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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Right-sided Abdominal Pain
Posted on
Sat, 2 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 2 Jan 2016
Answered on
Mon, 25 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a persistent dull pain in my abdomen at the right side, accompanied by an occasional sharp pain on the right side as well. It does not go with rest and persist throughout the night
Brief Answer:
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
right sided pain can be caused by various conditions. I'll mention the most common ones and how they have to be investigated (at least the first steps) :
- gallbladder pain: if it's a colic it's going to last for minutes and definitely less than 45-60 minutes. Cholecystitis lasts for longer but is usually persistent without occasional worsening. An ultrasound scan of the area would prove it most of the times. Biochemical tests may reveal indirect signs.
- kidney pain: a renal colic is usually very severely painful and is commonly accompanied by nausea. The pain can be felt in the back but may move to the front depending on the site of obstruction. A moving stone towards the bladder will change the location of the pain. An ultrasound scan or even better a CT scan will prove it. X-rays may reveal radiopaque stones.
- intestinal pain (including appendicitis and other inflammatory conditions) : will cause pain, loss of appetite, nausea, etc. A CT scan of the abdomen is the most efficient test to prove them. Clinical examination data and medical history are even more important to suspect them.
- herpes zoster insult: it may cause pain even days before the rash. The pain affects the skin from the back to the front and is usually accompanied by sensory problems like feeling the skin burning or painful with minimal stimuli, etc.
- orthopedic kind of pain: a muscle strain or vertebral problems causing pressure on the nerves of the back. This kind of problem is suspected during clinical examination and can be confirmed by CT or MRI scan of the spine.
Generally, abdominal pain lasting for more than 6 hours, has to be investigated because serious problems may cause it.
So in conclusion, I would recommend visiting your doctor for testing. The aforementioned conditions have to be excluded with clinical examination, radiological and blood tests.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
right sided pain can be caused by various conditions. I'll mention the most common ones and how they have to be investigated (at least the first steps) :
- gallbladder pain: if it's a colic it's going to last for minutes and definitely less than 45-60 minutes. Cholecystitis lasts for longer but is usually persistent without occasional worsening. An ultrasound scan of the area would prove it most of the times. Biochemical tests may reveal indirect signs.
- kidney pain: a renal colic is usually very severely painful and is commonly accompanied by nausea. The pain can be felt in the back but may move to the front depending on the site of obstruction. A moving stone towards the bladder will change the location of the pain. An ultrasound scan or even better a CT scan will prove it. X-rays may reveal radiopaque stones.
- intestinal pain (including appendicitis and other inflammatory conditions) : will cause pain, loss of appetite, nausea, etc. A CT scan of the abdomen is the most efficient test to prove them. Clinical examination data and medical history are even more important to suspect them.
- herpes zoster insult: it may cause pain even days before the rash. The pain affects the skin from the back to the front and is usually accompanied by sensory problems like feeling the skin burning or painful with minimal stimuli, etc.
- orthopedic kind of pain: a muscle strain or vertebral problems causing pressure on the nerves of the back. This kind of problem is suspected during clinical examination and can be confirmed by CT or MRI scan of the spine.
Generally, abdominal pain lasting for more than 6 hours, has to be investigated because serious problems may cause it.
So in conclusion, I would recommend visiting your doctor for testing. The aforementioned conditions have to be excluded with clinical examination, radiological and blood tests.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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