop lower right tummy pain. This will not be difficult to diagnose as you may have noticed that you are not opening your bowel as frequent as you normally do, or that the quantity of stool you pass has decreased. Please see your family doctor if you have constipation to make sure that the rules out any sinister cause, especially if you are above 50 years. For more on constipation and its causes, please see here

Crohn’s Disease


Crohn’s disease is one of the so called inflammatory bowel diseases. The problem with Crohn’s disease is that it mimics so many other causes of abdominal pain. It is howerevr usually a chronic problem. Please read more on Crohn’s disease here


Diverticulitis


Diverticulitis is very rare on the right side, though it does occur. It is also a disease more of elderly ones. It is due to the out pouching of the wall of the bowel like out growing fingers outside the walls of the bowel, causing nagging pain in the lower abdomen, 99% of the times on the left side. Please read more on Diverticulitis here


Ectopic Pregnancy

This is one of the first things all doctors think of whenever a woman of child bearing age comes in with complains of lower right or left abdominal pain. This age bracket is from 11 to 55 or even less than that. Ectopic pregnancy usually presents as lower right or left abdominal pain depending on which tube or side that is affected. The pain is dull to sharp, and may be associated with vaginal bleed. The woman may not even know that she is pregnant as this tends to occur very early within the first ten weeks, after the last menses. There may be dizziness, shoulder tip pain, and weakness. Ectopic pregnancy is a very serious emergency. It is due to pregnancy staying in any other place apart from in the womb, though commonly in one of the tubes. If this ruptures as the foetus grows, it could lead to massive blood loss and is potentially life threatening. If you have lower right or left sided abdominal pain, plus or minus dizziness, plus or minus vaginal bleed, please speak to your doctors as a matter of urgency. For more on Ectopic pregnancy, please see here


Endometriosis


This is the presence of normal womb tissue outside the womb. It could cause lower right abdominal pain, if it is on the right tube, ovary, or first part of the large bowel. Usually the pain is worse on that side with the menses. You may be able to feel a soft swelling on the affected side too. This problem is not easy to diagnose nevertheless. Learn more about endometriosis here


Hernia

Right sided hernias can cause lower right abdominal pain if they become obstructed or caught up in the tummy. This will usually present as a swelling in the groin or upper thigh on the right in this case, with lower right abdominal pain. There may be vomiting and bloating in the tummy to even outright abdominal distension in complete bowel obstruction. There may be associated constipation too.


Intussusception

This is when the bowel telescopes on it self. It will present like bowel obstruction, with a saucer shaped oject that can be felt on the tummy. It commonly occurs in children. They develop abdominal pain, crying, characteristically raising their legs in the air and passing stool that looks like jelly mixed with blood. There is usually an interval between the painful episodes for a few minutes. It needs to be sorted out in the hospital immediately.

Kidney Stones

Stones in the Kidney or ureters, which are the tubes that drain the kidneys, could cause sudden onset lower right abdominal pain if in the right ureter or kidney. The pain is usually severe, some have described it as the most severe pain they have ever felt, it spreads to the loin or side of the back and in men may spread to the tip of the penis. The sufferer will try to seek various positions to obtain comfort, and may vomit. The pain usually occurs more in the early mornings, often waking its victims up from bed. Read more on kidney stones here

Lymphoma


This is solid tumour of the white blood cells. If it occurs or is deposited in any structure on the lower right abdomen, it can cause lower right abdominal pain. There is usually associated weight loss and a mass may be felt in the lower right abdomen.


Merkels Diverticulum

If this occurring in only 2% of the population becomes infected, it may present like appendicitis. The diagnosis is often made during operation.

Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

This is a very common cause of lower right abdominal pain in children, mimicking appendicitis. Usually the pain in the abdomen follows a cold, and there may still be swollen neck glands. The child could come up with lower right abdominal pain, not too ill, but maintains his appetite and may or may not vomit. The pain could move from one spot to another within minutes. Please read more on this condition here


Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

This is pelvic infection. It normally is a cause of central lower abdominal pain in women. If the womb is tilted to the right, it could cause lower right abdominal pain. The pain could be dull, nagging; there may be associated vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, and mild fever.


Psoas Abscess

Some infection fore example in the kidney could tract down to the muscle on the floor of the lower right abdomen called the psoas muscle. If pus collects there as in cases of tuberculosis, there could be swelling and lower right abdominal pain. The sufferer may lose weight, poor appetite, night sweats, and a mass may be felt in the lower tummy.

Pylonephritis

Infection of the kidney on the right side could cause lower right abdominal pain too. The patient is usually unwell, may be feverish, and vomiting, with pain especially in the upper to lower abdomen, worse on gently hitting the lower back. The doctor will easily diagnose this with a few examinations and tests.
Ruptured Ovarian Cyst

The pain from ruptured ovarian cyst is usually sudden, and localised to the side of the womb where the ovary is. It is differentiated from appendicitis by its suddenness, no fever, no change in appetite, and the patient may be rolling in pain. It is diagnosed with the aid of an ultrasound scan.


Salpingitis


This is when the tube is infected. It is a common problem in sexually active women especially where multiple partners are involved directly or indirectly. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the commonest organism involved. It present as pain on the side where the tube is affected, there may be vaginal discharge, and fever, as well as pain during intercourse. It needs to be thoroughly investigated and treated to prevent loss of the tube function or infertility if the tubes are not already damaged.

Sickle Cell Disease

Sicklers who are having crisis can present with lower right abdominal pain. There would be history of sickle cell disease in the patient or family.
Torsion of the Testis

This is pain originating in the scrotum in men, sudden onset, severe, and may spread to the lower right or left abdomen, depending on the side the torsion is occurring. Touching the testicle to examine it may be very tender.


Twisted Ovarian Cyst


Twisted ovarian cyst presents same like Ruptured Ovarian Cyst, and the diagnosis is usually differentiated by scan.
Ulcerative Colitis


This is one of the two types of inflammatory bowel disease affecting the large bowel. It usually start and cause symptoms over a long time. There may be weight loss, blood in the stool, ulcers around the anus, and lower right sided abdominal pain.

Ureteric Stone


Volvolus of the Caecum


Trapped Wind

Lower Right Abdominal Pain ? Speak to a UK G.P here

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