There are cases where people experience back pain on the lower right side primarily which does not spread across the back. The importance of understanding the probable cause of the pain with its characteristics lies in the fact that it would help you get a proper diagnosis of the problem thereby ensuring effective treatment.
Common Causes of Lower Right Back Pain
- Diseases or issues affected the organs in the abdominal, mid-back or pelvic regions.
- Issues with the spinal structures like intervertebral and facet joints.
- Injury to the ligaments, muscles, tendons in and around the spine, which is known as soft tissues.
Seeing a doctor becomes necessary when the pain continues or worsens within a couple of days. You must also see a doctor if there is a sudden surge of severe pain or the pain is accompanies by alarming symptoms.
Most cases of low back pain crop from minor injuries to the ligaments or muscles in the lower back. It is also true that the body can heal such kind of injuries on its own. The initial pain may be quite significant but it subsides with each passing day.
Lower Back Pain towards the Right and Emergency Symptoms
Some cases of back pain warrant of a grave medical condition that needs urgent attention. For instance, the list of following health conditions may show low back pain on the right side along as one of the main symptoms:
Appendicitis
This condition is referred to the situation when the organ, appendix, found in the lower right side of the abdomen is ruptured or inflamed. It causes an intense and sharp lower abdomen or back pain on the right side. The symptoms of appendicitis vary from person to person and include vomiting, fever, and nausea. The symptoms may develop gradually or occur suddenly.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
This condition is characterized by inflamed and compressed nerve roots exiting at the bottom of the spinal canal of the lower back region. The symptoms of cauda equina syndrome vary but most people experience some level of bladder and bowel dysfunction along with weakness, tingling in the lower body and sharp pain.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
When the abdominal aorta ruptures or balloons up, it is referred to as an aneurysm in the abdominal region. The symptoms include sudden and severe abdominal or low back pain along with low blood pressure symptoms like nausea and fainting.
Osteomyelitis
This is a spine infection which will primarily cause back pain and fever. Additionally, the patient may experience unexplained and sudden weight loss, redness, tenderness and swelling around the spine.
Kidney Problems
The symptoms of both kidney infection and kidney stone are quite similar. Both can cause one sided low back pain along with pain in urination, vomiting, and nausea. If the right kidney has an infection, it would cause inflammation, fever, and tenderness around the right kidney in the patient.
Ulcerative Colitis
This is a condition characterized by inflammation of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis causes frequent abdominal cramping which results in lower back pain in the right. Other symptoms are a rectal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.
Gynecological Disorders
Female organs located in the pelvis causes lower right back pain if they have any issue with their functioning. For instance, endometriosis causes sharp and sporadic pain in the pelvic region that radiates to the lower right of the back. Fibroids also cause lower right back pain. Abnormal menstruation, pain during sex and frequent urination are also caused due to the presence of fibroids in and around the uterus.
Pregnancy
Lower right back pain is quite common in pregnancy when the baby develops.
Lower Back Pain on the Right Arising from the Spinal Column
Other common reasons for lower back pain on the right side include:
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Facet Joint Pain (Osteoarthritis)
- Spinal Stenosis.
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
There are also a few not so common causes of low back pain on the right. The reasons include:
- Degenerative spondylolisthesis
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Spinal tumor
People must use their judgment in seeking doctor’s help. You should know that it is time to visit the doctor’s office if you experience severe back pain that prevents you from performing everyday functions like standing, walking and even sleeping. You must also see a doctor if you suffer from intense back pain that refuses to subside with rest and even pain medications.
Apart from the mentioned reasons, there could be other causes of lower back pain on the right side. There are some conditions that are quite difficult to diagnose. If a patient has long-lasting symptoms that worsen or come and go with time, it would be a good idea to keep a record of details as to how and when severe symptoms occur and consult your doctor immediately.
